Friday, August 22, 2008

Impressed!

To tell you the truth, I was very scared that the Gryphons were not going to be ready for the Eagles of East Forsyth tonight.

Boy, was I wrong!

I was at practice Wednesday and we didn't seem to be gearing up for a game on Friday. I saw no focus. Even during warmups, I was watching the punts and we were running into each other and I said to myself 'we just don't seem ready.'

I thought the East Forsyth was going to be and average 4-A team, which means it can beat most 3-A schools. Maybe not able to beat the upper level, but if we didn't play up to being an upper level 3-A team, we might be in trouble.

If there is one thing that B.W. Holt has taught since he has been to Rocky Mount is speed.(Insert chuckle here). Several times tonight the defensive ends were in their correct positions to make plays for the Eagles, but they found themselves not able to outrun Rocky Mount's stables of backs to the corners.

Collins Cuthrell had an excellent game throwing the ball. He adds a skill that the Gryphons lacked last year.

I thought that the Eagles would move the ball with their throwing QB and test a secondary that was without Brian Goodwin, who does not have enough practices to play yet having just come back from playing baseball at Wrigley Field last Sunday.

The Gryphons had the ball five times in the first half - scored three times, missed a field goal and gained 65 yards in 49 seconds just before the half on their last drive before the clock ran out.

Instead of sitting on a 22-0 halftime lead, the Gryphons scored twice on offense the first five minutes of the second half and blocked a punt for a touchdown.

The defense gave up 14 points in the fourth quarter after Rocky Mount had the lead up to 43-0. It gave up over 100 yards in East Forsyth's two scoring drives. Even then, they only allowed 152 yards for the whole game.

The offense garnered over 360 yards rushing from a host of backs and added 146 yards passing just to make future coaches take notice .

Turning our attention to tonight's broadcast, at 2 this afternoon, I had no idea that we would get on the air tonight. Wes Bradshaw's adventure into trying to become the next Rupert Murdoch was not going well at all. He has invested in new equipment so we can control everything from the stadium instead of having to have a board operator back at the station.

Wednesday and Thursday, that new equipment was having a hard time being compatible with the equipment at 1390. Somehow, we got on the air.

It is funny, but the broadcast are always better when you find yourself ahead 43-0 at some point in the game.

Don't forget our next game is Thursday night at Hunt. Hope we can introduce an on-field mike next week to bring you the "Toss of the Coin" from the field.

Oh ,by the way, I think the Gryphons were ready to play tonight. If they weren't, I pity the team that they play the night that they are.