Since Nash Central has been in existence, it has been as competitive as any football team against Rocky Mount, other than SouthWest Edgecombe.
Tonight, the Bulldogs make the Gryphon sweat before the awesome speed of the Gryphons tripped Nash Central 35-7.
Any one who gets up tomorrow and looks in the paper and sees the score will say that the Gryphons didn't have any trouble, but will they ever be wrong.
The Bulldogs had the Gryphons on the ropes as the fourth quarter started tied 7-7, but a punt return that was called back lit the Gryphon fire in the fourth quarter.
Brian Goodwin fielded a punt and followed some crushing blocks all the way to the 1-yard line, but a block in the back put the Gryphons all the way back to their own 43.
The first play Collins Cuthrell caught the Bulldogs looking run and hit a wide open Keith Strickland for a 57-yard score and the flood gates were opening.
Following a three-and-out by the defense, Goodwin fielded another punt on his own 35 retreated back to about the 25 trying to get to his wall of blockers and once he got there, he had clear sailing down in front of the Gryphon faithful and just like that, the Gryphons had a 14-point lead.
Cuthrell scored his first varsity TD as the Gryphons marched right back down the field the next time they got the ball.
The final score of the game occurred late as Hiawatha Bunn intercepted a Bulldogs pass and had an escort down in front of the Bulldog bench 79 yards to paydirt.
Goodwin got the only Gryphon score in the first half on a 22-yard end around, but that play may never have happened if it weren't for Nick Hahula's fake punt that kept the drive alive.
Hahula sold the fake punt by acting like he was going to run right with the ball and then threw back to the left where Bunn was able to pick up 20 yards on a fourth-and-12.
There is a rumor going around that Hahula will be taking snaps at quarterback next week since he has a 100 percent completion percentage in his career as a passer - 1-for-1!
The Gryphons were pressed hard by Central, but when it was clutch time, the Gryphons came up with the big plays.
The Gryphons clinched a tie for the conference crown 35-7 over the Nash Central Bulldogs.
In other NEW 6 play, Fike made sure that it could still get a part in the championship by beating Southern Nash 33-14.
Over in Death Valley, Northern scored its most points this year, but they pick SouthWest Edgecombe as the team to score 28 on as the Knights fell short to the Cougars, 46-28.
The ADM's were released today and to me it looks like the Gryphons will be in the 3-A bracket.
There are 95 3-A schools and Rocky Mount is the 46th smallest. Its average daily attendance is 1210.
If you take the top 47 as the 3-AA and the next 48 as 3-A, the Gryphons will be in the 3-A bracket by the skin of their nose.
You can go on the NCHSAA website and see all the size rankings of all four classifications at www.nchsaa.org.
Northern Nash has 1,320 students followed by Fike with 1,243, then Nash Central at 1,242 fourth in size is Southern Nash at 1,217, then Rocky Mount at 1,210 and SouthWest, which will go back to 2-A next year, is at 957
When you go the the listings, they do not have a list that says 3-AA or 3-A - they are all in a row, but I don't know how we will not be the the 3-A bracket.
West Craven is now the only true undefeated team in eastern 3-A football as two unbeaten teams went down last night.
Beddingfield lost to Kinston 33-32, and Eastern Alamance fell 34-20 to Oxford Webb. Rocky Mount's forfeit that leave West Craven as the only true undefeated team.
Beddingfield loss to Kinston means it can not win its conference out right and Eastern Alamance's loss means the best it can do is tie for the title.
So it is down to West Craven and Rocky Mount for the top seeding in the east.
All Kinston has to do is win next week and Beddingfield can only be their No. 2 seed so they can't be considered for the 3-A No. 1 seed. Eastern Alamance can only tie the winner of the Webb-Northern Vance game, so there will be a drawing for their conference's No. 1 seed. If Eastern Alamance losses the draw, then it will lose out on a possible No. 1 seed in the east.
Rocky Mount must beat Fike next week or it may be in the same dilemma as Eastern Alamance and not win a draw as its conference's No. 1 seed.
A victory Friday will solve that problem.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Bumps and Bruises
The Gryphon JV football team played its last home game of the year tonight against the Bulldogs of Nash Central and pulled off a 34-6 victory.
The game seemed closer than the score as on Nash Central's first two drives of the game, it marched the ball deep into Gryphon territory only to fumble the ball away.
The Gryphons also got two other fumble recoveries as squib kicks turned into Gryphon recoveries and a very competitive game became a decisive victory.
Saturday, the girls cross country team will travel to Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, west of Winston-Salem, to run in the NCHSAA 3-A state cross country championship. It qualified for the state after finishing third in the regionals last weekend.
Tanglewood is a very hilly course and will be a tough test for all runners.
Round two of the NCHSAA 3-A soccer playoffs for the Gyphons is Saturday night at 7p.m, in Burlington. Williams High school will host the Gryphons for the second year in a row.
Last week, the Gryphon football team played with two starters out and two is the magic number again tomorrow night. Torey Lee will again be on the sidelines, but he will be joined by Marquavis Alston.
Last week, Whit Barnes was out but he is expected to play this week.
Friday will be the 10th game of the season and nagging injuries hit everyone this time of year. This is where you find out about the quality of the backups who now get their chance.
It about time for the AA and A .. ADMs to be announced. Rumors abound that the Gryphons will be in the 3-AA bracket. If you remember last year, they were, I think, the second largest in the 3-A team. So where the dividing line is this year will be close again.
I personally don't care one way or the other. If we are in the 3-A, West Craven, Beddingfield and Eastern Alamance are still all undefeated, where in the 3-AA, Ragsdale and Dudley are undefeated. But it is up in the air whether either or both will be in the west or eastern bracket.
Rocky Mount AD Mike Gainey told me tonight that Nash Central told him no one who wears any kind of costume to the game will be allowed in. Also, if you are one of those who goes out on the field to hear B.W's speeches to the team after the game - you won't tomorrow night. No one will be allowed on the field after the game.
Airtime is 7 p.m. for the AM 1390 Sports team from Nash Central. Kickoff is set for 7:30. I think we are wearing gold again.
The game seemed closer than the score as on Nash Central's first two drives of the game, it marched the ball deep into Gryphon territory only to fumble the ball away.
The Gryphons also got two other fumble recoveries as squib kicks turned into Gryphon recoveries and a very competitive game became a decisive victory.
Saturday, the girls cross country team will travel to Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, west of Winston-Salem, to run in the NCHSAA 3-A state cross country championship. It qualified for the state after finishing third in the regionals last weekend.
Tanglewood is a very hilly course and will be a tough test for all runners.
Round two of the NCHSAA 3-A soccer playoffs for the Gyphons is Saturday night at 7p.m, in Burlington. Williams High school will host the Gryphons for the second year in a row.
Last week, the Gryphon football team played with two starters out and two is the magic number again tomorrow night. Torey Lee will again be on the sidelines, but he will be joined by Marquavis Alston.
Last week, Whit Barnes was out but he is expected to play this week.
Friday will be the 10th game of the season and nagging injuries hit everyone this time of year. This is where you find out about the quality of the backups who now get their chance.
It about time for the AA and A .. ADMs to be announced. Rumors abound that the Gryphons will be in the 3-AA bracket. If you remember last year, they were, I think, the second largest in the 3-A team. So where the dividing line is this year will be close again.
I personally don't care one way or the other. If we are in the 3-A, West Craven, Beddingfield and Eastern Alamance are still all undefeated, where in the 3-AA, Ragsdale and Dudley are undefeated. But it is up in the air whether either or both will be in the west or eastern bracket.
Rocky Mount AD Mike Gainey told me tonight that Nash Central told him no one who wears any kind of costume to the game will be allowed in. Also, if you are one of those who goes out on the field to hear B.W's speeches to the team after the game - you won't tomorrow night. No one will be allowed on the field after the game.
Airtime is 7 p.m. for the AM 1390 Sports team from Nash Central. Kickoff is set for 7:30. I think we are wearing gold again.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Down the Stretch
Tuesday saw an end to the Lady Gryphon tennis team's year.
Playing Fike for the third time was the same answer as before. Fike is one of the better tennis programs in the state and Rocky Mount is just a tie-breaker away from winning.
The score was 5-1, but three of the games went to tie-breakers with Fike winning all three.
Barry Nettercutt's squad finished at 14-3 and all three losses were at the hands of Fike.
Turning to football, there are two games left to go in the regular season in the final year of the NEW 6 Conference. Right now, Rocky Mount is ahead going after their third title while SouthWest Edgecombe has one.
How important is winning the regular season? The conference winner has advanced to at least the third round every year.
There is nothing like playing high school playoff football on Thanksgiving Friday night.
(Well maybe state championship Saturday is close.)
Thanksgiving Friday is a benchmark for every team that is still playing. Rocky Mount is in the driver's seat leading the way at 3-0. It has got Nash Central and Fike left on the schedule.
If you remember back during the RM Jamboree, I said Fike was the second best team there. Nash Central already has two losses in conference and can't afford any more.
The road to the conference crown is full of pot holes that the Gryphons need to dodge.
SouthWest has already played three home games against the three best teams: Fike, Rocky Mount and Nash Central.
One conference loss is all they can stand if they want a share of the title. They have road games at Southern Nash and Northern Nash remaining.
Fike has Southern Nash and Rocky Mount left. They are the fly in the soup for if they win out, there is a possible three-way tie in the works.
Nash Central needs to win out. They already have two forfeits to deal with, so another loss they will be seeded well down the list and more than likely catch a high seed even in the first round.
It has Rocky Mount and Northern Nash left.
Southern Nash, if it could find an offense to go with its defense, it could be and are trouble for every body.
Fike and Northern is the way the Firebirds finish.
Northern Nash looks to improve and there is no better way than to beat somebody.
SWE and Southern Nash are their choices for a possible victory.
Rocky Mount has control of its own destiny. A loss and it may come down to the luck of the draw.
Just got off the phone with Wes Bradshaw who tells me he just got the word from Whit Barnes that he has been chosen for the Shrine Bowl.
Way to go Whit!
Playing Fike for the third time was the same answer as before. Fike is one of the better tennis programs in the state and Rocky Mount is just a tie-breaker away from winning.
The score was 5-1, but three of the games went to tie-breakers with Fike winning all three.
Barry Nettercutt's squad finished at 14-3 and all three losses were at the hands of Fike.
Turning to football, there are two games left to go in the regular season in the final year of the NEW 6 Conference. Right now, Rocky Mount is ahead going after their third title while SouthWest Edgecombe has one.
How important is winning the regular season? The conference winner has advanced to at least the third round every year.
There is nothing like playing high school playoff football on Thanksgiving Friday night.
(Well maybe state championship Saturday is close.)
Thanksgiving Friday is a benchmark for every team that is still playing. Rocky Mount is in the driver's seat leading the way at 3-0. It has got Nash Central and Fike left on the schedule.
If you remember back during the RM Jamboree, I said Fike was the second best team there. Nash Central already has two losses in conference and can't afford any more.
The road to the conference crown is full of pot holes that the Gryphons need to dodge.
SouthWest has already played three home games against the three best teams: Fike, Rocky Mount and Nash Central.
One conference loss is all they can stand if they want a share of the title. They have road games at Southern Nash and Northern Nash remaining.
Fike has Southern Nash and Rocky Mount left. They are the fly in the soup for if they win out, there is a possible three-way tie in the works.
Nash Central needs to win out. They already have two forfeits to deal with, so another loss they will be seeded well down the list and more than likely catch a high seed even in the first round.
It has Rocky Mount and Northern Nash left.
Southern Nash, if it could find an offense to go with its defense, it could be and are trouble for every body.
Fike and Northern is the way the Firebirds finish.
Northern Nash looks to improve and there is no better way than to beat somebody.
SWE and Southern Nash are their choices for a possible victory.
Rocky Mount has control of its own destiny. A loss and it may come down to the luck of the draw.
Just got off the phone with Wes Bradshaw who tells me he just got the word from Whit Barnes that he has been chosen for the Shrine Bowl.
Way to go Whit!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
A Hat Trick For Matt Moore
The Gryphon boys soccer team had to play a home game away from home tonight.
The Gryphons moved over to the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex to open up the NCHSAA 3-A soccer playoffs. You would say first of all this has to be a great thing playing at the stadium over playing on the soccer field at the high school.
But, this is the first time a soccer game has been play at the RMAC all year. So there was no real home-field advantage for the Gryphons.
The football field has a crown. Their field on Nash street is flat.
The football field is not as wide as a soccer field, so the sidelines for the football players is actually in play during the soccer game.
This means there is a strip of the playing surface on both side of the field near the sidelines that are not in very good shape after football players have stood on it for eight football games this year.
Now, after telling you all those bad things about having to play tonight at the RMAC, Northern Guilford will be the one complaining as the Gryphons took advantage of all those disadvantages to whip the Nighthawks 5-1.
Senoir Matt Moore got season goals No. 27, 28 and 29 to power the Gryphons on to the second round.
Not far behind on the scoring parade was Justin Marsigli who scored twice himself.
Matt Williams, Marsigi and Justin Adams pitched in assists for the Gryphons.
Coach Drew Nick cleared the bench with 7.10 to play in the game saving the starters for a Saturday match with more than likely Burlington Willams, the team that knocked the Gryphons out of the playoffs last year.
Freshman goal tender Drew Gorham held on to his one goal allowed per game stopping four NG shots.
This could possible be the last home game for the soccer team, but with a victory on Saturday and some other teams losing, there is hope another home contest this year.
By the way, the game was played at the RMAC to be able to play under the lights.
I went by football practice today and was in head trainer Bernie Capps' office and heard the basketball tryouts going on. Basketball starts in about three weeks.
The Gryphons moved over to the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex to open up the NCHSAA 3-A soccer playoffs. You would say first of all this has to be a great thing playing at the stadium over playing on the soccer field at the high school.
But, this is the first time a soccer game has been play at the RMAC all year. So there was no real home-field advantage for the Gryphons.
The football field has a crown. Their field on Nash street is flat.
The football field is not as wide as a soccer field, so the sidelines for the football players is actually in play during the soccer game.
This means there is a strip of the playing surface on both side of the field near the sidelines that are not in very good shape after football players have stood on it for eight football games this year.
Now, after telling you all those bad things about having to play tonight at the RMAC, Northern Guilford will be the one complaining as the Gryphons took advantage of all those disadvantages to whip the Nighthawks 5-1.
Senoir Matt Moore got season goals No. 27, 28 and 29 to power the Gryphons on to the second round.
Not far behind on the scoring parade was Justin Marsigli who scored twice himself.
Matt Williams, Marsigi and Justin Adams pitched in assists for the Gryphons.
Coach Drew Nick cleared the bench with 7.10 to play in the game saving the starters for a Saturday match with more than likely Burlington Willams, the team that knocked the Gryphons out of the playoffs last year.
Freshman goal tender Drew Gorham held on to his one goal allowed per game stopping four NG shots.
This could possible be the last home game for the soccer team, but with a victory on Saturday and some other teams losing, there is hope another home contest this year.
By the way, the game was played at the RMAC to be able to play under the lights.
I went by football practice today and was in head trainer Bernie Capps' office and heard the basketball tryouts going on. Basketball starts in about three weeks.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Serves Them Right
I questioned on my Friday blog whether it was wise to postpone a game based on the forecast.
It is not like we knew that a tropical storm was headed our way, only that there was a chance of rain Friday night heading into Saturday.
Rocky Mount and Southern Nash played in a drizzle in front of 500-600 fans.
I understand it is raining hard tonight at SouthWest Edgecombe and there may be 200-400 hundred fans there.
Even though the forecast was not good for Friday night people make plans based on when an event is scheduled.
Last week's game I will give to you moving it to Monday because that was considered by most to be the game of the year for the NEW 6. There will not be a bigger crowd at SWE until about the third round of the playoffs, if they can get a home game.
Nash Central and SWE have now lost a conference game apiece so any luster for that game has faded. If there was going to be a big crowd, Friday night was the time to get it.
I think anyone who has ever been to a high school football games in the area know that Rocky Mount has the best pressbox.
I don't know why but I think I enjoy doing games from Southern Nash better than any other than RMHS.
My first game I ever called there was the playoff game with Hertford County in I believe 1991.
If anyone remembers, that was the mud bowl game in the second round that year and Southern Nash won 18-14.
The thing I remember about the game is WRAL TV5 had its cameras on the field for the toss of the coin and it showed the players' feet were under water during the coin toss.
I have my sources scattered about the area and one of them Don Johnson as he just called and said that SWE has beaten Nash Central 34-21.
It rained rather hard until halftime and cleared off and got colder.
At one point in the second quarter, Nash Central led 14-12 ,but SWE pushed it to 34-14 before a late Bulldog score made it respectable.
A final score from the Northern-Fike game (courtesy of our friend Randy Langley), Fike - 49 Northern Nash - 6. With two weeks left, there is a 2-way tie for second with SWE and Fike at 2-1. SWE holds the tie breaker if it is a two way tie. However Fike still has Rocky Mount on the last night of the regular season.
