Lindsay Thomas And Kate Gray Make Finals.

The doubles team of Lindsay Thomas and Kate Gray after winning their quarter final match yesterday open today's play needing two victories to be state Champs in Ladies Doubles. They got one but not the second and the first one may have played a role.

The Thomas/Gray team met one of the home field advantage teams when they took on the doubles team from Burlington Williams. Today's action was moved inside because of the morning rains and Rocky Mount lost the first game 5-7. Thomas and Gray almost didn't get to a third game but they pulled out a 7-6 win in game two. The third game went The Gryphon teammates way as they won 6-2 to advance to the finals.

Any time that you struggle against a quality opponent and by the end of the match you have given every thing just to win this one, it is hard to refill the tank a few minutes later and play and even harder foe.

The Chapel Hill team of Helpingstine and Kimbrough took two straight from Lindsay and Kate and win the state title 6-2/6-1.

The number one doubles team will not have much time down before they get back to the third round of the team playoffs. They meet Fike in the third round Tuesday at Sunset Park at 4.00pm.

NEWS FLASH-NEWS FLASH-NEWS FLASH

More career records fall into the hands of Terrell Hudgins. Today in Spartanburg S C Elon beat Wofford 34-6 and Terell Hudgins had three touchdown catches and 153 Yards receiving as Terrell Breaks the all time 100 yards games record in FCS history. Today was the 24th time he has gotten over 100 in a game receiving the ball for Elon. Earlier this year Terrell broke the all time career catches list and only one more record is left standing and that is the all time yardage record which may well fall next week.

Mike Gainey told me last night in the press box that Soccer as the number two seed will get a home game Wednesday. The NCHSAA wants the game played at 7.00pm which puts the soccer field out because of no lights. First option would be to play at the football stadium like they did once last year but because of the crown in the field the stadium is not meant for soccer.

Now there is a new option. There is a possibility that the playoff game may be played at the soccer complex at the Roccky Mount Sports complex. I understand that the Sports complex fields are being used on Sunday's and middle of the week may be available and Mike Gainey hopes to finalize where the soccer team plays Monday if all possible.

Boy is there was ever reason for a new school, I think soccer would vote for it.

Their Victory over Nash Central last night clinched the #1 seed for Hunt in Football. They are 4-0 and are followed by Rocky Mount at 3-1. Southern and Northern Nash are tied for third at 2-2. Nash Central is 1-3 and Fike has yet to win a conference game at 0-4.

Regardless of the outcome of Hunt and Fike, Hunt is conference champs, but If Northern was to beat Rocky Mount and Nash Central beats Southern again then there would be a three way tie for second between, Rocky Mount, Northern and Southern.

Tell me how to figure the seedings out there.

H O L Y C O W

It was the battle for second place in the Big East 3-A conference. Southern Nash runs nearly two plays to every one for Rocky Mount. Tonight turns out to be not how many plays but what you did with what you had.

Including the first two series of the game and the last by the Firebirds, the Gryphons kept Southern out of the end zone three times where they came away with no points at all. The first defensive stop set up a safety when Southern Tackled Jordan Ford on the first play for a 2-0 lead.

Rocky Mount retaliated with a drive that ended with a twenty five yard run for a touchdown by Marquavis Alston and a 7-2 Gryphon lead. The second quarter saw Southen retake the lead after a nice drive and Southern lead 10-7. The first play from scrimmage Jordan Ford found a hole and 72 yards later Rocky Mount is back on top 14-10

The Gryphons blocked a punt with less than 30 seconds to play in the half inside the 25 yards line and finished the half on a 27 yard field goal by Tim Bishop.

You kind of have the feeling with the field goal that this might be a Gryphons kind of night, that Rocky Mount would score any points off a field goal the way the kicking game started out this season.

Back and forth third quarter ended on an Eric Coppedge 66 yard run but the snap from center was mishandled and the Gryphons lead 17-16 at the end of the third quarter.

Southern retook the lead with a field goal and with six minutes to play 19-17. Each defense stopped the other one more time and Rocky Mount got the ball back with 2.38 to play at their own thirty yard line.

Three running plays produced a first down at the forty. On first down Collins Cuthrell dropped back in the pocket, any time this year Collins has been in the pocket he has been on back side but on this play the Gryphon line gave Collins the protection and he fired a pass to a wide open Jordan Ford who out ran the defense for a 60 yard touchdown pass and after Bishops kick lead 24-19 with 1.09 to play.

