The Eastern Final

Last year the Gryphons made it all the way to the Eastern finals. I am not sure how many people thought that would happen. We had a shot to win right up until the last minute of the game.

Practically the entire team is back from that team that walked off the field knowing they almost won last year.

This team has played the entire season as if there was only one thing that mattered and that was getting back the Eastern Finals.

Only twice all year have we faced a half of a game that we didn't win that half and that was against Eastern Alamance as they out scored us 21-7 in the second half after we had posted a 35-0 half time lead.

Northern Vance shut us out in the second quarter of that game 10- 0 to tie us at the half 10-10.

Other than those two circumstances no team has been able to deter the Gryphons.

The Eastern finals will be played at the RMAC with two teams that are undefeated on the field this year.

We have played three common opponents.

There was Southern Wayne where West Craven smacked them 41-7. A couple of weeks after that the Gryphons laid a hurting on the Saints 63-7 in which our second team fumbled the ball just before the half and the Saints ran it in for a score.

Then we played Rose and shut them out 36-0 stopping their long streak of of consecutive games scoring. West Craven beat them 36-29 also in Greenville .

Last week West Craven played Southwest Edgecombe for the second time this year beating them 21-6 and 42-27. Both games were played at West Craven while the Gryphons shutout the Cougars 7-0 in Pinetops.

The Eagles scored 140 points in those four games while the Gryphons scored 106 in three games.

West Craven averaged 35 points while we scored at 35.3 against the same teams.

Here is the difference between the two. In those same games the Eagles gave up 17.5 points while the Gryphons averaged giving up two points a game against the same foes.

West Craven will throw the ball dink and dunk. Throw out in the flats and let their receivers go one on one. Every once in a while they will throw long.

Zack Williams our right cornerback got hurt on the opening kickoff against Eastern Alamance. Johnathan Williams up from the JVs filled in admirable. Hiawatha Bunn has not played defense since hurting his knee in the Fike game and he has started at left corner all year.

Thats two secondary spots that will see a lot of action against the Eagles.

Their quarterback is 6 feet 4 inches tall much like the kid from East Forsyth. The last two weeks we have had a hard time containing the quarterbacks from getting out of the pocket.

We batted down three balls against Eastern Alamance and I think we will need more of that as they will try to get the ball quickly outside.

One of the radio announcers from Eastern Alamance made the comment as they were wrapping up this past Friday night that he had never seen a team with as much speed as the Gryphons.

Because of our defensive size I was more worried about being match up against SWE or anyone that pounds it straight up the middle with big linemen.

Trying to get the ball to the outside is playing into our defensive strength.

The computers have the Gryphons a twelve point favorite.

Signing off Friday night I picked 35-28 Gryphons but I'm changing just a little.

I think you can make arrangements to visit Winston Salem on December 13th as the Gryphons win 34-21.

Let us all hope for a safe practice this week with no more injuries. Bunn will play Friday but right now Williams is a big question mark.

Regional finals are a rarity. Rocky Mount makes their third appearance in Four years. You never know when the next one will come back to Rocky Mount. Don't let this team down.

BE THERE

The Final Four

In 2004 I gave up my season tickets to N C State football when my wallet said no to life time rights seating.

I have managed to see at least one game every year since and yesterday I returned to Carter-Finley to watch Philip River's replacement five years in the making.

Can anyone tell me who the player of the year will be in the ACC. There is no standout hands down winner. My nominee will be red shirt Freshman Russell Wilson of the Wolfpack.

He is the most relaxed player when he is under pressure that I have ever seen.

The Pack is back.

Carolina,Wake,ECU, and the Pack all are bowl eligible. The question is will any of them play close enough to get a crowd to go see them play?

ECU will play for the Conference USA title next Saturday at Tulsa. I suspect by then all the bowls will be in place and it will be an either or for the Pirates win you go here lose you go there.

The Gryphons will play for the Eastern Regional title for the second year in a row.

This time in front of the home folks.

I don't know what the official attendance was but it was a good gate Friday.

Gryphons will play host to the Eagles of West Craven 14-0 on the season and their quarterback has committed to ECU.

You can expect the ball in the air close to fifty times from West Craven so be prepared to sleep at the RMAC Friday night. It will be a long game.

It is down to four in the 3-A bracket as South Point will travel to Mount Ulla to take on West Rowan. Everyone has a lost except for West Craven so the combined records of all four teams is 53-3.

Down the road in Tarboro, Northside from Jacksonville will visit the Vikings.

Has there ever been two Eastern Finals played in the Twin Counties at the same time before?

Tickets for the Eagles and Gryphons will be on sale at the main office at Rocky Mount High School from 8.00am-4.00pm Tuesday-Wednesday- and Thursday. They are $7 in advance and $8 if you stand in line at the gate.

I think there is a chance for six thousand people or more so come early.