It is not like we knew that a tropical storm was headed our way, only that there was a chance of rain Friday night heading into Saturday.
Rocky Mount and Southern Nash played in a drizzle in front of 500-600 fans.
I understand it is raining hard tonight at SouthWest Edgecombe and there may be 200-400 hundred fans there.
Even though the forecast was not good for Friday night people make plans based on when an event is scheduled.
Last week's game I will give to you moving it to Monday because that was considered by most to be the game of the year for the NEW 6. There will not be a bigger crowd at SWE until about the third round of the playoffs, if they can get a home game.
Nash Central and SWE have now lost a conference game apiece so any luster for that game has faded. If there was going to be a big crowd, Friday night was the time to get it.
I think anyone who has ever been to a high school football games in the area know that Rocky Mount has the best pressbox.
I don't know why but I think I enjoy doing games from Southern Nash better than any other than RMHS.
My first game I ever called there was the playoff game with Hertford County in I believe 1991.
If anyone remembers, that was the mud bowl game in the second round that year and Southern Nash won 18-14.
The thing I remember about the game is WRAL TV5 had its cameras on the field for the toss of the coin and it showed the players' feet were under water during the coin toss.
I have my sources scattered about the area and one of them Don Johnson as he just called and said that SWE has beaten Nash Central 34-21.
It rained rather hard until halftime and cleared off and got colder.
At one point in the second quarter, Nash Central led 14-12 ,but SWE pushed it to 34-14 before a late Bulldog score made it respectable.
A final score from the Northern-Fike game (courtesy of our friend Randy Langley), Fike - 49 Northern Nash - 6. With two weeks left, there is a 2-way tie for second with SWE and Fike at 2-1. SWE holds the tie breaker if it is a two way tie. However Fike still has Rocky Mount on the last night of the regular season.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Weekend Review.
Someone tell me if I am wrong but was today the first time ever that two players from Nash county played in the same game?
The Phoenix Cardinals today were in Charlotte and the Cardinals J J Arrington of Northern Nash went up against the Panthers and Julius Peppers of Southern Nash.
I did not live in the area when Jim Clack played but was there anyone from the area other than Clack in the NFL then?
I tell you a team that I would not want to be matched up with in the playoffs is the Cardinals. Man can that Kurt Warner throw that pill.
I was flipping back and forth for most of the day between Carolina and San Diego and Saints.
It looks like Philip Rivers is back in Raleigh playing for the wolfpack as he is getting chunks of yardage and today he continues to lead the NFL in quarterback ratings but the Charger defense can't stop anybody.
To me as a charger fan it surely looked like the Charger came up short with the yellow flags. Twice they were called for pass interference when the defenders cannot possible play it any better.
The Saints benefited from both calls keeping drives alive and scoring 14 points.
I do see that Dallas and San Diego are both are alot alike. Both are a lot of Glitz but when it comes down to playing basic down and dirty football neither is doing it.
I think the World Series is has had three good games. Too bad they played last night and didn't start until close to 11.00pm
I don't understand why they took days off during the other series and now the World Series they want to Finish by Wednesday.
Another High school football player was hurt over the weekend from a head injury . An East Gaston player was carted off the field but the word is good tonight that the young man seems to be recovering.
Monday night finds high school football on the agenda as Nash Central Travels to Southwest Edgecombe and Fike will host Northern Nash.
I would expect B W Holt will be in Pinetops to scout Nash central.
It is always benificial when one team beats another but I can't make up my mind who I want to win the SWE Nash central game.
In the long run a SWE victory is best for the Gryphons since in case of a tie at the end of the season the Gryphons have the tie breaker against SWE.
If Nash Central were to win Monday and turn around and beat us they would have any tie breaker on us.
Finally tonight I want to go away from sports to tell you about something I did Friday morning.
We went to Greenville early Friday morning and when we got in the car we were about on empty so we decided to go to Tarboro to get cheap gas.
Just as I was pulling off of 64 my gas light came on. At the stop sign we noticed gas was $2.47 per gallon at the Murphy station but we went left hoping for cheaper at the raceway but it wasn't.
So back to Murphy where we filled up for $35.00. I think that is the first time in six months that I have not spent at least $50 a pop,
Praise the Lord!
The Phoenix Cardinals today were in Charlotte and the Cardinals J J Arrington of Northern Nash went up against the Panthers and Julius Peppers of Southern Nash.
I did not live in the area when Jim Clack played but was there anyone from the area other than Clack in the NFL then?
I tell you a team that I would not want to be matched up with in the playoffs is the Cardinals. Man can that Kurt Warner throw that pill.
I was flipping back and forth for most of the day between Carolina and San Diego and Saints.
It looks like Philip Rivers is back in Raleigh playing for the wolfpack as he is getting chunks of yardage and today he continues to lead the NFL in quarterback ratings but the Charger defense can't stop anybody.
To me as a charger fan it surely looked like the Charger came up short with the yellow flags. Twice they were called for pass interference when the defenders cannot possible play it any better.
The Saints benefited from both calls keeping drives alive and scoring 14 points.
I do see that Dallas and San Diego are both are alot alike. Both are a lot of Glitz but when it comes down to playing basic down and dirty football neither is doing it.
I think the World Series is has had three good games. Too bad they played last night and didn't start until close to 11.00pm
I don't understand why they took days off during the other series and now the World Series they want to Finish by Wednesday.
Another High school football player was hurt over the weekend from a head injury . An East Gaston player was carted off the field but the word is good tonight that the young man seems to be recovering.
Monday night finds high school football on the agenda as Nash Central Travels to Southwest Edgecombe and Fike will host Northern Nash.
I would expect B W Holt will be in Pinetops to scout Nash central.
It is always benificial when one team beats another but I can't make up my mind who I want to win the SWE Nash central game.
In the long run a SWE victory is best for the Gryphons since in case of a tie at the end of the season the Gryphons have the tie breaker against SWE.
If Nash Central were to win Monday and turn around and beat us they would have any tie breaker on us.
Finally tonight I want to go away from sports to tell you about something I did Friday morning.
We went to Greenville early Friday morning and when we got in the car we were about on empty so we decided to go to Tarboro to get cheap gas.
Just as I was pulling off of 64 my gas light came on. At the stop sign we noticed gas was $2.47 per gallon at the Murphy station but we went left hoping for cheaper at the raceway but it wasn't.
So back to Murphy where we filled up for $35.00. I think that is the first time in six months that I have not spent at least $50 a pop,
Praise the Lord!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
The beat Goes On
The fight for the number #1 seeding in the 3-A level is going down to the wire and the Gryphons are in the hunt.
You need to remember state rankings will not play a part in who becomes #1 in the playoff brackets.
Right now with two weeks to go there are four teams still undefeated and in the running for the #1 seeding.
Rocky Mount has a loss but since they have played an endowment game if they don't lose again inthe eyes of the NCHSAA they will be 10-0 for the playoff seeding.
Beddingfield, West Craven, Eastern Alamance and Rocky Mount are all still alive to be undefeated.
Once the season is completed each conference will have their #1 seed. All undefeated conference winners who are undefeated will go in a hat and a drawing will be held.
If those four schools finish undefeated the seeding 1-4 will be those schools.
Any team that has one loss will then be seeded but no better than fifth.
After all the number ones are seeded the same process will be followed for the team seeded #2 in each conference.
The wild card in all this speculations is who will be consider 3-AA or3-A. We feel Rocky Mount should be secure in the single A due to the fact on the official day to take the census the Gryphons have less students than last year and they were3-A last year.
In order for all of this conjecture and worry to formulate the Gryphons still must will their final two games because first place is still up for grabs in the NEW-6.
If no NEW-6 team is undefeated then you can expect for sure only one home game for the league champion or who ever gets the number 1 seed in case of a tie.
College football today
Carolina is back in the Hunt for the Orange Bowl bid and even a trip to the ACC championship game in Tampa.
Poor old Wake Forest somewhere along the way has lost their offense. If anyone has seen it please call Jim Grobe in Winston Salem.
Here is and old cliche for you. I bet N C State is the best 2-6 team in the country. I love their effort.
Now Duke has messed up the national media gossip about the SEC being the best football conference in America. They laid a whipping on Vanderbilt.
The last four years they have not been able to beat anybody. Next saturday they play NC State in Durham. It is NC State and Duke first game in five years.
I think Duke and N C State should play each other in years where they don't meet in a ACC game. Duke will be the favorite next weekend.
In Elon today the #3 ranked Phoenix of Elon played the #4 ranked Wofford Terriers and the dogs whipped Elon 55-20.
Wofford was the only team to beat Appalachian State last year.
Finally tonight N C State's basketball team played their red and white game tonight in Raleigh. It is the time since the RBC building has been built that it wasn't played before a football game. The football team played in College Park today.
In order to help draw a crowd tonight the game was the back end of a doubleheader with the Volleyball team. How far has basketball fallen in Raleigh?
You need to remember state rankings will not play a part in who becomes #1 in the playoff brackets.
Right now with two weeks to go there are four teams still undefeated and in the running for the #1 seeding.
Rocky Mount has a loss but since they have played an endowment game if they don't lose again inthe eyes of the NCHSAA they will be 10-0 for the playoff seeding.
Beddingfield, West Craven, Eastern Alamance and Rocky Mount are all still alive to be undefeated.
Once the season is completed each conference will have their #1 seed. All undefeated conference winners who are undefeated will go in a hat and a drawing will be held.
If those four schools finish undefeated the seeding 1-4 will be those schools.
Any team that has one loss will then be seeded but no better than fifth.
After all the number ones are seeded the same process will be followed for the team seeded #2 in each conference.
The wild card in all this speculations is who will be consider 3-AA or3-A. We feel Rocky Mount should be secure in the single A due to the fact on the official day to take the census the Gryphons have less students than last year and they were3-A last year.
In order for all of this conjecture and worry to formulate the Gryphons still must will their final two games because first place is still up for grabs in the NEW-6.
If no NEW-6 team is undefeated then you can expect for sure only one home game for the league champion or who ever gets the number 1 seed in case of a tie.
College football today
Carolina is back in the Hunt for the Orange Bowl bid and even a trip to the ACC championship game in Tampa.
Poor old Wake Forest somewhere along the way has lost their offense. If anyone has seen it please call Jim Grobe in Winston Salem.
Here is and old cliche for you. I bet N C State is the best 2-6 team in the country. I love their effort.
Now Duke has messed up the national media gossip about the SEC being the best football conference in America. They laid a whipping on Vanderbilt.
The last four years they have not been able to beat anybody. Next saturday they play NC State in Durham. It is NC State and Duke first game in five years.
I think Duke and N C State should play each other in years where they don't meet in a ACC game. Duke will be the favorite next weekend.
In Elon today the #3 ranked Phoenix of Elon played the #4 ranked Wofford Terriers and the dogs whipped Elon 55-20.
Wofford was the only team to beat Appalachian State last year.
Finally tonight N C State's basketball team played their red and white game tonight in Raleigh. It is the time since the RBC building has been built that it wasn't played before a football game. The football team played in College Park today.
In order to help draw a crowd tonight the game was the back end of a doubleheader with the Volleyball team. How far has basketball fallen in Raleigh?
Friday, October 24, 2008
Rainy Night in Nash County
One of the weaknesses of this year's Gryphon team coming into the season was backup play on the offensive line.
Tonight, with two starters on the sidelines, the Gryphons failed to run the ball in the first half getting only 18 yards on 16 running plays
BUT...
One the strengths this year has been the ability to pass the ball and despite not being able to run the ball in the first half, the Gryphons found the end zone twice by way of air mail.
Keith Strickland had over 100 yards receiving in the first half and caught two bombs from Collins Cuthrell. Strickland's touchdown catches were for 50 yards and 68 yards.
The defense gave up a score tonight, but only surrendered their average on the year: seven points.
You know two years ago when we played SWE on a Monday night and followed that with a trip to Southern Nash, we lost two games. Not this year as the Gryphons have taken solid control of the NEW 6 with a 3-0 conference mark.
We have now played nine games and the nicks and bruises are appearing and yet, the Gryphons took care of business 24-7 over the Firebirds.
Early Friday afternoon came and we heard that SouthWest had already postponed its game due to the expected rain.
I wish they would wait until it least started raining before calling a game. Later in the afternoon, the Fike-Northern Nash game became a casualty of the forecast.
It started raining at Southern right at the kickoff, but several people who were without umbrellas stood in the rain the whole game and were no worst for wear after the game.
Looking at the state doubles tennis tournament in Burlington today.
In the morning session in Burlington, the sister team of Kate and Caroline Gray won their match 7-6, 6-2 over a team from Burlington Williams and the duo of Lindsey Thomas and Addie Keeter moved on to the semifinals with a 6-0, 6-2 win.
The afternoon session brought an end to the tennis season as both teams were beaten. The Gray sisters lost their match in a hard fought affair 7-5, 6-4, while the Thomas/Keeter team were eliminated 6-1, 6-0.
Whenever you lose in the playoffs, that sudden end makes you walk off the field with a feeling that you did something wrong, but whenever you make it to the semifinals in any sport you have had a great season.
Congratulations to Kate, Caroline, Lindsey and Addie for a job well done.
Tonight, with two starters on the sidelines, the Gryphons failed to run the ball in the first half getting only 18 yards on 16 running plays
BUT...
One the strengths this year has been the ability to pass the ball and despite not being able to run the ball in the first half, the Gryphons found the end zone twice by way of air mail.
Keith Strickland had over 100 yards receiving in the first half and caught two bombs from Collins Cuthrell. Strickland's touchdown catches were for 50 yards and 68 yards.
The defense gave up a score tonight, but only surrendered their average on the year: seven points.
You know two years ago when we played SWE on a Monday night and followed that with a trip to Southern Nash, we lost two games. Not this year as the Gryphons have taken solid control of the NEW 6 with a 3-0 conference mark.
We have now played nine games and the nicks and bruises are appearing and yet, the Gryphons took care of business 24-7 over the Firebirds.
Early Friday afternoon came and we heard that SouthWest had already postponed its game due to the expected rain.
I wish they would wait until it least started raining before calling a game. Later in the afternoon, the Fike-Northern Nash game became a casualty of the forecast.
It started raining at Southern right at the kickoff, but several people who were without umbrellas stood in the rain the whole game and were no worst for wear after the game.
Looking at the state doubles tennis tournament in Burlington today.
In the morning session in Burlington, the sister team of Kate and Caroline Gray won their match 7-6, 6-2 over a team from Burlington Williams and the duo of Lindsey Thomas and Addie Keeter moved on to the semifinals with a 6-0, 6-2 win.
The afternoon session brought an end to the tennis season as both teams were beaten. The Gray sisters lost their match in a hard fought affair 7-5, 6-4, while the Thomas/Keeter team were eliminated 6-1, 6-0.
Whenever you lose in the playoffs, that sudden end makes you walk off the field with a feeling that you did something wrong, but whenever you make it to the semifinals in any sport you have had a great season.
Congratulations to Kate, Caroline, Lindsey and Addie for a job well done.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Rebound from Victory?
Last year, we had seven home games and of those seven, three were conference games.
This year, we are only going to have five home games and we catch the three road games in conference.
All three road conference games are in a row and the second of the three is Friday night at Southern Nash
A lot of people think the Gryphons did not play well Monday night. In some areas, we didn't, but one area where we did was on defense.
Yes, SWE dominated the clock, but in the end, the idea of the game is to outscore the other side which the Gryphons did.
You must also give some credit to the Cougarst. They are pretty good. A lot of the reason why we didn't do what we normally do was because of them.
It took a lot to win Monday night. Even though we won, how much energy did it take from us to win?
Can we rebound and have what it takes Friday night to get the job done?
You know if Southern were to win, it would be tied for first place. So they have plenty of reason to try to beat us twice in a row at Southern Nash.
The regular season ends two weeks from Friday night, so we are so close to the end to have a slip up now.
Speaking of rebounding, the JV Gryphons got back on the winning track tonight beating the Firebirds 26-13.
The news is not good in the NEW 6 Soccer tournament finals, however, as Northern Nash got a penalty kick with 10 minutes left and beat the Gryphons 1-0.
State playoffs begin next week for soccer.
Friday morning, the Gryphon doubles teams start the state championships in Burlington. We will pass along the results when blogging after the game.
It was rather chilly tonight at the JV game, so if you are not brave enough to make the trip to Southern, we start our Gryphon propaganda at 7 p.m. on AM 1390.
You know the Gryphons are still alive looking for the No. 1 seeding in the football playoffs. But unless they finish without a loss in conference play, they won't get a chance at the top seeding.
I wonder whether we will wear gold jerseys tomorrow?
We are 3-0 in the gold and have scored 119 points while allowing just six. Remember the six that came on a fumble that was picked up by Southern Wayne. And they scored it on second team offense, so the first team defense has not been scored on while in gold.
This year, we are only going to have five home games and we catch the three road games in conference.
All three road conference games are in a row and the second of the three is Friday night at Southern Nash
A lot of people think the Gryphons did not play well Monday night. In some areas, we didn't, but one area where we did was on defense.