Southern managed to get the ball inside the 20 but four incomplete passes hit the ground and Rocky Mount has sole procession of second place in the Big East with a 24-19 win over Southern.

Northern Nash spotted Fike a 21-0 lead in the first half but came all the way back to beat Fike 22-21. That is the second win on the season, but look at what this sets up. If Northern beats Rocky Mount next Friday at Northern there is a possibility of a three way tie for second and Northern could finish in second with a 3-8 record.

Who would have thought just three weeks ago that the Gryphon -Knight game would have so much riding on it as it has now.

Hunt wrapped up the #1 seed in the conference with a 43-7 drubbing of Nash Central.

In the State Tennis doubles: The doubles team of Lindsey Thomas and Kate Gray are still a live as they won their quarter final match today and are down to the final four in tennis doubles. The Rocky Mount team of Addie Keeter and Caroline Nelson lost in the quarters.

I am almost at complete exhaustion, and I have not played one play tonight, but the excitement and for the first time in a long while you can say that the Gryphons showed some improvement. The blocking was outstanding when it had to be. The defensive front held their own against a good running team this side of SouthWest Edgecombe. Lordy Be, we got a field goal.

Three weeks ago I think Rocky Mount would have gone to Northern next Friday night expecting to win easy. I think Northern has their attention now.

Hunt Trips Gryphons Again

Twenty minutes to go in tonight's conference tournament soccer finals at Hunt it was a 0-0 match Neither side able to penetrate the others net. The Warriors applied the first dagger with16 mintes remaining to take a 1-0 lead. The match was nip&tuck until the two minute mark when Hunt struck for their second goal. A disappointed Gryphon defense allowed another in the last few seconds and Hunt blanks the Gryphons 3-0.

Rocky Mount has lost but three times is season and all three to Hunt. Hunt is 19-1-1 on the season while the Gryphons head into the state playoffs 18-3-2.

State finals Friday: Rocky Mount sends two doubles teams to the state tennis championships in Burlington . The team of Lindsey Thomas-Kate Gray are the # one seed in the east will take on the # three seed Corin Krause-Kindell Schmitt of Cardinal Gibbons

The Addie Keeter- Caroline Nelson team who are seeded as the #3 seed in the east meet up with Kathyrn Ferebee-Kelly Tomlin the #two seed in the Midwest, they are from Charlotte Catholic

The singles will feature Fike's Mary Katherine Prince the # one seed in the singles taking on Alison Bogs of Statesville. Northern Nash's Randi Price just a freshman meets Dominque Linsdsey of Charlotte Harding

Friday night is the last home game of the season for Gryphon football. Carter Varnell who has been out with a knee injury since the second quarter of the second game will try to play with a knee brace. Aaron Barnes who missed last Friday's game with a knee injury will also play.

This is brand new news as of today but this is old news in a sort of way. Xavier Macklin former Nash Central baseball star, The MEAC rookie of the year in baseball last spring at North Carolina Central was named today as the Area I American Legion Player of the year.

Xavier didn't even join the team until the very last regular season game. His first two bats of the season were home runs and even during the playoffs all sixteen of them his hitting and outfield play were outstanding for Post 58.

Macklin will receive the Player of the year award during the American Legion Hall of Fame induction ceremonies which will be held this year in Kinston sometime in March.

The legion Hall of Fame will add to it's ranks Ricky Crumpler a umpire from Kinston who did many games in Rocky Mount this year and in the past also, Athletic Director of Post 39 in Greenville Ernie Taylorwill make th HOF. The final inductee will be Clay Council one of the coaches of the Cary Legion team in which Post 58 beat to go State Tournament. Council is famous as Josh Hamilton's pitcher during Hamilton's Home run derby of 2008.

Friday night Nash Central will be without head coach Greg Crudup when they line up to play Hunt. Coach Crudup was suspended earlier this week by Principal Hartsfield after Nash Central lost to Northern Nash. He is expected back for the final regular season game at Southern Nash next week.

We will try again at 7.00pm for the pregame show on am 1390. Wes and I will also do double duty Friday as we will also be taping the game of the week for WHIG-TV.

