Level Headed

There was no mad dash around the field by the players after Rocky Mount's stunning victory over Rose.

The stunning part was how dominating the effort was.

Coach B.W.Holt had told the team all week that this Rose team was beatable and that they must respect them or they could still beat the Gryphons.

Pregame chatter by the Rose coaches was that if we were as good as advertised, Rocky Mount would win.

You always listen to that kind of talk as if they are setting you up for a surprise. No surprise. The Gryphons were as good as advertised.

Regardless of what sport or business you are in, assistant coaches or management always talks the talk of the company line.

In the locker room after the game, the chatter was we did what we had to do. We can still improve.

One of those impressive things about this team so far this year has been when they needed four yards for a first down, they got six. If they needed 15, they got 18.

This team is playing as if they have blinders on. They see the finish line and they are doing what is necessary to cross the line first.

What I saw was a team after the game that knows last night was just one game - it meant nothing other than another win. It did not guarantee a playoff spot or even a top-seeding for winning.

Next week is much more important in that regard because Hertford County is a road block to winning the State Championship. That is of course if we both wind up in the 3-A or 3-AA bracket together.

Last Friday, Sept. 5, the 10th day of the school year, was the day in which the daily attendance is sent to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. The NCHSAA will later get those numbers and schools will be lined up from biggest to smallest. The halfway point in each classification will be drawn and the top half will be AA and the lower half A.

If you remember, we were only three schools before the break line between A and AA last year, so it is going to be close either way again this year.

The Hertford County game will be the fourth game of the season and the Gryphons have not played a game yet against a team with a loss.

The Gryphon defense has been dominate. This is a senior-laden group and are playing as if it has been their before.

I think they call that experienced.

I think it is hard to imagine, but if last year's team would line up against this year's team, it would be a two-touchdown game for this year's squad.

We were 14-1 last year. Now that is scary!

We have had a difficult time over the past few years making it the whole season with one quarterback.

If Collins Cuthrell stays healthy, this offense may break last year's record-breaking year by a landslide.

Thursday night at the JV game, while talking with Holt, we were talking about our backs and he made the statement,."we don't have a great back in the bunch, but we got a whole lot of good ones."

I would advise everyone to tell your neighbors Friday night's game against the Bears of Hertford County could very well be the eastern state championship preview. Get there early..

The main thing is .... Be there!!!!!!

Sky High!

I thought all along this week that Rocky Mount would beat Rose, but never in my wildest dreams did I think we would kick them this bad.

Now let me see if I can tell you the keys to the game:

1. Kicking game - It's hard for a struggling offense to do anything when it starts on the 20 all night.

2. Defense - It is unbelievable how good the RM defense is. In three games, teams are averaging two yards per attempt rushing the ball against them.

3. If you can't run, then you need to pass and the Gryphons held Rose to five yards per attempt.

4. The best thing Rose had was its defense and yet, the Gryphons had 454 yards total for the game.

5. Running game - Steady even after Alston went out with sprained ankle on the first offensive play.

6. Passing game - We got a cool customer at QB. Collins Cuthrell makes good decisions when not to throw and can throw deep and even when on the run.

7. We got a receiver that can get open. Keith Strickland came up just short of a school record for receiving yards in a game with 202 yards on six catches. Mike Mason holds the record with 204 against Havelock in 2001.

8. If we get inside of your 30, we going to score some way or the other. Nick Hahula set a record tonight becoming the first Gryphon kicker to kick three field goals in one game.

9. So far this season, no one has beaten us on the line of scrimmage on either side of the ball.

10. This team is having fun.

Rose was shut out tonight for the first time in over 11 years - 148 games, which was tied (with Reidsville) for the longest active streak in the state.

Here is what I see so far for these Gryphons. Coach Holt has them focused. They are workmanlike going full tilt on every play both offense and defense

Gryphons 36--------Rose 000000000000000000000000

Next week's foe Hertford County crushed Northern Nash 62-20. At least Northern got 20.

Nash Central keeps rolling along 9-0 over Hunt.

Beddingfield shut out Southern Nash 20-0

SouthWest Edgecombe battered Farmville Central 53-6

Tarboro stayed undefeated rolling North Edgecombe 57-16

Fike clobbered Eastern Wayne 44-0

Sorry to have to report that Nash Central has been bitten by the same eligibility rule that Rocky Mount discovered last week.

Unfortunately for them, it was unaware of the rule until the Rocky Mount question came up and it will have to give back two hard-earned victories.

Northern Nash also has lost a football player and soccer player from the same rule. In their case, no wins are effected and in soccer, the player had not played during any of their victories.

Now let's try to be level headed as much as possible. This Rose team is probably a good football team. Line this year's team up against the last 10 Rose teams and this one is the worst.

But when you have only beaten a team five times in the last 23 tries, this 36-0 pasting sure is sweet!