Yes, SWE dominated the clock, but in the end, the idea of the game is to outscore the other side which the Gryphons did.
You must also give some credit to the Cougarst. They are pretty good. A lot of the reason why we didn't do what we normally do was because of them.
It took a lot to win Monday night. Even though we won, how much energy did it take from us to win?
Can we rebound and have what it takes Friday night to get the job done?
You know if Southern were to win, it would be tied for first place. So they have plenty of reason to try to beat us twice in a row at Southern Nash.
The regular season ends two weeks from Friday night, so we are so close to the end to have a slip up now.
Speaking of rebounding, the JV Gryphons got back on the winning track tonight beating the Firebirds 26-13.
The news is not good in the NEW 6 Soccer tournament finals, however, as Northern Nash got a penalty kick with 10 minutes left and beat the Gryphons 1-0.
State playoffs begin next week for soccer.
Friday morning, the Gryphon doubles teams start the state championships in Burlington. We will pass along the results when blogging after the game.
It was rather chilly tonight at the JV game, so if you are not brave enough to make the trip to Southern, we start our Gryphon propaganda at 7 p.m. on AM 1390.
You know the Gryphons are still alive looking for the No. 1 seeding in the football playoffs. But unless they finish without a loss in conference play, they won't get a chance at the top seeding.
I wonder whether we will wear gold jerseys tomorrow?
We are 3-0 in the gold and have scored 119 points while allowing just six. Remember the six that came on a fumble that was picked up by Southern Wayne. And they scored it on second team offense, so the first team defense has not been scored on while in gold.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
MId-Week Already
I don't know how many of you have heard the commercial on ESPN radio about switching Mondays to make it part of the weekend, and making Thursday the last workday of the week.
After playing on Monday night, I felt like Tuesday was Saturday and it is already Wednesday. Where has this week gone?????
One of those games that I didn't think they would win, but they did. Hooray for the boys soccer team as they knocked off Fike in the semifinals of the NEW 6 tournament at Fike.
Having just lost at Fike last week and being the No. 2 seed meeting the No. 3 seed on its home field seemed daunting. But the Gryphons pulled it off on penalty shots.
I'm glad we won, but penalty shots in high school is a tough way to lose. I think they should just play an overtime period until one team scores.
I got my days wrong on the tournament finals. They are Thursday night instead of tonight and the Gryphons will play Northern Nash for the title.
Unfortunately, I will be on the PA at the JV football game and will not be doing TV.
You can about tell the quality of your league by how well conference members do in the first round of the playoffs.
In volleyball in the first round, the NEW 6 was 1-3. That left the Lady Gryphons to shoulder the burden for the conference.
In round two, they played host to South Central and the coaching career of Debbie Webb has ended for the Gryphons.
In 21 years as the Gryphons' coach, Webb won 304 games and loss just 140. Seventeen of those 21 years were when we were members of the Big East 4-A, and that works out to 15 wins a year and just nine losses.
Webb will leave some very large shoes to fill. Good luck with the grand kids, Debbie and Bert!
Getting back to how well the conference is doing, we turn to tennis where the girls tennis team won their round two match.
Kate Gray, Addie Keeter, Caroline Gray, Lindsey Thomas and Caroline Nelson won their singles matches over Southern Alamance.
Now it's on to the third round at NEW 6 foe Fike Tuesday. Fike won both matches during the regular season. Both matches were nail biters, despite their 7-2 and 6-3 scores.
Turning to football, we have over the last couple of games started a tendency of getting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
On Monday night, one flag was thrown 15 yards from the nearest Gryphon, so you know somebody's mouth was working overtime. Then we had one on what would have been a fourth-and-inches on our sideline, and we had to punt instead of going for it on fourth down.
Those type penalties will beat you somewhere down the road. We were part of six or seven of them against Northern Nash.
That trend has to stop!
Did everyone notice that every coaching staff in the conference, as well as other schools, were there to watch and scout Monday night? They all got an eye full of both teams.
The JVs will try to start on a new winning streak tomorrow night against Southern Nash.
After playing on Monday night, I felt like Tuesday was Saturday and it is already Wednesday. Where has this week gone?????
One of those games that I didn't think they would win, but they did. Hooray for the boys soccer team as they knocked off Fike in the semifinals of the NEW 6 tournament at Fike.
Having just lost at Fike last week and being the No. 2 seed meeting the No. 3 seed on its home field seemed daunting. But the Gryphons pulled it off on penalty shots.
I'm glad we won, but penalty shots in high school is a tough way to lose. I think they should just play an overtime period until one team scores.
I got my days wrong on the tournament finals. They are Thursday night instead of tonight and the Gryphons will play Northern Nash for the title.
Unfortunately, I will be on the PA at the JV football game and will not be doing TV.
You can about tell the quality of your league by how well conference members do in the first round of the playoffs.
In volleyball in the first round, the NEW 6 was 1-3. That left the Lady Gryphons to shoulder the burden for the conference.
In round two, they played host to South Central and the coaching career of Debbie Webb has ended for the Gryphons.
In 21 years as the Gryphons' coach, Webb won 304 games and loss just 140. Seventeen of those 21 years were when we were members of the Big East 4-A, and that works out to 15 wins a year and just nine losses.
Webb will leave some very large shoes to fill. Good luck with the grand kids, Debbie and Bert!
Getting back to how well the conference is doing, we turn to tennis where the girls tennis team won their round two match.
Kate Gray, Addie Keeter, Caroline Gray, Lindsey Thomas and Caroline Nelson won their singles matches over Southern Alamance.
Now it's on to the third round at NEW 6 foe Fike Tuesday. Fike won both matches during the regular season. Both matches were nail biters, despite their 7-2 and 6-3 scores.
Turning to football, we have over the last couple of games started a tendency of getting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
On Monday night, one flag was thrown 15 yards from the nearest Gryphon, so you know somebody's mouth was working overtime. Then we had one on what would have been a fourth-and-inches on our sideline, and we had to punt instead of going for it on fourth down.
Those type penalties will beat you somewhere down the road. We were part of six or seven of them against Northern Nash.
That trend has to stop!
Did everyone notice that every coaching staff in the conference, as well as other schools, were there to watch and scout Monday night? They all got an eye full of both teams.
The JVs will try to start on a new winning streak tomorrow night against Southern Nash.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Focus Forward
Two years ago after the Monday night defeat to Southwest Edgecombe the Gryphons didn't recover and lost at Southern Nash in overtime the following Friday.
Recovering from an all out effort to win and being able to get ready in four short days until the next game. Different circimstance but the same problem. Being ready this Friday Night.
Two years ago we went to Southern Nash and lost. SWE finds themselves having to get back on track but they get a home game Friday against Nash Central.
The schedule has favored the Cougars as they have played Fike, Rocky Mount and will play Nash Central all at home this year.
The Gryphons must take advantage of the start they have had in conference play any stumble would do away with the fine effort Monday night.
My Job I cannot go onto my computer and access any sports because it has been filter out of my computer. So in order to catch up on anything related to sports I have to do it once I get home at night.
I have just gotten through reading all the comments on line in the Rocky Mount Telegram about last nights game.
It is funnier than reading the Sunday comics.
I can't get over all the Cougar fans who want to down grade Rocky Mount's victory by saying the Gryphons were lucky or the refs cheated.
Seems to me when you down grade a team that just beat you, you down grade yourself because you didn't beat them.
Now that I have had twenty four hours to digest the game. It was still a great game.
I don't know what the numbers were related to time control but I bet SWE had it close to thirty minutes to the Gryphons eighteen,
The turnovers were Gryphons four and SWE zero. Yet the Gryphons won.
Raymond Cobb is a running coach just like BW Holt runs the ball. You know what you are good at most of the time you know what stops you and can stop someone else who runs too.
In the five meeting these two legandary coaches have stopped each other. Rocky Mount has score but sixteen points a game while SWE has been held to nine.
I will be in Wilson Wednesday night to cover the Championship game of the conference finals in boys soccer for The Stretchlon Sports show.
Tonight Northern Nash has played Nash Central and Rocky Mount is playing Fike on their home field.
The two winner play for the conference crown tomorrow night.
Over the weekend and into Monday the Gryphon doubles team of Addie Keeter and Lindsey Thomas made it all the way to the regional Finals in doubles losing to a team from Fike.
When I get back from soccer tomorrow night I hope to report on Volleyball, the tennis team and boys soccer all of them in action today.
I have a full plate this week with the Monday night football game and then Wednesday night soccer, PA at the JV Game Thursday and back to Stanhope or Friday night football.
I plan on being in a recliner all day Saturday.
Recovering from an all out effort to win and being able to get ready in four short days until the next game. Different circimstance but the same problem. Being ready this Friday Night.
Two years ago we went to Southern Nash and lost. SWE finds themselves having to get back on track but they get a home game Friday against Nash Central.
The schedule has favored the Cougars as they have played Fike, Rocky Mount and will play Nash Central all at home this year.
The Gryphons must take advantage of the start they have had in conference play any stumble would do away with the fine effort Monday night.
My Job I cannot go onto my computer and access any sports because it has been filter out of my computer. So in order to catch up on anything related to sports I have to do it once I get home at night.
I have just gotten through reading all the comments on line in the Rocky Mount Telegram about last nights game.
It is funnier than reading the Sunday comics.
I can't get over all the Cougar fans who want to down grade Rocky Mount's victory by saying the Gryphons were lucky or the refs cheated.
Seems to me when you down grade a team that just beat you, you down grade yourself because you didn't beat them.
Now that I have had twenty four hours to digest the game. It was still a great game.
I don't know what the numbers were related to time control but I bet SWE had it close to thirty minutes to the Gryphons eighteen,
The turnovers were Gryphons four and SWE zero. Yet the Gryphons won.
Raymond Cobb is a running coach just like BW Holt runs the ball. You know what you are good at most of the time you know what stops you and can stop someone else who runs too.
In the five meeting these two legandary coaches have stopped each other. Rocky Mount has score but sixteen points a game while SWE has been held to nine.
I will be in Wilson Wednesday night to cover the Championship game of the conference finals in boys soccer for The Stretchlon Sports show.
Tonight Northern Nash has played Nash Central and Rocky Mount is playing Fike on their home field.
The two winner play for the conference crown tomorrow night.
Over the weekend and into Monday the Gryphon doubles team of Addie Keeter and Lindsey Thomas made it all the way to the regional Finals in doubles losing to a team from Fike.
When I get back from soccer tomorrow night I hope to report on Volleyball, the tennis team and boys soccer all of them in action today.
I have a full plate this week with the Monday night football game and then Wednesday night soccer, PA at the JV Game Thursday and back to Stanhope or Friday night football.
I plan on being in a recliner all day Saturday.
Monday, October 20, 2008
This was a Championship Game!
In boxing, when there is a championship fight, it goes 15 rounds. The judges give the winner of each round 10 points and the loser either gets eight or nine points.
Tonight, the Gryphons won the first round 10-8. From rounds two to 15, two champions slugged it out with each team winning seven rounds each by a score of 10-9.
Then, the judges added the scores up and that first round was the difference.
Tonight, two quality teams went tooth and nail against each other and the difference was the first drive of the game - a 46-yard march that took over six minutes off the clock. But it was gold for the Gryphons as they outlasted SouthWest Edgecombe 7-0.
The Gryphon "D-Block: survived a dropped touchdown pass in the end zone and a fourth-and- inches from the goal line, but in the end, it was the second straight shutout for the Gryphons.
For the game, Rocky Mount had the ball six total times. Two punts, three fumbles and an interception and won the game. One of those fumbles on an attemped punt return kept us from getting another chance as we gave it back to the Cougars before we had a chance to get it.
The only time that we didn't punt or turn it over, we scored.
Until the last desperation plays by SWE with 1:25 left to play, each team got at least one first down or more on every drive.
The defenses played great, but neither side could stop the other.
Those in attendance tonight saw two of the best teams in the state square off and if they had of played four more quarters, I don't think there would have been a touchdown difference between the two.
The Cougars' first drive of the game was 14 plays and covered 65 yards and ended with a blocked field goal.
SWE's opening drive of the second half was 20 plays long and went 79 yards and two feet and ended with no points.
Both offenses move the ball just enough to keep it away from the other.
Rocky Mount 7, SouthWest Edgecombe 0.
Riding home tonight, Charles Alston, Wes Bradshaw and I were discussing the game and I said "boy, that stop at the goal line saved the game." I want to steal this line from Wes, but I will give him credit for it.
He said, "The L'var Silver third-and-10 with the ball laying on the goal line and then he picked up 24 yards off tackle won the game for us."
I agree, if SWE makes us punt from the goal line, they were probably close enough to score, but with that 24-yard run, the Cougars never got the ball on our side of the field again.
Tonight's victory was No. 64 for head coach B.W. Holt at Rocky Mount. He is now all alone in second place on the all-time Rocky Mount victory list.
That touchdown on the first drive meant that Rocky Mount has scored in 97 straight games.
The seven points is the lowest point total for Holt since he has been at Rocky Mount - lower that the 10 RMHS scored against Western Alamance in the 2005 3-A east finals.
The seven points also stops a 76-game streak in which Rocky Mount had scored double figures in a game. The streak started on Sept. 2, 2002 with a 7-0 win at Hunt - a game in which I called the play-by-play and Wes did the color.
FYI, Charlotte Independence has the longest double-figure scoring streak at 140 games, followed by Reidsville's 102. RMHS' was the third longest in the state until tonight.
The streak ended tonight oddly enough with another 7-0 victory. Most of the time, if you don't score in double figures you would think you would lose. But both ends of the streak are 7-0 victories.
Don't you think that's kind of odd.
I am still numb from this game. Just think we now have to recover to go to Southern Nash Friday night!
But we will go there Friday as the leaders of the NEW 6. There is now a four-way tie for second between SWE, Nash Central, Fike and Southern Nash.
I don't know what more I can say. Whenever two teams walk off the field having given everything they had, you can't ask for more!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
RMHS volleyball moves on
Saturday night was a good night for the Lady Gryphon's Volleyball team as they cruise to the second round of the NCHSAA playoffs.
They won 3-0 against the visiting Southern Wayne Saints.
It was victory #303 for Debbie Webb who is putting closure on a twenty one year coaching career when ever this season ends.
The season ended abruptly for the other three members of the NEW-6 that were in the volleyball playoffs. Northern was upset and Nash Central and Fike failed to make it out of the first round.
So the Lady Gryphons will carry the Banner for the NEW-6 for the remainder of the season. The ladies look for victory #20 in the second round.
Looking at College Football:
Former Gryphon and North Carolina High School athlete of the year in 2005 Terrell Hudgins caught two touchdown passes yesterday for Elon which were his 31st and 32nd of his career.
That makes him #1 all time at Elon for Touchdown passes. Yesterday was also the worst day of Terrell's career as he only caught three balls all day for thirty nine yards.
Elon has found a running game in the past few weeks taking catches away from Terrell. This new found offense has helped propel Elon to #3 in the FCS standings before this weekend's 42-7
Victory over Chattanooga. The Phoenix is now 7-1 on the year.
We need to send out a holler to former Tarboro Viking Shawn Draughn who for the past two weeks has gone over a hundred yards for Carolina.
Looked to me like Carolina needed to give him the ball more late in the game while they were trying to run out the clock.
What in the world has happened to Wake Forest? Just a few weeks ago they were as good as anybody and now their offense is dead in the water.
All four of the Big four schools bit the dust this weekend as Duke is beginning to play Duke Football that we all know and N C State keeps giving effort but losing.
ECU was the lone winner of our area major colleges but locally N C Wesleyan won over at Northern yesterday.
Looks like as far as the ACC is concerned Georgia Tech is the best team this week. All we have to do is wait until next Saturday and put someone else at the top for the week.
We are all creatures of habit. We like our high school football on Friday night and the NFL on Monday night. This week you can see what is now the battle for the out right lead in the NEW-6 as the winner will be the only undefeated team in the conference after two games.
Remember it is a 7.00pm kickoff which means we will go on the air on AM1390 at 6.30pm from the pressbox at Southwest Edgecombe.
I'll blog again after the game Monday night.
They won 3-0 against the visiting Southern Wayne Saints.
It was victory #303 for Debbie Webb who is putting closure on a twenty one year coaching career when ever this season ends.
The season ended abruptly for the other three members of the NEW-6 that were in the volleyball playoffs. Northern was upset and Nash Central and Fike failed to make it out of the first round.
So the Lady Gryphons will carry the Banner for the NEW-6 for the remainder of the season. The ladies look for victory #20 in the second round.
Looking at College Football:
Former Gryphon and North Carolina High School athlete of the year in 2005 Terrell Hudgins caught two touchdown passes yesterday for Elon which were his 31st and 32nd of his career.
That makes him #1 all time at Elon for Touchdown passes. Yesterday was also the worst day of Terrell's career as he only caught three balls all day for thirty nine yards.
Elon has found a running game in the past few weeks taking catches away from Terrell. This new found offense has helped propel Elon to #3 in the FCS standings before this weekend's 42-7
Victory over Chattanooga. The Phoenix is now 7-1 on the year.