Fike Next For Tennis

Unlike Volleyball tennis has survived to play another day. I had kitchen duty tonight at church and was unable to get by Sunset Park this afternoon but looking at the NCHSAA playoff bracket our Ladies have beaten Union Pines 5-4.

This can only mean that the match was up in the air right down to the last doubles match. This also sets up a rematch with Fike next week in the third round of the playoffs. Rocky Mount and Fike beat each other once during the season and as the #one seed will play at Sunset Park. I think that is scheduled for Tuesday.

Lindesy Thomas. Kate Gray, Addie Keeter and Caroline Nelson have all qualified for the State doubles title which will be fought for Friday and Saturday in Burlington.

Today's team victory over Union Pines is pay back for Union Pines knocking us out last year at their place. This sets up Fike and Rocky Mount for the second time in three years to meet in the third round.

My Bad, the conference tournament soccer championship is tomorrow night and yes host Hunt will be there taking on the Gryphons. This is the third meeting of the season and Hunt won both matches by two goals.

JV Football Thursday night will travel to Southern Nash.

Having a daughter that was one of the managers of the volleyball team I hope your children take part in some sort of extra curricular activity while in school. It is good for their health to get them is some sort of shape. I have watched as the playoffs developed even Morgans desire to win and play another day in the playoffs.

Sports develops the habits of working together, gives them goals to shoot for and most of all when they lose how to cope with not making your goal. I know there are those who think sports should be eliminated but, in my honest opinion if it were a requirement that every child do something outside of school our children would all be better off. Whether it is the band, Chorus or sporting team I know I did better in school knowing I needed to stay eligible.

Ooh Sooo Close

Never in the history of Rocky Mount Volleyball have they made it to the third round of the state playoffs. Tonight the Lady Gryphon can not create new history as they fall in five games to West Carteret 3-2.

Trailing 23-21 in game four and down two games to one the lady Gryphons fought back to take game four 25-23. The deciding fifth game the Lady Gryphons surge to a 14-12 lead in the game and serving for the match only to have three straight points ( hard fought all three ) go to The Patriots. Now trailing 15-14 a miss play on the return serve never crossed the net and the Patriots win the deciding fifth game 16-14 and move on to the third round.

Volley ball ends it's season at 18-5.

Soccer tonight has moved to the finals of the Big East Soccer Tournament beating Northern Nash 5-1. Justin Marsigli got a hat trick to lead the way for the Gryphons. They will play Wednesday for the tournament title at Hunt. At this writing we think they will play Hunt again but that game has not finished.

Tennis got washed out tonight in their second round match against against Union Pines. Talked with coach Barry Nethercutt at the volley ball game and Union Pines was scheduled to leave to make the trip to Rocky Mount at 11.00am. During the playoffs all travel is paid for from playoff monies and you certainly don't want to come all the way from Union Pines and have to come again tomorrow because of rain.

The decision was made at 11.00 to postpone when unfortunately as the day went by the match could have been played. They will try again tomorrow at Sunset park at 4.00pm

Saw ECU playing on ESPN Two tonight in football and reminded me that I need to pass this along to all Gryphon supporters of all former Rocky Mount players. Jacobi Jenkins made his first career catch for ECU in their game ten days ago. The red shirt freshman has appeared in three games so far for the Pirates. I will finish watching to see if he gets any more tonight.

I would like to pass along some very good comments I heard from Tarboro fans Friday night. I was told it was the best officiated game that they had ever been to at Southwest Edgecombe. They were all talking about Raymond Cobb who was the guess on Brian Bailey's "Coaches Corner: Segment . Cobb praised the Vikings on TV and predicted that Tarboro would make it back to the 2-A finals again this year. There is no doubt about it raymond Cobb is a class act as coach at SouthWest Edgecombe.

Time Change For Volleyball

Tuesdays second round volleyball match between the Lady Gryphons and West Carteret has been moved up to 5.30pm instead of 6.00pm. This has been done to accommodate WC and getting home earlier on a school night.

If the Lady Gryphons advance through the eastern bracket will will more than likely have to beat a Coastal Conference team every step of the way. They already disposed of the #3 seed White Oak, they will now face the #4 seed West Carteret. The winner of this match could very well meet South Central who has already beaten our ladies twice this season. If the Lady Gryphons are still alive D H Conley would probably be waiting. The good news is South Central if it happens would have to come to us.

