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!