We need to send out a holler to former Tarboro Viking Shawn Draughn who for the past two weeks has gone over a hundred yards for Carolina.
Looked to me like Carolina needed to give him the ball more late in the game while they were trying to run out the clock.
What in the world has happened to Wake Forest? Just a few weeks ago they were as good as anybody and now their offense is dead in the water.
All four of the Big four schools bit the dust this weekend as Duke is beginning to play Duke Football that we all know and N C State keeps giving effort but losing.
ECU was the lone winner of our area major colleges but locally N C Wesleyan won over at Northern yesterday.
Looks like as far as the ACC is concerned Georgia Tech is the best team this week. All we have to do is wait until next Saturday and put someone else at the top for the week.
We are all creatures of habit. We like our high school football on Friday night and the NFL on Monday night. This week you can see what is now the battle for the out right lead in the NEW-6 as the winner will be the only undefeated team in the conference after two games.
Remember it is a 7.00pm kickoff which means we will go on the air on AM1390 at 6.30pm from the pressbox at Southwest Edgecombe.
I'll blog again after the game Monday night.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
To Play Or Not To Play
Since Friday night's game has been moved to Monday, the question is being asked why do we play high schools sports?
Obviously ,the first answer is for the enrichment of those who participate.
In order for those who play to partake, someone has to pay the bills.
Right now, we are in the middle of an election campaign in which both candidates are promising to give us more. They both claim that they can cut taxes to do it.
Any person in their right mind knows in order to be given anything, someone pays for it. Money just doesn't grow on the government tree as some people think.
There lies the decision to move the biggest game of the weekend in the area and possibly in the state to Monday night.
Sporting budgets come from booster clubs and ticket sales. There is no line item in the school budgets that say athletic $$$$$$$$.
A barbecue dinner can raise $4,000, but a big gate can raise $15,000. When given a choice, which will the decision makers go for?
The expenses at a game.. Once the lights go one, someone pays. How much is that, $100 an hour? Only the meter reader knows for sure.
Those referees show up every Friday night from Fayetteville, Greenville or Goldsboro. Do you think they like Rocky Mount so much that they just got in their car to do us a favor?
We all hate to do it, but we go through security every game just to be safe. Do you think the security scanner is all we need. Police and sheriff deputies are there every game and someone pays.
There is probably $2,000 of expenses every time the lights go on and don't forget the JVs that cost is probably $1,000.
I don't remember how old I was, but this was somewhere around 1960, my dad never missed a game on Friday night in Ahoskie. Southern Durham was in town and at about 7.30 (back then kickoff was at 8),the bottom fell out and rained like all get out for three hours.
The coaches huddled up around 8 and Southern Durham was asked whether they wanted to come back Saturday night. Their reply was we come a long way to not play. We soundly trounced them 40-0 in front of six faithful fans.
My dad, me, Louis Young, a coach's wife, her two sons and my dad's best friend Randolph. Being an electrician, my father always carried polyethylene with him and we sat as dry as could be possible some times not able to see the other side of the field.
I think back then it was $1 to get in. We worried more about the victory more than the cost. That was a time when a person was rich if he had $20 in his pocket. Nowadays, $20 will not get you in and out of a movie.
I watched ECU play this afternoon - sometimes in the rain. It was a sellout so 38,000 tickets were sold. If more than 20,000 sat through the game, they had a crowd. I bet the cost of that ticket was $40.
I wonder how many people asked for a refund as they ran for their cars to get out of the rain.
Yes, 40 years ago, we would have played last night, but nowadays, they have to worry where the money is going to come from to put gas in two buses to ship the team off next weekend.
I wish we had of played Friday, but I understand why we didn't.
The price of a high school football game ticket is $6. It's the best bargain around - whether it's on a Monday or Friday.
Obviously ,the first answer is for the enrichment of those who participate.
In order for those who play to partake, someone has to pay the bills.
Right now, we are in the middle of an election campaign in which both candidates are promising to give us more. They both claim that they can cut taxes to do it.
Any person in their right mind knows in order to be given anything, someone pays for it. Money just doesn't grow on the government tree as some people think.
There lies the decision to move the biggest game of the weekend in the area and possibly in the state to Monday night.
Sporting budgets come from booster clubs and ticket sales. There is no line item in the school budgets that say athletic $$$$$$$$.
A barbecue dinner can raise $4,000, but a big gate can raise $15,000. When given a choice, which will the decision makers go for?
The expenses at a game.. Once the lights go one, someone pays. How much is that, $100 an hour? Only the meter reader knows for sure.
Those referees show up every Friday night from Fayetteville, Greenville or Goldsboro. Do you think they like Rocky Mount so much that they just got in their car to do us a favor?
We all hate to do it, but we go through security every game just to be safe. Do you think the security scanner is all we need. Police and sheriff deputies are there every game and someone pays.
There is probably $2,000 of expenses every time the lights go on and don't forget the JVs that cost is probably $1,000.
I don't remember how old I was, but this was somewhere around 1960, my dad never missed a game on Friday night in Ahoskie. Southern Durham was in town and at about 7.30 (back then kickoff was at 8),the bottom fell out and rained like all get out for three hours.
The coaches huddled up around 8 and Southern Durham was asked whether they wanted to come back Saturday night. Their reply was we come a long way to not play. We soundly trounced them 40-0 in front of six faithful fans.
My dad, me, Louis Young, a coach's wife, her two sons and my dad's best friend Randolph. Being an electrician, my father always carried polyethylene with him and we sat as dry as could be possible some times not able to see the other side of the field.
I think back then it was $1 to get in. We worried more about the victory more than the cost. That was a time when a person was rich if he had $20 in his pocket. Nowadays, $20 will not get you in and out of a movie.
I watched ECU play this afternoon - sometimes in the rain. It was a sellout so 38,000 tickets were sold. If more than 20,000 sat through the game, they had a crowd. I bet the cost of that ticket was $40.
I wonder how many people asked for a refund as they ran for their cars to get out of the rain.
Yes, 40 years ago, we would have played last night, but nowadays, they have to worry where the money is going to come from to put gas in two buses to ship the team off next weekend.
I wish we had of played Friday, but I understand why we didn't.
The price of a high school football game ticket is $6. It's the best bargain around - whether it's on a Monday or Friday.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Home on Friday night
Wes Bradshaw and I had a live show Friday night on AM 1390. It was suppose to last 30 minutes, from 7-7:30, where we talked Gryphon football even though we did not play.
We managed to stretch an half hour into 50 minutes before we gave the station back to Gospel Music.
When I got in the car, I turned my radio on and listened to the Nash Central-Fike game, which had the Bulldogs up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Bulldogs looked like they were going to be setting alone in first place in the conference if they kept this up.
I arrived home and it was almost 9.30 before I turned the game back on to see what was happening.
It is now 27-24 Fike, midway through the third quarter and I find out through Paul Andre that Nash Central had a 24-zip lead before the Golden Demons decided to act like the Boston Red Sox.
Fike routs Nash Central 46-30 by scoring 32 points in the second half.
This puts Fike, Nash Central along with Southern Nash at 1-1 in conference play.
Southern Nash managed its own rout - whipping Northern Nash.
So this sets up that whoever wins the SW Edgecombe-Rocky Mount game on Monday night will have a solid hold on first place in only two weeks and there will be a four-way tie for second..
Look at it this way. Rocky Mount has four conference games left and all four will be against teams with a shot as of tonight, of taking home the conference championship.
The impressive start that the Gryphons have had this year can still fall apart or with four more victories put this 2008 team in the same breath when you talk about the best teams ever at Rocky Mount.
We will now find out whether there is one team in this conference standing above the others .
We managed to stretch an half hour into 50 minutes before we gave the station back to Gospel Music.
When I got in the car, I turned my radio on and listened to the Nash Central-Fike game, which had the Bulldogs up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Bulldogs looked like they were going to be setting alone in first place in the conference if they kept this up.
I arrived home and it was almost 9.30 before I turned the game back on to see what was happening.
It is now 27-24 Fike, midway through the third quarter and I find out through Paul Andre that Nash Central had a 24-zip lead before the Golden Demons decided to act like the Boston Red Sox.
Fike routs Nash Central 46-30 by scoring 32 points in the second half.
This puts Fike, Nash Central along with Southern Nash at 1-1 in conference play.
Southern Nash managed its own rout - whipping Northern Nash.
So this sets up that whoever wins the SW Edgecombe-Rocky Mount game on Monday night will have a solid hold on first place in only two weeks and there will be a four-way tie for second..
Look at it this way. Rocky Mount has four conference games left and all four will be against teams with a shot as of tonight, of taking home the conference championship.
The impressive start that the Gryphons have had this year can still fall apart or with four more victories put this 2008 team in the same breath when you talk about the best teams ever at Rocky Mount.
We will now find out whether there is one team in this conference standing above the others .
Why Not.... Let's Play On Monday
The economic conditions in this country right now are such that every penny has to be accounted for.
Even though very little rain has fallen to this point on this Friday, the officials at Southwest Edgecombe have decided to move the football game with Rocky Mount to Monday.
Do I think it is a bad decision? Yes. But I respect the decision.
There is a potential of 3,000 fans that my attend this game. Six dollars a pop and there you have it. Name me another game left on their schedule that 3,000 people will attend.
Money is the reason this game has already been moved to Monday night at 7 p.m. kickoff.
If you remember two years ago on a Monday night, SouthWest was jammed packed for the Rocky Mount game. If SouthWest was playing East Wake tonight, I bet they would play because no one from East Wake would go to the game anyway.
But this is Rocky Mount and with only a 12-mile mile drive, people from both sides of the railroad tracks will go to this game.
I do think that playing tonight is a big advantage for SouthWest to help slow down the Gryphons. If no more rain falls over the weekend and the field is in reasonable shape ,then there is no advantage either way other than the home field for SouthWest.
The big gamble here by the SouthWest folks is that how is the weather going to be Monday night?
Even though we are not playing tonight, we will be live on AM 1390 from 7-7:30 to talk football.
Listen to us jabber about football tonight and Monday we will hit the airwaves at 6.30 p.m. for Monday's 7 p.m. kickoff.
So in the four-year history of the NEW 6, Rocky Mount will never play SouthWest Edgecombe on a Friday night during the regular season.
They did, of course, play each other in the playoffs in Rocky Mount in 2005 with the Gryphons winning 21-7.
I think it has become such a tradition for SouthWest and Rocky Mount to play on Mondays, this game was doomed to be play Monday even if the sun had of shined all day.
Even though very little rain has fallen to this point on this Friday, the officials at Southwest Edgecombe have decided to move the football game with Rocky Mount to Monday.
Do I think it is a bad decision? Yes. But I respect the decision.
There is a potential of 3,000 fans that my attend this game. Six dollars a pop and there you have it. Name me another game left on their schedule that 3,000 people will attend.
Money is the reason this game has already been moved to Monday night at 7 p.m. kickoff.
If you remember two years ago on a Monday night, SouthWest was jammed packed for the Rocky Mount game. If SouthWest was playing East Wake tonight, I bet they would play because no one from East Wake would go to the game anyway.
But this is Rocky Mount and with only a 12-mile mile drive, people from both sides of the railroad tracks will go to this game.
I do think that playing tonight is a big advantage for SouthWest to help slow down the Gryphons. If no more rain falls over the weekend and the field is in reasonable shape ,then there is no advantage either way other than the home field for SouthWest.
The big gamble here by the SouthWest folks is that how is the weather going to be Monday night?
Even though we are not playing tonight, we will be live on AM 1390 from 7-7:30 to talk football.
Listen to us jabber about football tonight and Monday we will hit the airwaves at 6.30 p.m. for Monday's 7 p.m. kickoff.
So in the four-year history of the NEW 6, Rocky Mount will never play SouthWest Edgecombe on a Friday night during the regular season.
They did, of course, play each other in the playoffs in Rocky Mount in 2005 with the Gryphons winning 21-7.
I think it has become such a tradition for SouthWest and Rocky Mount to play on Mondays, this game was doomed to be play Monday even if the sun had of shined all day.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Streak Is Over
Since B W Holt brought the double wing offense to Rocky Mount in 2003 the Varsity football team has won 63 games while losing just 12.
Chris Lee as the head JV coach and Kent Cox as the defensive play caller have teamed up to make a tandem that has feed the varsity some talented players as well as been big winners on the playing field.
In 2003 the JVs managed to win nine of ten games. 2004 brought and undefeated 10-0 campaign. 2005 at one point they were 5-3 but managed to win the final two games of the season.
Those last two games way back in October of of 2005 started a winning streak that carried through 2006 and 2007. Those two seasons produced undefeated JV teams teams and 19 more victories.
This year the baby Griffins had produced six more wins to run the streak to 27 straight.
Tonight in the clash of unbeaten squads the streak comes to an end as the Baby Cougars jump out to a 22-0 lead and hang on for a 22-14 victory.
Early in the second quarter it looked like Southwest was on their way to a 40 point game but in the second half the Gryphons found the missing parts but had dug too big a hole.
During the B W Holt era the JVs have a record of 51-5. Despite a loss tonight the baby Griffins have nothing to feel bad about. They went down like champs.
The lady cross country team brought home a conference championship Wednesday winning the title. The guys finished fourth.
The soccer team finished its regular season with a win and secured second place in the regular season. As the number two seed they get a bye in the opening round of the tournament next week.
As reported last night the NEW-6 volleyball champs open their NCHSAA playoffs at home Saturday night. The Lady Gryphons will host Southern Wayne at 6.00pm.
The first two championships of the year go to the ladies. It's time for a boys team to step up.
Now lets talk football..
Raymond Cobb has done a great job of defensing the Gryphons in the four previous meetings since the formation of the NEW-6. Southwest has a good enough running game that they will try to occupy the ball and run the clock down as fast as possible.
Two areas that the Gryphons are better than last year is defense and the passing game. I think those two areas give the Gryphons the edge.
Now before I make a prediction remember that I predicted a freeway World Series with the Angels and Dodgers.
Gryphons will pass just enough to open up some running holes and the Gryphons win 24-7. I expect this game to be hard nosed and standing room only.
See you there.....
Chris Lee as the head JV coach and Kent Cox as the defensive play caller have teamed up to make a tandem that has feed the varsity some talented players as well as been big winners on the playing field.
In 2003 the JVs managed to win nine of ten games. 2004 brought and undefeated 10-0 campaign. 2005 at one point they were 5-3 but managed to win the final two games of the season.
Those last two games way back in October of of 2005 started a winning streak that carried through 2006 and 2007. Those two seasons produced undefeated JV teams teams and 19 more victories.
This year the baby Griffins had produced six more wins to run the streak to 27 straight.
Tonight in the clash of unbeaten squads the streak comes to an end as the Baby Cougars jump out to a 22-0 lead and hang on for a 22-14 victory.
Early in the second quarter it looked like Southwest was on their way to a 40 point game but in the second half the Gryphons found the missing parts but had dug too big a hole.
During the B W Holt era the JVs have a record of 51-5. Despite a loss tonight the baby Griffins have nothing to feel bad about. They went down like champs.
The lady cross country team brought home a conference championship Wednesday winning the title. The guys finished fourth.
The soccer team finished its regular season with a win and secured second place in the regular season. As the number two seed they get a bye in the opening round of the tournament next week.
As reported last night the NEW-6 volleyball champs open their NCHSAA playoffs at home Saturday night. The Lady Gryphons will host Southern Wayne at 6.00pm.
The first two championships of the year go to the ladies. It's time for a boys team to step up.
Now lets talk football..
Raymond Cobb has done a great job of defensing the Gryphons in the four previous meetings since the formation of the NEW-6. Southwest has a good enough running game that they will try to occupy the ball and run the clock down as fast as possible.
Two areas that the Gryphons are better than last year is defense and the passing game. I think those two areas give the Gryphons the edge.
Now before I make a prediction remember that I predicted a freeway World Series with the Angels and Dodgers.
Gryphons will pass just enough to open up some running holes and the Gryphons win 24-7. I expect this game to be hard nosed and standing room only.
See you there.....
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Conference Champs
The Lady Gryphons Volleyball team has won the conference tournament with a solid 25-16,25-19 and 25- 14 victory of Fike at Nash Central High School tonight.
The ladies got a solid team effort from everyone in winning the match 3 games to Nil.
Saturday night at 6.00pm they begin the quest for the State Volleyball Title as they host Southern Wayne.
As you may know Debbie Webb has announced that this is her final year as the coach of Ladies so every game from this point on could be her last.
The final game of the regular season she hit a milestone and has since past it as she recorded her 302nd victory tonight against Fike.
The Volleyball team becomes the first conference champion of the year for the Gryphons who would like to break last years record setting year of ten conference champions during the school year.
Debbie Webb will go out in style having won the conference championship the last two years in a row. This is also the fourth straight conference tournament title for the Lady Gryphons all four of the NEW-6 tournament titles.
I did something tonight that I have never done in my broadcast career. I was late to the game. I thought game time was 7.00pm so when I walked into the gym the score was already 5-4 Fike.