The Coastal earned five spots in the playoffs and four are still alive as our victory over White Oak their only blemish.

I would think the Big East Soccer tournament has been delayed by weather, I have not heard however that it has.

Weather permitting Tuesday tennis will play at Sunset park at 4.00pm against Union Pines. This is a second round team match in the state playoffs.

Sometimes there are games that when they are over you just think, this is a team of destiny. Being down by 21 in the first half the New Orleans Saints score 22 points in the fourth quarter to take down Miami.

Brett Farve played like late last season Brett Farve and Minnesota loses for the first time. the Giants have played like the midgets the last two weeks and Peyton Manning still continues to be the best quarterback in the NFL.

Monday night football features the Deadskins. I doubt if I can take much of that. Jake Delhomne is playing like he forty five and seen his best day. Didn't they just give him a big contract in the spring?

Sometimes it does good to have a change of scenery. I suggest the Deadskins and Panthers trade quarterbacks. Delhomme for Campbell. One over the hill and one who has seen the hill yet.

Doubles Team State Bound

The Rocky Mount High school doubles team of LindsayThomas and Kate Gray swept through the competition Friday and Saturday and won the Regional crown and qualify for the State Championships coming up this Friday in Burlington.

The team of Addie Keeter and Caroline Nelson won their opening match, lost in the semifinals which prevented an all Rocky Mount finals. Keeter and Nelson won the consolation match which gives them third place in the regional.

I honestly don't know how players can switch back and forth. Tuesday the entire tennis team host Union Pines in the team portion of the playoffs. If the Lady Gryphons win then it's back to doubles in Burlington Friday for Thomas and Gray.

The first round of the volley ball playoffs are over and in order to judge the strength of your conference your #1 and #2 have to win and the Big East got that in the opening round. Hunt yesterday advanced as well as the Lady Gryphons from Thursday.

If your top two lose then it shows the conference as being weak. The lower seeds did lose but the power of the Big East is still playing. Tuesday the Lady Gryphons play host to West Carteret the upset winner in the first round . When ever your conference has more than two making it to the second round that conference is strong and the Coastal has that with Conley, South Central still playingand West Carreret.

In the short history of Volleyball at Rocky Mount they have never made it past the second round. Volleyball is controlled by the tall players on the front line which historically Rocky Mount has never been extremely tall. The ladies face a tall task the rest of the way each team left in the playoffs is tall and athletic.

Both Tennis and Volleyball are home Tuesday and they need you support to be there to watch. Very seldom does either sport have more than mamas and papas and family there to watch. They both can be very entertaining.

Save On Gas

Got home from the football game last night went on the NCHSAA web site and lo and behold West Brunswick was upset yesterday in volleyball by West Carteret. It went five games and WC won 3-2.

This means instead of the long trip to West Brunswick on Tuesday the Lady Gryphons will host West Carteret instead. As the #4 seed from the Coastal conference West Carteret is in the same league as D H Conley who is a volleyball jugernaut and South Central a team that gave Rocky Mount two of their four losses.

This will not be a easy match for the Lady Gryphons.

I tried all I could to find out the doubles scores in tennis yesterday. Right now I cannnot tell you how we did with our two doubles teams in the playoffs.

Those of you faithful listeners to our games on radio already know but we failed to get on the air last night. I felt like a player on the sidelines with an injury sitting in the press box but just watching the game, couldn't tell anybody about it.

The average daily attendance figures will be released next week for football seedings. Don't be surprised if the Gryphons are in the 3-AA this go round. The last couple of years we have been right on the edge, and with several teams dropping down to 2-A and not that many 4-A teams coming back to 3-A I suspect we will be in the larger bracket.

All might not be lost if that happens. That might keep us in opposite brackets from Hertford County, clearly the best team in the East right now.

Duke plays Maryland today in football and the odds makers have made the Blue devils the favorite. That is the first time since 1995 that Duke is the favorite in an ACC football game.

Could the umpiring be any worse in the MLB playoffs? Seems as if it would be a whole lot better if the players called themselves out like they do in the sand lots.

I don't know whether you have heard this or not but Memorial Stadium in Charlotte which host many high school games in the Charlotte area a section of bleachers has been deem unsafe and until the stadium is fixed there will be no games played there.

