Double Final Friday

We should not forget that Rocky Mount will not be the only local team still playing high school football Friday night.

Jeff Craddock will send his Vikings of Tarboro High School into action which I believe this is the first time since 1984 that Tarboro has made it this far to the fourth round.

They will be playing Northside of Jacksonville not to be confused with Northside out of Pinetown in Beaufort County.

Northside is much like Nash Central is they are the new school in Jacksonville and if you know anything about Northside they are right behind the shopping area just off Western Boulevard but only a mile or so from Jacksonville High school.

Jacksonville years ago use to be a 4-A power but their numbers have dwindled with the coming or Northside.

I just love to look at what the expert computer people are thinking about these games.

Northside according to the power numbers is two points better than Tarboro but in a simulated game because Tarboro is at home the computers are picking Tarboro 22-21.

Last night I said Rocky Mount was a 12 point favorite over West Craven but I miss wrote. The twelve point spread would have been against Southwest Edgecombe. We are a seven point favorite according to the experts and in the simulated computer game Rocky Mount wins 27-20.

The western finals has South Point hosting West Rowan and the computers have South Point winning 24-17.

Wouldn't it be something if Rocky Mount does play for the State championship in football and have to play another Rowan county team like the baseball team did against East Rowan.

Sure do hope those Rowan county people look at us like we have had to look at Alamance county for the past three years as a road block for them.

It is amazing how close the computer has been in the playoffs for the Gryphons. We were 38 point favorites against Jacksonville and won by 42. We were 24 point favorites over Webb and won by 34. Last Friday night we were 23 better according to the spread and won by 21 but it took the hook and ladder pass against the second team defense not to beat the spread.

Injuries are a big part of every game but with the importance this game carries every injury is magnified.

Zack Williams #22 for the Gryphons is out at least this week with a strained knee. Hiawatha Bunn the corner back on the other side of the ball will play defense. He has been out the last three weeks nursing a knee and l'var Silver who had over 100 yards rushing in the first half until he sprained his ankle will play Friday.

So we will be about as healthy as any team can hope for getting ready to play the fifteenth game of the season,

Tickets are on sale at the main office at Rocky Mount High School from 8.00am until 4.00pm Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. $7 in advance but if you wait until Friday night they will cost $8.

Go ahead and make up your mind that if you want a good seat you had better be there by 6.30pm or you may have to stand to see this one.

West Craven 14-0 against an undefeated Gryphon team on the field this season. Since we are in the eyes of the NCHSAA undefeated this is the only game in any bracket that both teams are undefeated.

Why would you want to miss it????