MOUNT AIRY—An amazing streak that is noted in the North Carolina High School Record Book—a streak that has touched three decades—has finally come to an end.

         Last Friday night, the Granite Bears of Mount Airy High School had something happen that had not occurred since the 1996 NCHSAA football playoffs—they were shut out in a game.

         Mount Airy lost to Swain County 14-0 in the opening round of this year’s playoffs, and it marked the end of a streak that covered a total of 236 games.  The last time the Granite Bears were shut out was in the fourth round of the ’96 playoffs, when Murphy blanked Mount Airy 19-0.

         Kelly Holder was the head football coach at Mount Airy for 212 of those contests in the streak.

         The current state record in this category is held by Reidsville, which continues to add to its streak that is currently at 246.  South Point of Belmont is also working on a consecutive scoring streak that is at 216 games.

         Our thanks to Doug McDaniel, an expert on the football history and the great tradition at Mount Airy, for helping to track this laudable achievement.