The Rams (14-2) were ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press regular season poll.

In Saturday's N.C. 2-AA state final at Carter-Finley Stadium, Reidsville (16-0) proved the preseason predictions right by upending two-time defending state champion Shelby 28-20.

The victory reversed the Rams' fortunes from the 2005 title game, in which the Golden Lions won 26-18.

"The first year we played, I felt that I played timid and I didn't play to the best of my ability," Reidsville running back Tayon Graves said. "My goal was to give it all I had."

Graves had a game-high 94 rushing yards and two touchdowns -- the first on an 8-yard run that proved to be the winning score 2:26 before halftime.

Graves' 1-yard scamper with 7:27 remaining in the third quarter provided insurance that closed the Rams' scoring.

"These guys answered every challenge," Reidsville coach Jimmy Teague said. "From day one, we were ranked really high in a lot of polls. I thought that was a little extra pressure that these guys handled."

Reidsville quarterback Ray Butchee, a 5-foot-6, 175-pound junior, completed 10 of 17 passes for 190 yards and earned MVP honors.