RALEIGH -- James Posey rushed for 68 yards and scored three touchdowns Friday night to help Murphy beat Jones County 21-6 for the Class 1A North Carolina High School Athletic Association championship.

Kenton Braswell ran for 126 yards for the Bulldogs (12-4), who bounced back from a 0-3 start to the season to claim their sixth state championship. Posey was named the game's most valuable player.

Quamine Cox rushed for 73 yards for the Trojans (10-5), who had five turnovers.

Jones moved the ball deep into Murphy territory twice in the second quarter, but a fumble and an interception prevented the Trojans from building on their 6-0 lead.

Posey caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Seth Curtis just before halftime to give the Bulldogs a 7-6 lead. He added touchdown runs of 4 yards and 3 yards in the second half.

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