I nominate myself for the Stretchlon Sports Show bonehead player of the game. When you see me around the area I will be wearing a Stretchlon Tee shirt saying Bone head of game. When interviewed after the game I said 'I truly earned this award. I had no help from any one. I am truly the bonehead of the game'.
So when you see this on replay on the Stretchlon Sports show We will open with due to technical difficulties we pick up the game in progress. You will know I was the difficulty.
Joining The Lady Gryphons from the NEW-6 in the playoffs are Northern Nash, Fike and Nash Central.
The ladies tennis team moves on to round two in the tennis playoffs.
Tennis is two different tournaments. The first is the team tournament where you play another team your top six players against their top six players and three doubles teams. You get a point for each player that wins their match. If you score five points between the nine matches the team moves on in the playoffs.
Then the individual tournament where if you win you move to the next round and a teammate may lose and they are out of the playoffs.
The individual play begins Friday and the team play returns Tuesday with the second round at Sunset Park at 4.00pm against Southern Alamance.
Athletic Director Mike Gainey is selling tickets to Friday night's game with the Cougars of Southwest Edgecombe. He will be selling them in his office Thursday for six dollars. An early ticket will mean you will only stand in the security line not the ticket booth and then security.
I don't think getting there at 6.00pm will be too early for this one.
JV football team hasn't had a home game since I can't remember but they go after #28 in a row tomorrow night . Kickoff is 7.00pm. Next Thursday will be three years since the baby Griffins have lost a game.
I'll be on PA for the JV game so I will blog again after the game and I will make a bold prediction about Friday night.
The ladies got a solid team effort from everyone in winning the match 3 games to Nil.
Saturday night at 6.00pm they begin the quest for the State Volleyball Title as they host Southern Wayne.
As you may know Debbie Webb has announced that this is her final year as the coach of Ladies so every game from this point on could be her last.
The final game of the regular season she hit a milestone and has since past it as she recorded her 302nd victory tonight against Fike.
The Volleyball team becomes the first conference champion of the year for the Gryphons who would like to break last years record setting year of ten conference champions during the school year.
Debbie Webb will go out in style having won the conference championship the last two years in a row. This is also the fourth straight conference tournament title for the Lady Gryphons all four of the NEW-6 tournament titles.
I did something tonight that I have never done in my broadcast career. I was late to the game. I thought game time was 7.00pm so when I walked into the gym the score was already 5-4 Fike.
I nominate myself for the Stretchlon Sports Show bonehead player of the game. When you see me around the area I will be wearing a Stretchlon Tee shirt saying Bone head of game. When interviewed after the game I said 'I truly earned this award. I had no help from any one. I am truly the bonehead of the game'.
So when you see this on replay on the Stretchlon Sports show We will open with due to technical difficulties we pick up the game in progress. You will know I was the difficulty.
Joining The Lady Gryphons from the NEW-6 in the playoffs are Northern Nash, Fike and Nash Central.
The ladies tennis team moves on to round two in the tennis playoffs.
Tennis is two different tournaments. The first is the team tournament where you play another team your top six players against their top six players and three doubles teams. You get a point for each player that wins their match. If you score five points between the nine matches the team moves on in the playoffs.
Then the individual tournament where if you win you move to the next round and a teammate may lose and they are out of the playoffs.
The individual play begins Friday and the team play returns Tuesday with the second round at Sunset Park at 4.00pm against Southern Alamance.
Athletic Director Mike Gainey is selling tickets to Friday night's game with the Cougars of Southwest Edgecombe. He will be selling them in his office Thursday for six dollars. An early ticket will mean you will only stand in the security line not the ticket booth and then security.
I don't think getting there at 6.00pm will be too early for this one.
JV football team hasn't had a home game since I can't remember but they go after #28 in a row tomorrow night . Kickoff is 7.00pm. Next Thursday will be three years since the baby Griffins have lost a game.
I'll be on PA for the JV game so I will blog again after the game and I will make a bold prediction about Friday night.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
The Week That Wasn't
This was supposed to be the week where Rocky Mount and Northern were supposed to play for the title in the NEW 6 Conference volleyball conference tournament.
It will not happen as Northern was beaten Monday night in the conference semifinals by Wilson Fike. The Lady Knights had beaten Fike twice during the regular season.
The Lady Gryphons held up their end of the bargain and won 3-0 over Nash Central. They will meet Fike for the championship at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Nash Central.
This was also suppose to be the week that the RMHS boys soccer team won two games and finished in a tie for first with Northern Nash's boys.
That won't happen either as Fike once again is the team of irritation - knocking off the Gryphons in overtime 2-1 Monday night at Fike.
The first time Fike and Rocky Mount met, it was a dog fight and last night was no exception with the home team winning.
The soccer team now needs to win Wednesday against Nash Central in order to keep from falling into a tie for third place. A victory will guarantee it a bye into the semifinals of the conference tournament, which will start next week.
The RM girls tennis team is in action today. If I find out the score I will pass it along as soon as possible, but more than likely check the RM Telegram tomorrow morning. (RM WON 6-3 at UNION PINES)!
This is supposed to be the conference football game of the year Friday night when the Gryphons travel to SouthWest Edgecombe.
It will not do the winner of this week's game any good to go and lose one of their final three games. If that happens, then this Friday's game will not be the game of the season for the winner.
In the three full seasons plus one game of this NEW 6 football season, Rocky Mount's conference record is 14-2.
They are a perfect 9-0 at home and 5-2 on the road.
Both of those road losses occurred within five days of each other. The first happened on a Monday night at SouthWest 21-16, then the following Friday night at Southern Nash, the Firebirds scored a 21-20 double overtime victory over the Gryphons.
This Friday night starts three straight road games form the Gryphons - visiting the Cougars, Firebirds and Nash Central Bulldogs before finishing up the regular season with Fike at home.
I will be at the volleyball finals tomorrow night as I will be covering the game for The Stretchlon Sports show.
If Northern had of been in the match, I would have had to be the unbiased announcer covering the game. Now I can pull for the Lady Gryphons as Fike is not in the WHIG-TV viewing area.
However, they do have live streaming on the Internet which means anyone in the world can watch. The world will just have to put up with me tomorrow night.
GO LADY GRYPHONS! Bring home another championship!
It will not happen as Northern was beaten Monday night in the conference semifinals by Wilson Fike. The Lady Knights had beaten Fike twice during the regular season.
The Lady Gryphons held up their end of the bargain and won 3-0 over Nash Central. They will meet Fike for the championship at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Nash Central.
This was also suppose to be the week that the RMHS boys soccer team won two games and finished in a tie for first with Northern Nash's boys.
That won't happen either as Fike once again is the team of irritation - knocking off the Gryphons in overtime 2-1 Monday night at Fike.
The first time Fike and Rocky Mount met, it was a dog fight and last night was no exception with the home team winning.
The soccer team now needs to win Wednesday against Nash Central in order to keep from falling into a tie for third place. A victory will guarantee it a bye into the semifinals of the conference tournament, which will start next week.
The RM girls tennis team is in action today. If I find out the score I will pass it along as soon as possible, but more than likely check the RM Telegram tomorrow morning. (RM WON 6-3 at UNION PINES)!
This is supposed to be the conference football game of the year Friday night when the Gryphons travel to SouthWest Edgecombe.
It will not do the winner of this week's game any good to go and lose one of their final three games. If that happens, then this Friday's game will not be the game of the season for the winner.
In the three full seasons plus one game of this NEW 6 football season, Rocky Mount's conference record is 14-2.
They are a perfect 9-0 at home and 5-2 on the road.
Both of those road losses occurred within five days of each other. The first happened on a Monday night at SouthWest 21-16, then the following Friday night at Southern Nash, the Firebirds scored a 21-20 double overtime victory over the Gryphons.
This Friday night starts three straight road games form the Gryphons - visiting the Cougars, Firebirds and Nash Central Bulldogs before finishing up the regular season with Fike at home.
I will be at the volleyball finals tomorrow night as I will be covering the game for The Stretchlon Sports show.
If Northern had of been in the match, I would have had to be the unbiased announcer covering the game. Now I can pull for the Lady Gryphons as Fike is not in the WHIG-TV viewing area.
However, they do have live streaming on the Internet which means anyone in the world can watch. The world will just have to put up with me tomorrow night.
GO LADY GRYPHONS! Bring home another championship!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Another Week, Another Big game
One of my first duties when we have an away game on Fridays is to call the host school on Mondays.
This morning, I called Sandra Langley, athletic director at SouthWest Edgecombe, to ask permission to do the game Friday night there on the radio.
Sandra not only is one of the best girls basketball coaches ever in North Carolina, but she will do everything she can to make sure we get what we need to get on the air.
Sandra and Raymond Cobb had just finished a meeting as to the preparations for Friday night's game at SouthWest.
SouthWest has the smallest press box in the conference, although it went through a remodel last season. If several stations cover the game or TV is there to film, there is not enough space for all of us.
We are in luck this week as the WZAX's Game of the Week will be Wilson Fike vs. Nash Central. We will have the prime real estate in the press box beside former SouthWest boys basketball coach Dudley Etheridge, who is the Cougars' PA man during football season.
I would recommend anyone planning on going Friday night, be there by 6 if you want a seat on either side of the field. Any time later, you will probably have to park halfway down N.C. 43 back to Rocky Mount.
You are only as good as your next game's results and the winner this Friday night has a leg up on winning the conference championship.
The Gryphons' goal is to go undefeated the rest of the way. In the eyes of the NCHSAA, they would be 10-0 in the drawing with all the other undefeated 3-A teams for the No. 1 seed in the East.
Right now, the only two teams that are undefeated are West Craven and Eastern Alamance.
Rocky Mount does have a common opponent with both.
Rocky Mount and West Craven played Greenville Rose in Greenville. We won 36-0, while West Craven won 36-29 in Vanceboro.
For the first time since the inception of the Coastal 4-A/3A league, someone beside New Bern or Rose could win this year as Havelock has knocked off New Bern already in conference play.
Last Friday night, Eastern Alamance played at Northern Vance and had a harder time with the Vikings than we did, winning 13-7.
A team you had better start paying attention to is Western Alamance. They have lost twice on the field, but they got one of those back from a forfeit (vs. Southern Alamance) and it still has a game with Greensboro Dudley (Oct. 31).
If Rocky Mount loses Friday night, the chance of the NEW 6 getting the No. 1 seed will just about be gone if there is at least one undefeated team in the East when playoffs start on Nov 14.
A loss would be our second. We can get one, but not both back because we will played 11 games.
SouthWest will only play 10 regular season games, so they don't have a extra game to give back.
If you haven't looked yet, the forecast is for showers on Friday. Take an umbrella of course, if we play Friday night.
This morning, I called Sandra Langley, athletic director at SouthWest Edgecombe, to ask permission to do the game Friday night there on the radio.
Sandra not only is one of the best girls basketball coaches ever in North Carolina, but she will do everything she can to make sure we get what we need to get on the air.
Sandra and Raymond Cobb had just finished a meeting as to the preparations for Friday night's game at SouthWest.
SouthWest has the smallest press box in the conference, although it went through a remodel last season. If several stations cover the game or TV is there to film, there is not enough space for all of us.
We are in luck this week as the WZAX's Game of the Week will be Wilson Fike vs. Nash Central. We will have the prime real estate in the press box beside former SouthWest boys basketball coach Dudley Etheridge, who is the Cougars' PA man during football season.
I would recommend anyone planning on going Friday night, be there by 6 if you want a seat on either side of the field. Any time later, you will probably have to park halfway down N.C. 43 back to Rocky Mount.
You are only as good as your next game's results and the winner this Friday night has a leg up on winning the conference championship.
The Gryphons' goal is to go undefeated the rest of the way. In the eyes of the NCHSAA, they would be 10-0 in the drawing with all the other undefeated 3-A teams for the No. 1 seed in the East.
Right now, the only two teams that are undefeated are West Craven and Eastern Alamance.
Rocky Mount does have a common opponent with both.
Rocky Mount and West Craven played Greenville Rose in Greenville. We won 36-0, while West Craven won 36-29 in Vanceboro.
For the first time since the inception of the Coastal 4-A/3A league, someone beside New Bern or Rose could win this year as Havelock has knocked off New Bern already in conference play.
Last Friday night, Eastern Alamance played at Northern Vance and had a harder time with the Vikings than we did, winning 13-7.
A team you had better start paying attention to is Western Alamance. They have lost twice on the field, but they got one of those back from a forfeit (vs. Southern Alamance) and it still has a game with Greensboro Dudley (Oct. 31).
If Rocky Mount loses Friday night, the chance of the NEW 6 getting the No. 1 seed will just about be gone if there is at least one undefeated team in the East when playoffs start on Nov 14.
A loss would be our second. We can get one, but not both back because we will played 11 games.
SouthWest will only play 10 regular season games, so they don't have a extra game to give back.
If you haven't looked yet, the forecast is for showers on Friday. Take an umbrella of course, if we play Friday night.
The forecast isn't all that bad looking, so I think we will finally play the Cougars on a Friday night for the first-time in a regular season NEW 6 contest.
Time will tell.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Internet Agony
The revolution of the invention of the Internet has brought great knowledge to everyone who has ever attempted to use the world wide web.
Who needs and encyclopedia when all you have to do is Google it and your answer is instantaneous.
Sporting events which are not carried on TV have game trackers where you can watch pitch-by- pitch in baseball or play-by-play in football.
I have during his career at Elon watched many games on Gametracker of Terrell Hudgins and Elon since none of Elon's games are on TV.
But let me tell you, a sport where the Internet has yet to give you information the second it happens.
Golf
If you are a regular reader of my blog, last weekend I told you of my cousin Lauren Doughtie.
Lauren is my second cousin. Her dad Mike Doughtie is my first cousin. Mike's parents died rather early in his life, so even though I am a cousin we are like brothers. In fact, Lauren calls me Uncle Tony.
Lauren this weekend is playing golf for N.C. State in the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Knoxville, Tn.
This past Friday, I had to return home to Ahoskie for a funeral of a brother-in-law's mother.
While I'm in the press box just before we went on the air, Brooks calls me to tell me Lauren is tied for the lead after the first day of play.
I had forgotten all about her playing since we were away all day, plus we had to hurry to make sure we were back for the Northern Nash game.
She shot 4-under 68, which is her best score ever plus it tied N.C State's all-time low score for women's golf.
Saturday, I went down town to the Down East Festival and when I got home, I pulled up the scores and she struggled to a 1-over par 73 and was tied for fourth.
In college golf, they start at both the No. 1 and No. 10 tees ands her tee time was at 11.15 a.m. That is perfect for me to get home from church and follow her entire final round.
If you have never had the pleasure of watching golf on Gametracker, let me tell you what you better be prepared to do. Unless you plan to watch a non-moving screen for four hours, be prepared to read a book, or in my case, go watch the Panthers play.
1.05 p.m. - The first three holes appear on her scorecard. She birdied the first hole and parred two and three. She's two shots out of the lead.
I go to watch the Panthers and quickly you can tell this is not the Panthers' day. I switched to the Indy game - not much better. Let's go back to the computer and play Spider Solitaire.
1:55 p.m. - Holes No. 4, 5 and 6 appear on her card. She parred all three. But one of the other girls is 3-under on the day and Lauren trails by three shots.
In college golf, the players scores are fed into the computer every three holes. What I wish they had were cameras attached to the heads of every player. Then you'd just click on the player of your choice and watch what she sees as she is doing it.
2.40 p.m. - Hole No. 7 appears a bogey she is now down by four. Holes No. 8 and 9 are parred are she makes the turn four shots back.
3.05 p.m. - Hole No. 10 is a par 5 where Lauren cans an eagle 3 - she's now jut two back. No. 11 is parred and she birdied No. 12 to pull within one shot.
Now is when the pacing begins. Go check on the Panthers. They are getting killed and I go pace back and forth in front of the computer.
One problem with Gametracker is you don't know how far off the actually scoring was done.
It is 4.30 p.m. before the next set of scores pops up. Lauren bogeyed No. 14 to drop to 2-under on the day and is two shots off the lead.
As Lauren finishes No. 15, she and the girl in the lead by two are in the same group. One other girl at 5-under that is tied with Lauren for second has already finished her round. Lauren knows exactly where she stands.
Everyone knows except me sitting home how her shot-by-shot is going. Five o'clock comes and no final scores. I have now gotten my five miles of walking in all within five feet of my computer.
I did go to the kitchen to get more drink and watched former Northern Nash star and current Arizona Cardinal J.J. Arrington return the opening kickoff back for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys.
I have read the Telegram Online and the News and Observer's website, still the scores are not in.
5.05 p.m. - Scores are in. Hole No. 16 a birdie, No. 17 a par - up by one looking at the score at No. 18 where Lauren also gets a birdie .. 4-under par for the day, 7 under for the tournament. I am so proud of her.
But is there a playoff?
I leave Lauren's individual page to go to to the leaderboard and THERE it is - the name Lauren Doughtie on top of the page. The girl that was in the lead double bogeyed the last hole and Lauren has won by two shots.
My cell phone becomes instance news for grandma, and Brooks calls. There will be joy in Mudville tonight, I called and left Lauren a message.