Independence High plays most of their biggest games there instead of their stadium which holds 4,000. The Butler -Independence game will now be played at Indy instead of 20,000 being able to watch at Memorial Stadium. In our economic times that is a major lost of revenue.

Gryphon Second Quarter Surge

Rocky Mount played their best football of the year in the second quarter scoring twenty one points and coasted to a 21-14 victory in Big East play at Fike.

Trailing 7-0 in the second quarter the Gryphon's punt rush knocked the Fike blocker into their punter and Equail Wiggins recovered in the end zone for a Gryphon touchdown. The very next series Collins Cuthrell rolled toward his left and flung the ball to Spencer Bell who held his hands outstretched and caught touchdown pass of 44 yards. The ball was thrown directly over Bell's helmet and Spencer relied on the feel of the ball in his hands to make the catch. To this point in the season this is maybe one of the top five plays of the year.

Collins Cuthrell on a fourth and goal with time running out snuck over from one yard out to give the Gryphons a 21-7 half time lead. The Gryphons failed to score in the second half but for the first time this year got the short passing game in gear and Cuthrell was 7 for ten for over a hundred yards on the night.

Fike twice in the fourth quarter tried to tie the game but the Gryphon defense had a defensive stop inside the ten and a pass interception to seal the victory. The Grypons are now 4-4 and 2-1 in Big East play.

Northern Nash who's defense had played well all year came up big tonight in scoring a touchdown and shutting out Nash Central 20-0 at Central. This breaks Northern's 13 game losing streak. Understand that Nash Central had some discipline problems and some players did not start the game but I don't care who played and when Northern beat the team that Nash Central put on the field and beat em good.

Hunt held off a determined Firebird team from Southern Nash and takes the outright lead in the Big East with a 28-20 win over Southern Nash. This sets up Rocky Mount and Southern playing for second place in the conference next Friday night at Gryphon Land.

In the game of the decade in Pinetops Southwest Edgcombe beat Tarboro 22-16 in front of what I hear may have been as many as 6,000 fans. I have heard they were 4 deep around the entire field.

Let me throw this scenario at you. SouthWest may be the conference champs and there is a good chance that they will be seeded in the big 2-A bracket. Wouldn't it be something if Tarboro made it back to the 2-A championship and Southwest made it to the Big 2-AA and both played back to back for the State titles. It could happen.

Volley Ball Only Team In The State to Advance.

The Lady Gryphon Volley ball team advanced to the second round of the state playoffs tonight beating visiting White Oak 3-0. The scores were 25-12,25-23 and 25-22. This is the only match played today any where in the state so the Lady Gryphons are the only team that has yet made it to the second round.

Round two may find the Ladies on they road as they meet the winner of West Brunswick the #one seed from the Waccamaw conference who is 17-2 on the year or West Carteret the #four seed from the Coastal conference who stands at 14-8. If WB wins then the ladies hit the road to Shallotte on Tuesday and if WC wins that match will be here in Rocky Mount.

West Brunswick has former Rocky Mount coach and Principal George Kelly as it's principal.

Friday is doubles day in the state tennis playoffs for the ladies. The Gryphon teams of Lindsey Thomas and Kate Gray and Addie Keeter and Caroline Nelson qualified last week in the conference Tennis tournament. Action begins at high noon at Barton college.

Wednesday afternoon both of the Rocky Mount cross country teams finished third in the conference championships. Daniel Hannon of the Gryphon boys finished 7th with a time of 18.07 which was good enough to garner all conference honors.

The girls had three to place in the top ten and came away as all conference performers. ZiKeena Parker finished sixth with a time of 21.30. Latoya Applewhite was right behind in seventh and she finished in 21.36. Nefertelli Thigpen finished tenth in a time of 22.37.

Soccer finished in second during the regular season and by doing so gets a bye in Mondays opening round matches in the conference tournament. They await the winner of Fike-Nash Central game on Monday.

JV football lost at home tonight to Fike 13-7. The varsity travels to Fike tomorrow night in what is now a game for highest possible seeding for the football playoffs. If the Gryphons can win their last three games they could still wind up in a three way tie for first. In order for that to happen all the stumbling blocks need to fall in place just right.

