RALEIGH -

 J'Veon Walker had a 40-yard touchdown run and a 94-yard kickoff return for another score to lead Southwest Onslow to a 44-34 victory over Swain County on Saturday in the Class 1-AA North Carolina High School Athletic Association championship game.
   
Walker, the game MVP, gave Southwest Onslow (14-1) an early 6-0 lead with his long touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage.
   
Then, after Swain County (15-1) had closed to 16-13 on Raymius Smith's 79-yard touchdown pass to Greg Tishow, Walker returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a score.
   
Shak Pershey rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns, covering 49 and 1 yards, while Southwest Onslow teammate DaMonta Winbush had 123 yards rushing and a 10-yard score and returned a late kickoff 42 yards for a TD.
   
Smith was 22 of 35 for 426 yards and two touchdowns for Swain County, and rushed for two more TDs.