Her phone is deep in her golf bag and I know the celebrating is on.
Congratulations Lauren.... A champion tonight!
Who needs and encyclopedia when all you have to do is Google it and your answer is instantaneous.
Sporting events which are not carried on TV have game trackers where you can watch pitch-by- pitch in baseball or play-by-play in football.
I have during his career at Elon watched many games on Gametracker of Terrell Hudgins and Elon since none of Elon's games are on TV.
But let me tell you, a sport where the Internet has yet to give you information the second it happens.
Golf
If you are a regular reader of my blog, last weekend I told you of my cousin Lauren Doughtie.
Lauren is my second cousin. Her dad Mike Doughtie is my first cousin. Mike's parents died rather early in his life, so even though I am a cousin we are like brothers. In fact, Lauren calls me Uncle Tony.
Lauren this weekend is playing golf for N.C. State in the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Knoxville, Tn.
This past Friday, I had to return home to Ahoskie for a funeral of a brother-in-law's mother.
While I'm in the press box just before we went on the air, Brooks calls me to tell me Lauren is tied for the lead after the first day of play.
I had forgotten all about her playing since we were away all day, plus we had to hurry to make sure we were back for the Northern Nash game.
She shot 4-under 68, which is her best score ever plus it tied N.C State's all-time low score for women's golf.
Saturday, I went down town to the Down East Festival and when I got home, I pulled up the scores and she struggled to a 1-over par 73 and was tied for fourth.
In college golf, they start at both the No. 1 and No. 10 tees ands her tee time was at 11.15 a.m. That is perfect for me to get home from church and follow her entire final round.
If you have never had the pleasure of watching golf on Gametracker, let me tell you what you better be prepared to do. Unless you plan to watch a non-moving screen for four hours, be prepared to read a book, or in my case, go watch the Panthers play.
1.05 p.m. - The first three holes appear on her scorecard. She birdied the first hole and parred two and three. She's two shots out of the lead.
I go to watch the Panthers and quickly you can tell this is not the Panthers' day. I switched to the Indy game - not much better. Let's go back to the computer and play Spider Solitaire.
1:55 p.m. - Holes No. 4, 5 and 6 appear on her card. She parred all three. But one of the other girls is 3-under on the day and Lauren trails by three shots.
In college golf, the players scores are fed into the computer every three holes. What I wish they had were cameras attached to the heads of every player. Then you'd just click on the player of your choice and watch what she sees as she is doing it.
2.40 p.m. - Hole No. 7 appears a bogey she is now down by four. Holes No. 8 and 9 are parred are she makes the turn four shots back.
3.05 p.m. - Hole No. 10 is a par 5 where Lauren cans an eagle 3 - she's now jut two back. No. 11 is parred and she birdied No. 12 to pull within one shot.
Now is when the pacing begins. Go check on the Panthers. They are getting killed and I go pace back and forth in front of the computer.
One problem with Gametracker is you don't know how far off the actually scoring was done.
It is 4.30 p.m. before the next set of scores pops up. Lauren bogeyed No. 14 to drop to 2-under on the day and is two shots off the lead.
As Lauren finishes No. 15, she and the girl in the lead by two are in the same group. One other girl at 5-under that is tied with Lauren for second has already finished her round. Lauren knows exactly where she stands.
Everyone knows except me sitting home how her shot-by-shot is going. Five o'clock comes and no final scores. I have now gotten my five miles of walking in all within five feet of my computer.
I did go to the kitchen to get more drink and watched former Northern Nash star and current Arizona Cardinal J.J. Arrington return the opening kickoff back for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys.
I have read the Telegram Online and the News and Observer's website, still the scores are not in.
5.05 p.m. - Scores are in. Hole No. 16 a birdie, No. 17 a par - up by one looking at the score at No. 18 where Lauren also gets a birdie .. 4-under par for the day, 7 under for the tournament. I am so proud of her.
But is there a playoff?
I leave Lauren's individual page to go to to the leaderboard and THERE it is - the name Lauren Doughtie on top of the page. The girl that was in the lead double bogeyed the last hole and Lauren has won by two shots.
My cell phone becomes instance news for grandma, and Brooks calls. There will be joy in Mudville tonight, I called and left Lauren a message.
Her phone is deep in her golf bag and I know the celebrating is on.
Congratulations Lauren.... A champion tonight!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
SouthWest Game
During the first three years of the NEW 6 Conference, the winner of the Rocky Mount-SouthWest Edgecombe football game has been the conference champion.
When the conference was formed almost four years ago, no one expected either SouthWest or Rocky Mount to dominate the league.
Raymond Cobb was just arriving in Pinetops from cross-county rival North Edgecombe and generally speaking, Cougar football had been average at best for the previous 10 years.
B.W. Holt had just shocked the Big East 4-A Conference by winning its last football championship, but the wave of super power football was just taking hold.
So scheduling the Cougars and Gryphons in the first game of the season in conference play made sense.
Historically speaking ,Fike and Rocky Mount are traditional rivals from out of the past and with the other three county schools as bitter rivals, it made sense that the team from down N.C. 43 play Rocky Mount in the first game.
But who knew that Cobb could transform the Cougars overnight into a beast in football?
In 2005 in Rocky Mount, the Gryphons came away with a 24-7 victory. They meet again in the playoffs and if I remember correctly, the Cougars showed their first signs of not cowering down to the Gryphons as RM won 21-7.
2006 brought an overflow crowd to Pinetops as SouthWest gave the Gryphons their first league loss, 21-16. The Cougars would make it all the way to the third round undefeated and lose to Eastern Alamance in overtime ,while Rocky Mount was fallling to Western Alamance 41-37 that same night.
Last year was a classic, as if to say that 2006 was not as Brian Goodwin had to save the day for the Gryphons with a forced fumble late in the game to save a 15-12 Gryphon win.
Since Holt has been in Rocky Mount, he has averaged nearly 40 points per game, but against Raymond Cobb only 19 points per game.
So what is Cobb's secret ???
Ball Control!!!
Cobb, at both North Edgecombe and now at SouthWest, runs the football. If we saw one thing against Northern Vance is they kept the ball away from us and it almost worked.
It also helps that during his Cougar tenure that SouthWest has been very good on defense.
If Rocky Mount can be ahead 14-0 or 21-0 like they have in most of their games, the Cougars will not be able to chew up the clock by four yards and a pile of mud like Cobb loves to do.
The Achilles heel for SouthWest is because they are a running team, they don't pass and when they have to pass they are not great at it.
Being behind and I think in their case we have to have more than a 14 point lead to make them start passing.
You see Cobb has gotten two state championships under his belt and five visits to the championship game by ramming the ball down your throat. He doesn't even know how to teach a quarterback how to throw the ball, only how to hand off to the running back.(Only joshing, Raymond)
So the conference decided to rotate the games played to eliminate RM and SouthWest from having to play the first game and what has this change done? It has created the best game in the conference season now the second week instead of the first.
I really think that if Rocky Mount scores 21 or more it will win. History tells us that the Gryphons will have to fight tooth and nail to get it.
The first three years of this conference, the winner of this game has gone undefeated during the regular season. Each will carry a blemish into this game next Friday night.
Odds are that the winner will be the conference CHAMPION.
When the conference was formed almost four years ago, no one expected either SouthWest or Rocky Mount to dominate the league.
Raymond Cobb was just arriving in Pinetops from cross-county rival North Edgecombe and generally speaking, Cougar football had been average at best for the previous 10 years.
B.W. Holt had just shocked the Big East 4-A Conference by winning its last football championship, but the wave of super power football was just taking hold.
So scheduling the Cougars and Gryphons in the first game of the season in conference play made sense.
Historically speaking ,Fike and Rocky Mount are traditional rivals from out of the past and with the other three county schools as bitter rivals, it made sense that the team from down N.C. 43 play Rocky Mount in the first game.
But who knew that Cobb could transform the Cougars overnight into a beast in football?
In 2005 in Rocky Mount, the Gryphons came away with a 24-7 victory. They meet again in the playoffs and if I remember correctly, the Cougars showed their first signs of not cowering down to the Gryphons as RM won 21-7.
2006 brought an overflow crowd to Pinetops as SouthWest gave the Gryphons their first league loss, 21-16. The Cougars would make it all the way to the third round undefeated and lose to Eastern Alamance in overtime ,while Rocky Mount was fallling to Western Alamance 41-37 that same night.
Last year was a classic, as if to say that 2006 was not as Brian Goodwin had to save the day for the Gryphons with a forced fumble late in the game to save a 15-12 Gryphon win.
Since Holt has been in Rocky Mount, he has averaged nearly 40 points per game, but against Raymond Cobb only 19 points per game.
So what is Cobb's secret ???
Ball Control!!!
Cobb, at both North Edgecombe and now at SouthWest, runs the football. If we saw one thing against Northern Vance is they kept the ball away from us and it almost worked.
It also helps that during his Cougar tenure that SouthWest has been very good on defense.
If Rocky Mount can be ahead 14-0 or 21-0 like they have in most of their games, the Cougars will not be able to chew up the clock by four yards and a pile of mud like Cobb loves to do.
The Achilles heel for SouthWest is because they are a running team, they don't pass and when they have to pass they are not great at it.
Being behind and I think in their case we have to have more than a 14 point lead to make them start passing.
You see Cobb has gotten two state championships under his belt and five visits to the championship game by ramming the ball down your throat. He doesn't even know how to teach a quarterback how to throw the ball, only how to hand off to the running back.(Only joshing, Raymond)
So the conference decided to rotate the games played to eliminate RM and SouthWest from having to play the first game and what has this change done? It has created the best game in the conference season now the second week instead of the first.
I really think that if Rocky Mount scores 21 or more it will win. History tells us that the Gryphons will have to fight tooth and nail to get it.
The first three years of this conference, the winner of this game has gone undefeated during the regular season. Each will carry a blemish into this game next Friday night.
Odds are that the winner will be the conference CHAMPION.
Slugfest
The opening night of NEW 6 Conference football has come and gone and the Gryphons did what they were suppose to do.
The boys in blue and gold were 40-point favorites and they covered the spread with a 49-0 chewing up of Northern Nash.
Every weekend ,Charles Alston looks at the game film and double checks the stats to make sure he gave the right carry to the right number and tackles to the correct player.
Unless he has made a major miss in the press box, the Knights of Northern Nash do not have as many yards in the total stats for the season than when they started tonight.
The "D" Block held Northern running game to five yards. Where the "D" really laid it on Northern was every time it went back to pass, it was losing yards. In high school stats ,until the quarterback let's go of the ball ,regardless on his intent to throw the ball, it is counted as a rushing attempt.
As if five yards wasn't bad enough, when Northern did get a chance to try a pass, it failed to find a white shirt to catch it and for the night zero yards passing.
I am thinking back from memory, but the Gryphons only had the ball nine times tonight and scored seven times.
Twice, we started on our side of the 50-yard line and scored both times. We never punted all night. In fact, twice when we failed to score we went for it on a fourth and ten on their side of the field and put it in the hands of the defense to keep them on their side of the 50 and they did.
Northern started on our side twice and once gave it up on its own 32. The other time it failed on a fourth down play.
In the past, this has been a great rivalry ,but tonight it was a pushing and shoving match which distracted greatly from the game. I remember at least six unsportsman ike conduct penalties call on both sides.
I think there should be a rule instead of calling it an off-setting penalty the players involved get in the penalty box like hockey and think about what a stupid thing you have just done for 10 minutes.
You know, if a player gets tossed out of a game, he cannot play the next week. But if they sit in the penalty box as long as they never get tossed out let them play next week.
Everyone that attended the game got to see a very special halftime with the baseball team and track star Jacobi Jenkins receiving rings for their championships in the spring.
WHIG-TV was there and as its game of the week can be see it Saturday at 9.30 am and after the Stretchlon Sports Show Sunday night at around 10 p.m.
By the way, the Stretchlon Sports Show Sunday featuresthe Rocky Mount soccer match against Southern Nash in which was the first soccer game that I actually did the play-by-play
I vote that the Gryphons wear the gold jerseys for every game for the rest of the season.
In the two games since the gold jerseys were unveiled, the Gryphons have won two games and out scored their competition 112-6.
No one has found any points on Rocky Mount all year in the first quarter and the Gryphons have out scored everyone 121-0 in the first quarter.
Collins Cuthrell was 8-for-14 passing and he missed on a 60- yard pass that he let go from our 43-yard line and was over thrown in the end zone. The ball was actually in the air 60 yards in the wind. His other two misses were dropped by our receiver right in their numbers and hands.
Since tonight was the first night of conference action, here is what happened elsewhere.
Nash Central beat Southern Nash 24-13 at the Dawg Pound. Nash Central has not lost on the field since its opening game with Tarboro.
In the game that had all eyes looking toward Pinetops, Southwest Edgecombe scored with 23 seconds to play and beat Wilson Fike 21-14.
Next Friday nigh,t the Gryphons travel to SouthWest in what some may find to be a ultra big football game.
I will close with this fact.... since the NEW 6 conference began play, working on four years now, the Gryphons are are 14-2 in conference play. One of those two losses happened at SouthWest two years ago.
The boys in blue and gold were 40-point favorites and they covered the spread with a 49-0 chewing up of Northern Nash.
Every weekend ,Charles Alston looks at the game film and double checks the stats to make sure he gave the right carry to the right number and tackles to the correct player.
Unless he has made a major miss in the press box, the Knights of Northern Nash do not have as many yards in the total stats for the season than when they started tonight.
The "D" Block held Northern running game to five yards. Where the "D" really laid it on Northern was every time it went back to pass, it was losing yards. In high school stats ,until the quarterback let's go of the ball ,regardless on his intent to throw the ball, it is counted as a rushing attempt.
As if five yards wasn't bad enough, when Northern did get a chance to try a pass, it failed to find a white shirt to catch it and for the night zero yards passing.
I am thinking back from memory, but the Gryphons only had the ball nine times tonight and scored seven times.
Twice, we started on our side of the 50-yard line and scored both times. We never punted all night. In fact, twice when we failed to score we went for it on a fourth and ten on their side of the field and put it in the hands of the defense to keep them on their side of the 50 and they did.
Northern started on our side twice and once gave it up on its own 32. The other time it failed on a fourth down play.
In the past, this has been a great rivalry ,but tonight it was a pushing and shoving match which distracted greatly from the game. I remember at least six unsportsman ike conduct penalties call on both sides.
I think there should be a rule instead of calling it an off-setting penalty the players involved get in the penalty box like hockey and think about what a stupid thing you have just done for 10 minutes.
You know, if a player gets tossed out of a game, he cannot play the next week. But if they sit in the penalty box as long as they never get tossed out let them play next week.
Everyone that attended the game got to see a very special halftime with the baseball team and track star Jacobi Jenkins receiving rings for their championships in the spring.
WHIG-TV was there and as its game of the week can be see it Saturday at 9.30 am and after the Stretchlon Sports Show Sunday night at around 10 p.m.
By the way, the Stretchlon Sports Show Sunday featuresthe Rocky Mount soccer match against Southern Nash in which was the first soccer game that I actually did the play-by-play
I vote that the Gryphons wear the gold jerseys for every game for the rest of the season.
In the two games since the gold jerseys were unveiled, the Gryphons have won two games and out scored their competition 112-6.
No one has found any points on Rocky Mount all year in the first quarter and the Gryphons have out scored everyone 121-0 in the first quarter.
Collins Cuthrell was 8-for-14 passing and he missed on a 60- yard pass that he let go from our 43-yard line and was over thrown in the end zone. The ball was actually in the air 60 yards in the wind. His other two misses were dropped by our receiver right in their numbers and hands.
Since tonight was the first night of conference action, here is what happened elsewhere.
Nash Central beat Southern Nash 24-13 at the Dawg Pound. Nash Central has not lost on the field since its opening game with Tarboro.
In the game that had all eyes looking toward Pinetops, Southwest Edgecombe scored with 23 seconds to play and beat Wilson Fike 21-14.
Next Friday nigh,t the Gryphons travel to SouthWest in what some may find to be a ultra big football game.
I will close with this fact.... since the NEW 6 conference began play, working on four years now, the Gryphons are are 14-2 in conference play. One of those two losses happened at SouthWest two years ago.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Championship Time
We start off tonight with a well done to the Lady Gryphons tennis doubles teams. The ladies bring home a crown in doubles with the team of Kate Gray and Caroline Gray.
They had to beat their own teammates of Lindsey Thomas and Addie Keeter.
Caroline Gray lost in the championship match of the singles title or she could have had both the conference singles and double titles. The finals were hotly contested as the score was 7-5 and 6-4.
The Lady Gryphons open NCHSAA playoffs Tuesday when they travel to Union Pines High School in Cameron. First serve will start at 4.00pm.
We head to the final week of boys soccer with Northern Nash and Rocky Mount tied about as tight as any sailor's knot.
Both are 7-1 in conference play but the game that will probably tell all is Monday night. The soccer team heads to Fike. A victory will more than likely create a tie by week's end.