The game of the century in Edgecombe County is tomorrow night as Tarboro visits SouthWest Edgecombe. If you plan to attend that game I hope you already have a ticket and plan to walk from Pinetops to the game. That is about as close as you we be able to park. I think everyone in the county has a stake in this game. I'll take the Cougars 26-14. Whig-TV will be there taping for playback over the weekend but there will be no live radio coverage of this one.

am 1390 pregame coverage of Gryphon football begins at 7.00pm and we will have eyes and ears keeping up with both the Tarboro- SWE game and the big Big East game between Southern Nash and Hunt.

One Is All They Needed

Tim Bishop scored the only goal of the night as Rocky Mount closed out their regular soccer season beating arch-rival Northern Nash 1-0.

The Gryphons who will be the # two seed from the Big East starts the playoffs next week meeting the #two seed from the Eastern Carolina Conference. If I understand the seedings in this the first year of realignment Rocky Mount will get the home game.

Yes, the Lady Gryphons did whitewash C B Aycock yesterday 9-0 and have moved on the the second round where they will host Union Pines. Union Pines knocked off Washington and going into that match was unbeaten on the season. if there is any Gryphon motivation Union Pines knocked us out in the second round last year at Union Pines.

Is the Big East good in Tennis? Fike the #2 seed beat South Brunswick the # one from the Waccamaw Conference 9-0 at SB. SB was 15-0 heading into that match. Fike now travels to D H Conley in round two. Should Fike at Rocky Mount win round two they would meet in Rocky Mount. But, we must get past a thorn in our side Union Pines.

Volley Ball opens their playoffs Thursday night at 6.00pm at the gym hosting White Oak the # three from the Coastal conference.

JV football returns back home Thursday night, seems as they have been on the road forever. Their last home game was the third game of the season when they hosted Hertford County. The off week means it's been five weeks since they have been home.

Varsity football has another injury to worry about . Aaron Barnes the leading tackler on the defense for the Gryphons was in an auto accident and has been on crutches the first part of the week. Doesn't sound like he will play Friday.

Today was the conference championship in cross country. They ran at Red Oak. Hope to give you the details Thursday night after I'm back from doing th PA at the JV football game. Also will know the details of Volleyball.

Hunt Does It Again.

It is now the Big East 3-A. When it was NEW-6 3-A conference Southwest Edgecombe was the smallest member as far as student enrollment is concerned. Hunt has taken their place and depending on the ADM's which will be released in the next couple of weeks may be the largest member of the conference.

The ADM's are the average daily attendance figures used to divide football. Hunt has come into the conference and won soccer, tied for the lead in football and tonight won the Volley ball Tournament championship over Rocky Mount.

It took five games and Hunt won the fifth set 15-10. No matter the lady Gryphons are still the #1 seed in the Big East and Host White Oak Thursday in Rocky Mount at 6.00pm. The #2 seed Lady Warriors play host to South Johnston Saturday at 3.00pm.

I don't know what the final score was but I think the lady Gryphon tennis team advanced to the second round of the playoffs. This afternoon they hosted C B Aycock. I dropped Morgan off at school to ride the bus to the volleyball game and I dropped by tennis to see how it was going at Sunset Park.

The four matches that were finished we won all four and the two remaining singles we were doing well and all three doubles matches we were up. No one called to tell me they were ready to commit suicide so I think Tennis managed to advance.

They play the winner of Washington-Union Pines. Depending on who won that, if it is Washington we are home in round two or if it is Union Pines we are on the road.

Monday night soccer beat Southern Nash 7-3 to insure second place in the Big East. They finish their regular season Wednesday at Northern Nash.

If you plan to play a winter sports November 2nd is try out day for all sports. Th good thing about winter sports as they are all inside.

Saints Rolling

I think I had my worse week ever making picks in the NFL. Even without the Monday night game I am only 6-7.

My worse pick of the week was taking the Giants to beat the Saints. Drew Brees is probably the best pure passer in the league. If the Saints continue to have a good defense to go along with the offense they will be hard to beat. Minnesota remains unbeaten but there is something about the way they are playing I don't like.

Tonight's Monday Night football game is a clear cut. Denver who is one of the surprises of the season and it looks as if their defense is for real. San Diego comes in and if they lose tonight they are done for any playoffs this year. I suspect San Diego will win this week but I don't think there is any catching Denver like they did last year.

