Friday, November 28, 2008

Sometimes You Can Learn A Lesson In Victory

The Gryphons coasted to a 35-0 halftime lead and found out the teams we are playing now are not going to lay down and die.

Luckily for the Gryphons the score wasn't 14-0 at the half but they had enough cushion to win.

Like most other games Eastern Alamance had no answer for the quick Gryphons and by the time that got use to our speed they were 35 behind.

The Gryphons scored on 5 of their 6 tries in the first half including a 70 yard drive in six plays to start the game.

L'var Silver left the game in the second quarter but not before he had obtained over a 100 yards rushing for the first time this year.

Jordan Ford had two touchdowns Marquavis Alston one and Nick Hahula all scored in the first half.

The Eagles lost their quarterback in the second quarter when the score was already 21-0 and their wide receiver Carter came in an did a respectable job of evading Gryphon defenders and passed for 176 yards mostly in the second half.

The second week in a row the Gryphon give up more than 300 yards but again most of them came trying to make the game respectable.

The Gryphons had four sacks lead by Nick Harrison who had three and Jermaine Fields with one.

Fields also had two batted down passes and Harrison one.

The Gryphons did not come away from this game in good health as L'Var Silver fullback, and Zack Williams starting cornerback neither played in the second half. Zack Williams being out and Hiawatha Bunn still nursing a bum knee the Gryphons played the entire game with second team cornerbacks in the game Hasheem Hatu and JV Johnathan Williams playing the entire game. The first unit was not in the game on the last score by EA to make the score 42-21

I am sure the second half will give coach Holt plenty to preach about next week since a team that may throw the ball 50 times is up next for the Gryphons.

Gryphons advance to the Eastern Finals again 42-21 over Eastern Alamance

In other Action

West Craven passed better than Southwest Edgecombe ran it and will make a trip to Rocky Mount next Friday as they whip SWE 42-27

Tarboro fell behind early but came back for a 28-12 Victory over Goldsboro.

Western action saw Southpoint beat Asheville 28-0 and West Rowan nipped Carver 20-16.

Next Friday night both Rocky Mount and Tarboro will host eastern finals

Tickets for the eastern 3-A finals will be on sale in the office at Rocky Mount high school starting Tuesday at $7 each. If you wait until the gate next Friday tickets will be $8.

I have to tell you this tonight the Gryphons were aided by Morgan Doughtie who was on the sidelines filling the water bottles. Morgan says she helped lead the Gryphons to victory.

1 comment:

gryphon86 said...

Good assessment. I find it interesting that EA's local press coverage "Times News Varsity" takes pride in EA's using trickery and winning the second half as solace and taking up 3/4 of the article. Bottom line was RM was motivated in the first half and much quicker than the EA team. EA defense could not stop RM's offensive line and running game. It was evident RM got complacent in the third quarter. The two defensive ends for RM were quick and when they put pressure on the EA QBs it made it very difficult for EA to generate any offense. Most of EA's offense statistics came on trickery and when they were already down 35-0. Watching the game from the 50 yard line and watching WRAL's video of the onside kick ... It looked to me the kicker actually touched the ball after nine yards and slid past the required ten yards. Either way RM should have been better prepared as theere was no RM defender even close to the ball when it was recovered. Additionally, the 13 penalties for 110 yards did not help RM cause and allowed at least three EA drives to be extended deep into RM territory. Most of the critical penalties were block in the back or holding on long runs. RM will need to get that straightened out next week along with getting its starting defensive backs healthy to maintain West Craven's passing game. Good thing is RM will not have to worry about a huge/vocal Southwest following, Cougar revenge and a "3-5 yard run up the middle cloud of dust offensive mentality" to keep the game respectable. Good luck Gryphs and let's stay focused for 48 minutes versus 24 minutes.