Whether you are first in the conference or second if you were to lose a draw might mean a road game over a home match.
However if the Gryphons don't win Monday there will be no tie.
The Volley ball team has completed its regular season and head to the conference tournament at Nash Central on Monday. The finals are scheduled for Wednesday.
I am scheduled myself to be there Wednesday for the Championship as I will be taping the game for the Stretchlon Sports Show.
Richard Sarmiento has done a very great deed for the community over the last six plus years with the Stretchlon show highlighting the youth of our area.
There is no doubt with the State Championship in Baseball this past spring that it may have not happened with out Babe Ruth Baseball and The Stretchlon Stars as many of our baseball players got most of their experience from both. Richard has been the backbone of both over the past 10 years.
The most important time in the football season begins Friday night. Conference play.... The Gryphons have already qualified for the playoffs but the whole deal is wrapped up in whether you play at home during the playoffs or not.
In the tenure of B W Holt the Gryphons are 2-2 on the road and 8-3 at home during the playoffs. It is awful hard to beat a good team in their pasture.
Don't forget Northern is in our house and Ring night for all of the State champions in spring sports will be passed out during a ceremony at Halftime.
Twenty seven victories in a row for the baby Griffs. There was one point in tonight's game where there was about a ten minute down pour. If you remember during the second JV game of the season there was a down pour and the rain did little to stop the Gryphon attack and tonight was no different.
The weekend is off and running for the Rocky Mount Gryphons as the JVs take out Northern Nash 48-12
I can't amagine anyone who would not want to go to the game tomorrow night but if you must miss the game Wes and I will bring the facts starting at 7.00pm on AM 1390.
They had to beat their own teammates of Lindsey Thomas and Addie Keeter.
Caroline Gray lost in the championship match of the singles title or she could have had both the conference singles and double titles. The finals were hotly contested as the score was 7-5 and 6-4.
The Lady Gryphons open NCHSAA playoffs Tuesday when they travel to Union Pines High School in Cameron. First serve will start at 4.00pm.
We head to the final week of boys soccer with Northern Nash and Rocky Mount tied about as tight as any sailor's knot.
Both are 7-1 in conference play but the game that will probably tell all is Monday night. The soccer team heads to Fike. A victory will more than likely create a tie by week's end.
Whether you are first in the conference or second if you were to lose a draw might mean a road game over a home match.
However if the Gryphons don't win Monday there will be no tie.
The Volley ball team has completed its regular season and head to the conference tournament at Nash Central on Monday. The finals are scheduled for Wednesday.
I am scheduled myself to be there Wednesday for the Championship as I will be taping the game for the Stretchlon Sports Show.
Richard Sarmiento has done a very great deed for the community over the last six plus years with the Stretchlon show highlighting the youth of our area.
There is no doubt with the State Championship in Baseball this past spring that it may have not happened with out Babe Ruth Baseball and The Stretchlon Stars as many of our baseball players got most of their experience from both. Richard has been the backbone of both over the past 10 years.
The most important time in the football season begins Friday night. Conference play.... The Gryphons have already qualified for the playoffs but the whole deal is wrapped up in whether you play at home during the playoffs or not.
In the tenure of B W Holt the Gryphons are 2-2 on the road and 8-3 at home during the playoffs. It is awful hard to beat a good team in their pasture.
Don't forget Northern is in our house and Ring night for all of the State champions in spring sports will be passed out during a ceremony at Halftime.
Twenty seven victories in a row for the baby Griffs. There was one point in tonight's game where there was about a ten minute down pour. If you remember during the second JV game of the season there was a down pour and the rain did little to stop the Gryphon attack and tonight was no different.
The weekend is off and running for the Rocky Mount Gryphons as the JVs take out Northern Nash 48-12
I can't amagine anyone who would not want to go to the game tomorrow night but if you must miss the game Wes and I will bring the facts starting at 7.00pm on AM 1390.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Baseball playoffs
It had been 108 years since the Cubs and White Sox have been in the baseball playoffs at the same time. After this year, if you pull for either Chicago team you had better hope they don't make it again together for another 108 years.
The Cubs, who everyone thought was the best in the National League, was vacuumed right out of the playoff in three straight games. They were 0-2 at home.
The White Sox did one better and lost three games to one - winning at least one of two at home.
The Dodgers and Phillies will make a very good National League Championship Series and I am sticking with the Dodgers.
The American League finds the upstart Tampa Bay Rays playing the Red Sox. who knocked off my choice for the World Series, the California Angels of Anaheim of Orange County or Pasadena.
I think part of the Angels' problems in the playoffs is they don't know who they are. They really have no identity.
I would really like to see Manny and the Dodgers play the Red Sox in the Series, but I think the Rays may play in their first World Series.
Right this minute, the best organization in baseball is the Red Sox. They proved this year they didn't mind taking a risk getting rid of Manny. In return, they got a player, Jason Bay, who has filled in nicely in Manny's Spot.
Comparing them with the Yankees, all the Yankees do is go out and spend more money and show little results. The Red Sox will dump an aging player, regardless of whether he still has anything left, but the Yankees keep getting older.
I think one problem the Yankees have is they think they are smarter than everyone else.
I would really love for the Rays to win the World Series because that's where George Steinbrenner lives.
I thought the Red Sox -Angels winner was going to win the World Series and now that the Red Sox are there, I will be pulling for the upstarts - the Tampa Bay Rays.
Thank goodness none of the four playoff series went five games. The rate that WTBS was showing the games every other day, the World Series could not have had two teams until November.
Turning our attention to football - the round kind, last night several of the Rocky Mount soccer players went to Wilson Fike hoping that Fike would help beat Northern Nash. It would've given the Gryphons the NEW 6 Conference lead with three games to play.
Fike squandered a 2-0 lead last night in the match and lost in double overtime to Northern Nash, 3-2.
Now when Fike comes to Rocky Mount, the shoe will be on the other foot as the Knights will be hoping the same thing happens. A Fike victory would help them out.
First things first. RMHS soccer has a home match Wednesday afternoon against SouthWest Edgecombe.
Not only will the baseball team be receiving its state championship rings Friday night, but Jacobi Jenkins will get one as well for his individual state championship in the 110 meter hurdles.
T-minus three days and counting until Northern is in our house!
The Cubs, who everyone thought was the best in the National League, was vacuumed right out of the playoff in three straight games. They were 0-2 at home.
The White Sox did one better and lost three games to one - winning at least one of two at home.
The Dodgers and Phillies will make a very good National League Championship Series and I am sticking with the Dodgers.
The American League finds the upstart Tampa Bay Rays playing the Red Sox. who knocked off my choice for the World Series, the California Angels of Anaheim of Orange County or Pasadena.
I think part of the Angels' problems in the playoffs is they don't know who they are. They really have no identity.
I would really like to see Manny and the Dodgers play the Red Sox in the Series, but I think the Rays may play in their first World Series.
Right this minute, the best organization in baseball is the Red Sox. They proved this year they didn't mind taking a risk getting rid of Manny. In return, they got a player, Jason Bay, who has filled in nicely in Manny's Spot.
Comparing them with the Yankees, all the Yankees do is go out and spend more money and show little results. The Red Sox will dump an aging player, regardless of whether he still has anything left, but the Yankees keep getting older.
I think one problem the Yankees have is they think they are smarter than everyone else.
I would really love for the Rays to win the World Series because that's where George Steinbrenner lives.
I thought the Red Sox -Angels winner was going to win the World Series and now that the Red Sox are there, I will be pulling for the upstarts - the Tampa Bay Rays.
Thank goodness none of the four playoff series went five games. The rate that WTBS was showing the games every other day, the World Series could not have had two teams until November.
Turning our attention to football - the round kind, last night several of the Rocky Mount soccer players went to Wilson Fike hoping that Fike would help beat Northern Nash. It would've given the Gryphons the NEW 6 Conference lead with three games to play.
Fike squandered a 2-0 lead last night in the match and lost in double overtime to Northern Nash, 3-2.
Now when Fike comes to Rocky Mount, the shoe will be on the other foot as the Knights will be hoping the same thing happens. A Fike victory would help them out.
First things first. RMHS soccer has a home match Wednesday afternoon against SouthWest Edgecombe.
Not only will the baseball team be receiving its state championship rings Friday night, but Jacobi Jenkins will get one as well for his individual state championship in the 110 meter hurdles.
T-minus three days and counting until Northern is in our house!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Nitty Gritty Time!
I had an opportunity this afternoon to do the Gryphon boys soccer game with Southern Nash for TV.
Matt Moore's four goals and Justin Marsigli's three assist and a goal led the Gryphon rout, 7-1 over the Firebirds.
Tim Bishop and Ben Chavis added goals for the 12-2-1 Gryphons. The victory moves them to 6-1 in NEW 6 Conference play.
This team is loaded with five senior starters: Justin Adams, Ben Boudreau, Matt Moore, Hunter Perry and Nathan Pope. Those coming off the bench include seniors Francisco Alfaro, Zack Bullock, Ben Chavis and Kashyap Kauai.
This team has a load of experience from these seniors, but the one place where a lot of faith has been placed on a freshman is goalie Drew Gorham.
Any time a freshman plays, he must really be talented and Gorham has started the entire season for the Gryphons in goal.
His goals-against average is hovering near one per game and he had a shutout today until a Gryphon header went in the goal instead of down the field.
The Gryphons also put five underclassmen on the starting lineup with junior Justin Marsigli, then sophomores Mark Gray, Andrew Morales and Matt Williams; ninth grader Andy Martin joins Gorham in the starting lineup for the Gryphons.
First-year head coach Drew Nick shows his excitement when he talks of the possibilities of this team for the remainder of the year, the conference tournament and state playoffs.
The Gryphons have Nash Central, SouthWest Edgecombe and Fike left during the regular season. If they win all three, they will finish no worse than tied for first - depending on how Northern Nash fares rest of the way.
Northern is hosting Fike tonight and the Gryphons have Fike next week, so Fike will be a big factor in how the regular season plays out.
Thursday night, the JV Gryphons will go after their 27th straight victory at Northern, and Friday night, the varsity goes after its 22nd straight regular season win on the field.
T-minus four days and counting until Northern Nash!
Matt Moore's four goals and Justin Marsigli's three assist and a goal led the Gryphon rout, 7-1 over the Firebirds.
Tim Bishop and Ben Chavis added goals for the 12-2-1 Gryphons. The victory moves them to 6-1 in NEW 6 Conference play.
This team is loaded with five senior starters: Justin Adams, Ben Boudreau, Matt Moore, Hunter Perry and Nathan Pope. Those coming off the bench include seniors Francisco Alfaro, Zack Bullock, Ben Chavis and Kashyap Kauai.
This team has a load of experience from these seniors, but the one place where a lot of faith has been placed on a freshman is goalie Drew Gorham.
Any time a freshman plays, he must really be talented and Gorham has started the entire season for the Gryphons in goal.
His goals-against average is hovering near one per game and he had a shutout today until a Gryphon header went in the goal instead of down the field.
The Gryphons also put five underclassmen on the starting lineup with junior Justin Marsigli, then sophomores Mark Gray, Andrew Morales and Matt Williams; ninth grader Andy Martin joins Gorham in the starting lineup for the Gryphons.
First-year head coach Drew Nick shows his excitement when he talks of the possibilities of this team for the remainder of the year, the conference tournament and state playoffs.
The Gryphons have Nash Central, SouthWest Edgecombe and Fike left during the regular season. If they win all three, they will finish no worse than tied for first - depending on how Northern Nash fares rest of the way.
Northern is hosting Fike tonight and the Gryphons have Fike next week, so Fike will be a big factor in how the regular season plays out.
Thursday night, the JV Gryphons will go after their 27th straight victory at Northern, and Friday night, the varsity goes after its 22nd straight regular season win on the field.
T-minus four days and counting until Northern Nash!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Power Football
If the Super Bowl was held next Sunday, the two teams playing for the title would be the Tennessee Titans and the New York FOOTBALL Giants.
There are 11 weeks to go in the NFL regular season. Let's wait and see if either even makes it to the league championship.
What do they both have in common? A running game! DEFENSE!!!!
Despite all the West Coast offenses and other so-called sophisticated schemes, the teams that win week after week are the running teams.
Even with the running game that New England had last year, it relied too much on the pass and when it needed a running game, they kept passing. In the end, scoring quickly on offense and putting your defense right back in the game is not good come the fourth quarter.
The Rocky Mount Gryphons have speed, but Thursday night when the game was tight in the second half, they relied on power football to get the advantage in the game.
High school football is spattered with teams that try to spread teams all over the field. Year after year, the teams that go deep into the playoffs ram it down your throat running the football.
The teams that have had the best success on the Gryphons have been the teams that had a quarterback that was hard to bring down.
Western Alamance comes to mind for some reason.
Americus Williams from Northern Vance was that way last Thursday night. Do you realize we shut them out in the second half and they crossed the 50- yard line only once in the second half?
Friday night is the first night of conference football. The Gryphon Nation needs to be in the house as the baseball team will be receiving its state championship rings. ECU freshman Jacobi Jenkins will also receive one for winning the 3-A 110 hurdles state title.
Five players on the football team will be among those sporting new hardware: Collins Cuthrell, Brian Goodwin, Chris Pittman, Nick Hahula and Carter Varnell. From what I hear, all members of last year's team will be at the RMAC, even the five that have moved on to college.
Wes Bradshaw, our very own play-by-play man, who during the spring is the PA voice of Gryphon baseball, will be the master of ceremonies. We will bring the event to you live on AM 1390 as it happens.
There is no better way to celebrate a Gryphon crowning achievement than to do it in front of the Northern Nash faithful.
By the way, let me get on the Northern crowd for just a minute.
Now that the schedule has changed and RM-NN are playing the first game in the conference rotation instead of the last and Northern is on a one-game winning streak, there is no reason not to attend this game. If you remember the last time these two met in Rocky Mount ,at least the Knights' cheerleaders show up because no one else did for Northern.
T-MINUS five days and counting until The Game!
There are 11 weeks to go in the NFL regular season. Let's wait and see if either even makes it to the league championship.
What do they both have in common? A running game! DEFENSE!!!!
Despite all the West Coast offenses and other so-called sophisticated schemes, the teams that win week after week are the running teams.
Even with the running game that New England had last year, it relied too much on the pass and when it needed a running game, they kept passing. In the end, scoring quickly on offense and putting your defense right back in the game is not good come the fourth quarter.
The Rocky Mount Gryphons have speed, but Thursday night when the game was tight in the second half, they relied on power football to get the advantage in the game.
High school football is spattered with teams that try to spread teams all over the field. Year after year, the teams that go deep into the playoffs ram it down your throat running the football.
The teams that have had the best success on the Gryphons have been the teams that had a quarterback that was hard to bring down.
Western Alamance comes to mind for some reason.
Americus Williams from Northern Vance was that way last Thursday night. Do you realize we shut them out in the second half and they crossed the 50- yard line only once in the second half?
Friday night is the first night of conference football. The Gryphon Nation needs to be in the house as the baseball team will be receiving its state championship rings. ECU freshman Jacobi Jenkins will also receive one for winning the 3-A 110 hurdles state title.
Five players on the football team will be among those sporting new hardware: Collins Cuthrell, Brian Goodwin, Chris Pittman, Nick Hahula and Carter Varnell. From what I hear, all members of last year's team will be at the RMAC, even the five that have moved on to college.
Wes Bradshaw, our very own play-by-play man, who during the spring is the PA voice of Gryphon baseball, will be the master of ceremonies. We will bring the event to you live on AM 1390 as it happens.
There is no better way to celebrate a Gryphon crowning achievement than to do it in front of the Northern Nash faithful.
By the way, let me get on the Northern crowd for just a minute.
Now that the schedule has changed and RM-NN are playing the first game in the conference rotation instead of the last and Northern is on a one-game winning streak, there is no reason not to attend this game. If you remember the last time these two met in Rocky Mount ,at least the Knights' cheerleaders show up because no one else did for Northern.
T-MINUS five days and counting until The Game!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Triathlons, Golf, Football, etc.
I have to start off tonight with a little chest pumping!
Brooks, my only son, participated in a triathlon today in Pinehurst. This event had a one-mile swim, a 25-mile bike ride and a six-mile run. Why anyone would want to do such a ridiculous thing I just don't know, but he did.
More than 900 people struggled through the sandhills of Moore County and as soon as he finished up, he jumped in his car and rode to Raleigh to watch his beloved Wolfpack fight hard, but lose again.
His time was under three hours. His goal was 3 1/2 hours, so the pasta worked today.
Brooks left so fast that he didn't stick around for the totals, but he thinks he finished somewhere around 90th position. This is either his second or third attempt and he has a lot of potential, if he stays committed. He tells me his bike time was the ninth best of everyone there.
You may see Brooks riding his bike through the streets and countryside of Nash County whenever he is home from his job of working as a contractor for NOAA.
He goes out on fishing boats and makes sure fisherman don't over fish the oceans. When they catch loggerhead turtles, he tags them and releases them back to the ocean. About a month ago, he was on a boat in the Gulf of Mexico that was fishing for bull sharks and through his measurements, it proved to be the largest bull shark ever caught.
