Focus

I stopped by practice for a few minutes on Monday to see for myself what the atmosphere was like.

Seemed like a very good practice. One thing when you have dominated everyone like we have for the most part is thinking you don't need to worry.

I didn't see any of that. It was a very spirited session.

There is no school on Wednesday so practice will start tentatively at 9.00am. That will be followed by a Thanksgiving practice on Thursday morning which will probably not last much more than and hour.

The Gryphons are still unscored on in the first quarter this year.

For the fourth year in a row, we will play an Alamance County school in the playoffs. So far we are 0-3.

The Gryphons have not lost at home since the 30-10 loss to Western Alamance in the 3-A Eastern Finals in 2005. That is now 21 straight home games.

The computer rankings are out and predictions are out for Friday night's games.

Tarboro is a nine-point favorite over Goldsboro.

West Craven is a six-point favorite over NEW 6 member SouthWest Edgecombe.

The Gryphons are 23-point favorites Friday over Eastern Alamance. A 23-point favorite in the third round. We were favored by 24 last week and 38 against Jacksonville.

I think the Gryphons had better take care of this easy bracket cause starting next week, it will tighten up big time.

Based on this week's ratings, the Gryphons will be favored by seven over West Craven and if they were to play SWE, they will carry a 12-point margin.

If Eastern Alamance were to upset the Gryphons, it would be 14-point underdogs at West Craven and a eight-point dog at home if they were to play SWE.

Of course, putting a number on a game is only a game in itself. It has no factor in winning and losing.

According to the computers, Independence would beat Rocky Mount by 12. A school with more than 2,700 students and a school with a little more than 1,200.

It sure would be fun to see how we'd stack up after we win in Winston-Salem. But a lot of snaps of the football are yet to unfold before then.

Third-Round Matchups

The Twin Counties still has three teams alive in the high school football playoffs Thanksgiving weekend for the first time ever - Tarboro, SouthWest Edgecombe and Rocky Mount.

Tarboro is having the best year it has had in 10 years (1998 squad reached 2-A state finals). This week they find itself going up against Goldsboro a team they waxed earlier in the year.

I find it hard to believe that Goldsboro took out Bunn by 20 points. Tarboro stands at 12-1 on the season a hard-fought 13-7 loss to SouthWest Edgecombe being their only blemish to their season.
I see Tarboro taking out Goldsboro for the second time this year may be a tad closer than before but a victory for Tarboro 28-6.

SouthWest Edgecome has played both West Craven and Rocky Mount already this year. In order for the Cougars to make it to the state championship game in Winston Salem, they may have to play both again.

After having seen the Cougar JV team this year since the playoffs have started, the Cougars have improved with the addition of the size of their line.

If I had my wish I would rather have to play West Craven in game four over SWE. I think styles of play the Gryphons match up real well with West Craven.

Southwest's first game of the year was with WC. However, it was West Craven's second game of the season and I think that was a major advantage for the Eagles and also playing at home.

This time I think SouthWest ends West Craven's season: 30-21.

Back in B W Holt's first season at Rocky Mount ,the Gryphons had a tough draw when they had to play Jack Britt in the first game.

The way the playoff system is devised who you play in your bracket is luck as far as who is in your bracket over missing someone who matches up well with you.

This year, the Gryphons got the good draw. They got Jacksonville, then a good Webb team, but not a complete team.

Eastern Alamance, this week's playoff opponent, lost by two touchdowns at home to Webb 34-20 and it also beat Northern Vance 13-7 at NV.

Like everyone except SWE this year, Eastern Alamance will be faced with having to score every time they get the ball to keep the game close.

I think they will slow the Gryphons down some, but the Gryphons will play another Friday as they will hang a 38-7 score on EA.

In the eastern 3-A playoffs, of the 12 games played so far, I am 11-1 on my picks as I missed the Hertford County game against Eastern Alamance.

I think the injury to the Hertford County quarterback in the first series of that game was big.

That is one factor that no one knows will happen. A key injury for any team can be devastating.

Barring injury, the Gryphons will play in December for the second year in a row.