It started to unravel when East Burke ran 19 plays to South Iredell's 2 over a 12-minute span bridging the first and second quarters.
Then the Cavaliers scored a backbreaking touchdown with 41 seconds left in the first half that deflated the Vikings and carried East Burke to a 42-12 victory.
"It's tough," Vikings senior Quincy Davenport said. "We've got everything we need to be a good team. I just felt like this was going to be our year."
The game was evenly played early, but East Burke (8-3, 5-2) broke through by hogging the ball on offense.
The Cavaliers got on the board with a 40-yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter. East followed with a surprise onside kick and recovered. Eleven plays later, Eric Carson punched it in from 9 yards out and it was 14-0.
The Vikings ran just two plays before East Burke got the ball back on an interception.
Justin Lail found a wide-open Dustin Wilson for a 12-yard score, and suddenly it was 21-0.
"That gave us a lot of confidence," said Cavs running back Kenneth Gaither, who led the team with 125 rushing yards.
The Vikings pieced together a long drive that ended with a Davenport touchdown to make it 21-7.
East Burke responded with a 71-yard kickoff return and scored again with 40 seconds left.
Davenport led South with 104 rushing yards. Henry Bustle scored a 15-yard touchdown late, and Cameron Mattox had with 49 rushing yards on four carries.
South's year is likely not over. At 4-7 overall and 3-4 in the Catawba Valley Athletic Conference, the Vikings are playoff eligible, but would likely play the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the West bracket.
"Hopefully we'll get another chance and can go upset somebody," Davenport said. "I'll take every chance I can get so it can end on a better note than this."
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