The Hoggard Vikings made the four hour trip westward on I-40 for Saturday’s North Carolina 4A State Championship game and came back with the hardware they had set out to win months earlier. Coach Braswell would comment after the game, ” We set a goal, and these guys made it happen.”The Vikes’ defense was impenetrable and the offense kept plugging along, waiting for their opportunity to strike. The two complimented each other as they have all year.It was the defense that deflated Mount Tabor, taking the wind out of their sails as they just weren’t able to score against the highly touted Hoggard defense, while the Hoggard offense wore down the Spartans on the other side of the ball. The total team effort resulted in a 28-0 victory giving Hoggard their first ever state championship.Both Scott Braswell of Hoggard and Barry Stewart, head coach of Mount Tabor recognized the speed and athleticism of the Hoggard linebackers which flew to the ball all season long, and the story on Saturday was no different. As the game progressed, the Spartans grew increasingly frustrated by not being able to move the ball.Meanwhile on offense, Hoggard jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 2:08 remaining in the first quarter, but it wasn’t easy. After a big pass play to Luke Caldwell, who was named the offensive MVP after the game, the Vikings had first and goal from the five yard line. However punching it in proved to be a challenge, but on fourth down from the one, Shawn Sidbury’s second effort surged him into the end zone.After the initial shock of playing at a huge stadium on a large stage wore off, both teams settled into a defensive struggle for the rest of the half. Hoggard was unable to score again before the intermission, but the Vikings D held Mt. Tabor to 49 yards on 31 plays in the first half.While Hoggard seemed to be in control of the game for the most part, momentum changed midway through the third quarter. With the score still 7-0, Shawn Sidbury fumbled at midfield and the Spartans were able to recover.The Spartans’ Hunter Ross picked up 25 yards and put the Spartans in scoring position. From there, Mt. Tabor completed a pass down to the six yard line, setting up a first and goal. It was at this moment, that the state title was going to be more elusive than initially thought. However, Sidbury atoned for his fumble as the Hoggard defense stripped Mt. Tabor and Sidbury was there to pounce on it in the endzone for a touchback.That was the end of the hopes and dreams for the Spartans. Hoggard then drove the ball 80 yards, and Mark Crecco capped it with a quarterback sneak that put Hoggard up 14-0 with :16 left in the third.The Vikings then put the game away with Shawn Sidbury’s second touchdown of the game. There was still 6:44 to play, but the fat lady was singing.Hoggard scored again after Sidbury intercepted a Mt. Tabor pass and returned it all the way to the two yard line. From there, SaQuan Coggins, back from a knee injury, plowed his way into the end zone, capping the scoring at 28-0.Sidbury’s all-around performance on both sides of the ball earned him game MVP honors. Ian Shankland had two sacks and took home the defensive MVP while Luke Caldwell’s four catches for 104 yards earned him the offensive MVP. Of his favorite receiver, quarterback Mark Crecco said, “He always seems to come down with the ball. I just love throwing it to him.”Coming into the game, the Viking coaching staff was concerned about some of the Mt. Tabor unconventional sets and slowing down the jet sweep, but clearly had their guys prepared. Safety Scotty Braswell summed it up as a only a coach’s son could, “We did a good job of containing the jet sweep…we had a lot of different checks, in different formations so we had them man-to-man, we got through those checks real well, everybody was lined up where they were supposed to be.”After the game, Coach Braswell commented on the progress the program has made over the years. “I asked players 11 years ago, what do you want your legacy to be?” Well the legacy of Hoggard Football has grown, and now includes State Champs.