This weekend, my cousin Lauren Doughtie is playing golf for N.C. State a women's golf tournament in Chapel Hill. She is a senior and is a preseason All-America choice when women's golf gets cranked up in the spring.
This past golf season, she became the first N.C. State women's golfer to qualify for the NCAA Championships, and she qualified for the U.S. Women's Open. She won the Virgina State Amateur Championship and made the top 32 players in the U.S. Women's Public Links Championship.
Turning to football...
Why have replays in college football if when a play is called wrong on the field, the replay booth lets a mistake stand anyway.
N.C. State had a call today that clearly the replay could change, but didn't. Even tonight during Carolina's rout of Connecticut (38-12), the Tar Heels stripped a ball away in the field of play and clearly recovered it, but replay let the mistake on the field stand.
Duke has come down from Cloud Nine after being shutout today by Georgia Tech (27-0).
State continues to play hard and inspired, but lose a heartbreaker (38-31). Tonight, Carolina has taken the step up for at least this week joining Virginia Tech as the best in the ACC.
I guess I insulted Virginia asking what was wrong with them as they embarrassed Maryland. What happened to Maryland? Virginia 31, Turtles Zero.
Today, Elon took a major step to putting its name in the NCAA FCS playoffs, if they don't fall apart as the season keeps going. It's next major test is App State.
And finally tonight....
I have not talked to him, but I would bet my failing 401K plan that B.W. Holt was in Blacksburg, Va. today.
You know he and wife Barbara had to be there to watch his former player Stephan Virgil play for the Hokies. Today was a special day as new D-I member Western Kentucky was on the field in Blacksburg and the Holts' only child Stu happened to be the running backs coach for WKU.
The Hokies won, but it was a ball game: 27-13.
T-minus six days and counting to the Northern-Rocky Mount football game!
Brooks, my only son, participated in a triathlon today in Pinehurst. This event had a one-mile swim, a 25-mile bike ride and a six-mile run. Why anyone would want to do such a ridiculous thing I just don't know, but he did.
More than 900 people struggled through the sandhills of Moore County and as soon as he finished up, he jumped in his car and rode to Raleigh to watch his beloved Wolfpack fight hard, but lose again.
His time was under three hours. His goal was 3 1/2 hours, so the pasta worked today.
Brooks left so fast that he didn't stick around for the totals, but he thinks he finished somewhere around 90th position. This is either his second or third attempt and he has a lot of potential, if he stays committed. He tells me his bike time was the ninth best of everyone there.
You may see Brooks riding his bike through the streets and countryside of Nash County whenever he is home from his job of working as a contractor for NOAA.
He goes out on fishing boats and makes sure fisherman don't over fish the oceans. When they catch loggerhead turtles, he tags them and releases them back to the ocean. About a month ago, he was on a boat in the Gulf of Mexico that was fishing for bull sharks and through his measurements, it proved to be the largest bull shark ever caught.
This weekend, my cousin Lauren Doughtie is playing golf for N.C. State a women's golf tournament in Chapel Hill. She is a senior and is a preseason All-America choice when women's golf gets cranked up in the spring.
This past golf season, she became the first N.C. State women's golfer to qualify for the NCAA Championships, and she qualified for the U.S. Women's Open. She won the Virgina State Amateur Championship and made the top 32 players in the U.S. Women's Public Links Championship.
Turning to football...
Why have replays in college football if when a play is called wrong on the field, the replay booth lets a mistake stand anyway.
N.C. State had a call today that clearly the replay could change, but didn't. Even tonight during Carolina's rout of Connecticut (38-12), the Tar Heels stripped a ball away in the field of play and clearly recovered it, but replay let the mistake on the field stand.
Duke has come down from Cloud Nine after being shutout today by Georgia Tech (27-0).
State continues to play hard and inspired, but lose a heartbreaker (38-31). Tonight, Carolina has taken the step up for at least this week joining Virginia Tech as the best in the ACC.
I guess I insulted Virginia asking what was wrong with them as they embarrassed Maryland. What happened to Maryland? Virginia 31, Turtles Zero.
Today, Elon took a major step to putting its name in the NCAA FCS playoffs, if they don't fall apart as the season keeps going. It's next major test is App State.
And finally tonight....
I have not talked to him, but I would bet my failing 401K plan that B.W. Holt was in Blacksburg, Va. today.
You know he and wife Barbara had to be there to watch his former player Stephan Virgil play for the Hokies. Today was a special day as new D-I member Western Kentucky was on the field in Blacksburg and the Holts' only child Stu happened to be the running backs coach for WKU.
The Hokies won, but it was a ball game: 27-13.
T-minus six days and counting to the Northern-Rocky Mount football game!
Friday, October 3, 2008
The NEW 6 so far
The last few years the NEW 6 3-A has proven to be one of the best football conferences in the state.
This year seems to be no different. Now that the non-conference portion of the schedule is over let's look at the conference.
Fike - 5-1 Stung tonight by the Beddingfield passing attack Fike loses for the first time 34-28
Rocky Mount- Having played in the Eastern Finals last year everyone around the state is aware of the Gryphons.
Nash Central - Having lost their first game of the season to Tarboro, people are not paying attention to the Bulldogs. They have not lost since that opener.
Unlike Rocky Mount, which discovered the ineligible player problem in Nash County, Nash Central had to forfeit two games, but on the field it's 5-1.
SouthWest Edgecombe- Like Nash Central, the Cougars lost their first game and stand 4-1. You need to remember that SouthWest played its first game of the season at West Craven, which is still undefeated. West Craven had already played one game when it met the Cougars, so that was a LARGE advantage that night.
Southern Nash - The Firebirds are up one week and down the next. They have been up more than down at sport a 3-2 record.
Northern Nash - A couple of blowout losses in the first couple of games but the Knights continue to improved each week. The last two games went to the wire with a chance to beat Bertie at Bertie and last week's last-play victory over Southern Vance. Northern stands at 1-5.
The conference has an overall 24-10 record on the field as conference play cranks up next week. Northern is holding five of the ten losses.
Fike, Nash Central, Rocky Mount and SouthWest Edgecombe are 20-4 in games played on the field. This championship might not already be sewn up for the Gryphons.
Strength of schedule is very important when preparing for conference play. Looking back at the Gryphons' six opponents record to date..... East Forsyth, J.H. Rose and Hertford County have a combined 11-4 record in their games not involving the Gryphons.
Rose lost tonight at home to West Craven 29-6. West Craven is unbeaten in 3-A play and very well may challenge for the No. 1 seed in the 3-A eastern bracket when the playoffs roll around.
The other end of the spectrum are Southern Wayne, Wilson Hunt and Northern Vance. They are a combined 4-11 when playing some one other than the Gryphons.
That makes our overall record of the teams on our schedule a combined 15-15. That's not bad
even though a couple of teams were not very good in our six games so far.
You know one of the reasons that the conference started rotating the schedule was because the way the conference football has played out in the first three years of the league. Rocky Mount and SouthWest have pretty much played for the championship the first week of conference play.
That's why we are playing Northern Next week, not at the end of the season. They rotated every team up one game in the schedule cycle.
So what has that caused? Next week, SouthWest plays host to Fike and then SouthWest entertains the Gryphons. The Cougars get the two of the top NEW- 6 teams at their place the first two conference games.
The last time the Gryphons went to Pinetops, they got beat on a Monday night 21-16.
In fact, all three games with SouthWest during the regular season have been played on a Monday night. All have been decided by a touchdown margin or less difference every time, except their first NEW 6 tilt (24-7, RM).
The first two weeks will tell us a lot about who might be the conference champion or either we will have to wait until the first Friday night in November.
Fike's loss tonight drops a potential undefeated team out of the running for the No. 1 seeding at the end of year. That is, of course, assuming some one will stay unbeaten all year long.
Right now, the unbeaten teams looking for the No. 1 seed in the east are West Craven, Beddingfield, which beat Fike tonight, but which earlier this year lost to Nash Central. They got that lost back after Nash Central had to give up the game on the forfeit, Rocky Mount and Eastern Alamance.
If all those teams end up unbeaten, a drawing will be held between the four teams to determine the top four seeds.
As the conference play unfolds, all four of these teams should be the first scores you look for if you are worried about seedings for the playoffs.
This year seems to be no different. Now that the non-conference portion of the schedule is over let's look at the conference.
Fike - 5-1 Stung tonight by the Beddingfield passing attack Fike loses for the first time 34-28
Rocky Mount- Having played in the Eastern Finals last year everyone around the state is aware of the Gryphons.
Nash Central - Having lost their first game of the season to Tarboro, people are not paying attention to the Bulldogs. They have not lost since that opener.
Unlike Rocky Mount, which discovered the ineligible player problem in Nash County, Nash Central had to forfeit two games, but on the field it's 5-1.
SouthWest Edgecombe- Like Nash Central, the Cougars lost their first game and stand 4-1. You need to remember that SouthWest played its first game of the season at West Craven, which is still undefeated. West Craven had already played one game when it met the Cougars, so that was a LARGE advantage that night.
Southern Nash - The Firebirds are up one week and down the next. They have been up more than down at sport a 3-2 record.
Northern Nash - A couple of blowout losses in the first couple of games but the Knights continue to improved each week. The last two games went to the wire with a chance to beat Bertie at Bertie and last week's last-play victory over Southern Vance. Northern stands at 1-5.
The conference has an overall 24-10 record on the field as conference play cranks up next week. Northern is holding five of the ten losses.
Fike, Nash Central, Rocky Mount and SouthWest Edgecombe are 20-4 in games played on the field. This championship might not already be sewn up for the Gryphons.
Strength of schedule is very important when preparing for conference play. Looking back at the Gryphons' six opponents record to date..... East Forsyth, J.H. Rose and Hertford County have a combined 11-4 record in their games not involving the Gryphons.
Rose lost tonight at home to West Craven 29-6. West Craven is unbeaten in 3-A play and very well may challenge for the No. 1 seed in the 3-A eastern bracket when the playoffs roll around.
The other end of the spectrum are Southern Wayne, Wilson Hunt and Northern Vance. They are a combined 4-11 when playing some one other than the Gryphons.
That makes our overall record of the teams on our schedule a combined 15-15. That's not bad
even though a couple of teams were not very good in our six games so far.
You know one of the reasons that the conference started rotating the schedule was because the way the conference football has played out in the first three years of the league. Rocky Mount and SouthWest have pretty much played for the championship the first week of conference play.
That's why we are playing Northern Next week, not at the end of the season. They rotated every team up one game in the schedule cycle.
So what has that caused? Next week, SouthWest plays host to Fike and then SouthWest entertains the Gryphons. The Cougars get the two of the top NEW- 6 teams at their place the first two conference games.
The last time the Gryphons went to Pinetops, they got beat on a Monday night 21-16.
In fact, all three games with SouthWest during the regular season have been played on a Monday night. All have been decided by a touchdown margin or less difference every time, except their first NEW 6 tilt (24-7, RM).
The first two weeks will tell us a lot about who might be the conference champion or either we will have to wait until the first Friday night in November.
Fike's loss tonight drops a potential undefeated team out of the running for the No. 1 seeding at the end of year. That is, of course, assuming some one will stay unbeaten all year long.
Right now, the unbeaten teams looking for the No. 1 seed in the east are West Craven, Beddingfield, which beat Fike tonight, but which earlier this year lost to Nash Central. They got that lost back after Nash Central had to give up the game on the forfeit, Rocky Mount and Eastern Alamance.
If all those teams end up unbeaten, a drawing will be held between the four teams to determine the top four seeds.
As the conference play unfolds, all four of these teams should be the first scores you look for if you are worried about seedings for the playoffs.
Season's One-Third Over
If this was the NFL, the exhibition season ended tonight.
This is high school football, so the non-conference portion of the Gryphons' schedule is over.
I've told you all week we needed someone make us sweat in the second half and we got that from Northern Vance.
Just because I said we needed it, didn't mean I wanted it. But we got it anyway.
What the Gryphons got was a team that thought it could beat us and did everything in its power to make it happen. In the end, the test that we needed we got and we passed.
Here we were playing a team that we should have played in three weeks ago - playing in front of a mostly empty stadium. If there was 500 paying customers, then there was a huge crowd. Only about 100 made the trip from Rocky Mount, including the cheerleaders.
They were playing on a Thursday (that's JV night). The field was muddy (a soccer match was played on it the night before). The baseball coach at NV, who was the PA announcer, said that they had a big rain Tuesday morning, but even in drought conditions, that field stays wet. Most importantly, we found out tonight other teams don't lay down and die when we show up.
We were given a supreme effort by a team with a slippery QB and a wide receiver who had the ability to make catches even when we had him covered.
The defense held them to seven points and a dropped punt snap supplied the other three points for them. They scored their 10 points in a two-minute span. The first half, the Gryphons' defense played as if they were suppose to fall down every time we touched them. However, the Vikings did not buy into that idea.
Here is a telling stat from this game which tells me why I am happy with this game.
In the first half, Rocky Mount had the ball four times. We had one touchdown, on field goal, a lost fumble and a dropped punt snap.
In the second half, we had a 86-yard scoring drive, a field goal, a one-play touchdown and we ran out the clock.
We had eight possessions and scored on five and ran out the clock on another. We did about as good as any other game. The Vikings did a great job of keeping the ball from us.
Junior running back Marquavis Alston is rounding into shape after his ankle injury at J.H. Rose . He now has 260 yards on 17 carries over the last two games.
QB Collins Cuthrell continues to throw long passes with accuracy and Keith Strickland continues to catch long passes.
The defense came to play in the second half and the Vikings' quarterback Americus Williams did a good job of eluding our pressure all night until the very end.
Bottom line tonight - we needed to see how we would play with the game on the line and we played the second half the way we played the first five games of the season - full-throttle.
The Gryphons passed a major exam - 26-10 over Northern Vance.
There is good news to pass along to you. As we signed off the air tonight, we reported that Nash Central and Bunn were tied 20-20 and heading into overtime.
In the third overtime, Nash Central scores first and makes a two-point conversion and Bunn scores on their first play, but misses the two-pointer, so the Bulldogs win 34-32.
I know everyone thinks that we should have put 50 on the board and because we didn't we didn't play well. We didn't play well in the first half because for the first time this year ,we were not spitting nails getting off the bus, but NV was.
We survived a challenge which will make us a better team as we head to conference play next week against Northern.
This is high school football, so the non-conference portion of the Gryphons' schedule is over.
I've told you all week we needed someone make us sweat in the second half and we got that from Northern Vance.
Just because I said we needed it, didn't mean I wanted it. But we got it anyway.
What the Gryphons got was a team that thought it could beat us and did everything in its power to make it happen. In the end, the test that we needed we got and we passed.
Here we were playing a team that we should have played in three weeks ago - playing in front of a mostly empty stadium. If there was 500 paying customers, then there was a huge crowd. Only about 100 made the trip from Rocky Mount, including the cheerleaders.
They were playing on a Thursday (that's JV night). The field was muddy (a soccer match was played on it the night before). The baseball coach at NV, who was the PA announcer, said that they had a big rain Tuesday morning, but even in drought conditions, that field stays wet. Most importantly, we found out tonight other teams don't lay down and die when we show up.
We were given a supreme effort by a team with a slippery QB and a wide receiver who had the ability to make catches even when we had him covered.
The defense held them to seven points and a dropped punt snap supplied the other three points for them. They scored their 10 points in a two-minute span. The first half, the Gryphons' defense played as if they were suppose to fall down every time we touched them. However, the Vikings did not buy into that idea.
Here is a telling stat from this game which tells me why I am happy with this game.
In the first half, Rocky Mount had the ball four times. We had one touchdown, on field goal, a lost fumble and a dropped punt snap.
In the second half, we had a 86-yard scoring drive, a field goal, a one-play touchdown and we ran out the clock.
We had eight possessions and scored on five and ran out the clock on another. We did about as good as any other game. The Vikings did a great job of keeping the ball from us.
Junior running back Marquavis Alston is rounding into shape after his ankle injury at J.H. Rose . He now has 260 yards on 17 carries over the last two games.
QB Collins Cuthrell continues to throw long passes with accuracy and Keith Strickland continues to catch long passes.
The defense came to play in the second half and the Vikings' quarterback Americus Williams did a good job of eluding our pressure all night until the very end.
Bottom line tonight - we needed to see how we would play with the game on the line and we played the second half the way we played the first five games of the season - full-throttle.
The Gryphons passed a major exam - 26-10 over Northern Vance.
There is good news to pass along to you. As we signed off the air tonight, we reported that Nash Central and Bunn were tied 20-20 and heading into overtime.
In the third overtime, Nash Central scores first and makes a two-point conversion and Bunn scores on their first play, but misses the two-pointer, so the Bulldogs win 34-32.
I know everyone thinks that we should have put 50 on the board and because we didn't we didn't play well. We didn't play well in the first half because for the first time this year ,we were not spitting nails getting off the bus, but NV was.
We survived a challenge which will make us a better team as we head to conference play next week against Northern.
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