The Jet's Sanchez was the darling of the NFL after three weeks. Now he looks like the average rookie quarterback going through the learning process. Even though I hated the score wasn't the Titans-Pats game fun to watch. That to me is the NFL playing in the frozen Tundra or with the field covered with snow.

I don't know how N C State can play any worse. Every one has been blaming the secondary for all their missed tackles. What I saw Saturday was slow linebackers.

The first BCS standing of the year came out Sunday and Florida is #1. I think Bama will win if they meet in the SEC championship. What scares me about Alabama is they have a great defense but the offense may need to score forty to win the National Championship and I don't know if they can do that. But, looking at the other teams who can beat them.

The Carolina Hurricanes are underway and off to a 2-4 start. Somehow Carolina has got to get a line up that can score four goals a game. They are built to play 2-1 games and when you can't score you are always the team with one goal.

Hunt Strikes Again

Friday the Warriors of Hunt took down the Gryphon football team for the first time in eight years. Saturday the Hunt soccer team beat Gryphon soccer for the second time this season.

Even though there are two regular season games left the Hunt-RM soccer match was the game for the title. If Rocky Mount wanted any part of first place they needed this one.

Hunt struck early but Justin Marsigli responded for the Gryphons to tie the score at the twenty three minute mark. Hunt scored twice before the half to take command 3-1. Hunt added a goal early but once again Justin Marsigli added a penalty kick to cut the lead to 4-2 with twenty nine minutes to play.

Most of the day Hunt applied the pressure and when the Gryphons got chances the Hunt defense denied the Gryphons scoring opportunities Only once in the last twenty nine minutes did the Gryphons get pas t the Hunt defense to get a clear shot and that one ricocheted of the side post.

This is only the second lost of the second for the Gryphon soccer team and clinches first seed for Hunt.

Girls volley ball plays Hunt's girls for the conference tournament championship Tuesday night at Southern. Lady Gryphons beat Hunt twice during the regular season but the last time at home took five games. Lady Gryphons try to sweep the regular season and tournament, first serve is 6.00pm Tuesday night.

Volley ball opens up their playoffs Thursday night at home with White Oak with a 6.00pm first serve.

Girls tennis has a home playoff match a first round match Tuesday. I believe this is the team playoffs this week. Next week the individuals have another playoffs so two playoffs kind of go along together.

Finally today I need to respond back to Anthony and make sure he has his facts right. Anthony I was there in 2000-2002. In fact 2000 was the first time I volunteered my services to the program. 2002 I was the play by play voice for radio. So I have been there in the lean times.

Band Wagon

Rocky Mount has had six years of outstanding football and the Rocky Mount community jumped on the band wagon. Now the glory years are over. Those who have been there for the winning are jumping off the band wagon.

I heard Tom O'Brien say on his radio show this week that the State defense could have ten players doing their job correctly and one would not and that has caused State's defense to give up 79 points the last two weeks.

Boy, that sound a lot like Rocky Mount. If last years team played this years team the score would be 48-7 last year. We lost a lot of talent off last years team. Those players taking those spots this year as a group are not any where close to the caliber of last years players.

When I was in the 7th and 8th grade I played safety on the football team. The first time I ever ran a forty yard dash in high school I burned up the grass with a 5.2. My entire playing career I never broke 5.0. My blazing speed and I sat the bench while others who could run 4.8 or better played.

This year's Rocky Mount team doesn't have pan cake blockers. They don't have defensive ends killing quarterbacks every time they go to pass. This team athletically is just not what we have had in the past six years or so. With that in mind I would invite all band wagoners to jump now unless you already have.

Dickie Schock is calling plays base on what he thinks will work best. I think I would put the ball in Marquavis Alston's hands also. Why did we try so many sweeps last night. Dickie was looking for a 75 yard run like we got last week at Nash Central. It only takes one run in a close game.

Anthony in the comment section on this blog has declared he will no longer spend his gas money to support the Gryphons and watch them play as long as Schock is coach. Thanks for jumping off the band wagon Anthony. We won't miss you the few of us that show up and pull for the team when they need our help the most.

Do you think Holt would be 7-0 with this team. If you do you hit you head when you fell off the wagon.

What I see from the JV's right now there is no help on the way. That must be Schock's coaching why the ninth graders on the JV's aren't great. What we must all do is encourage the guys to do the best they can.

No program deserves to be great all the time. Everyone learns more from life when they fail than when life is a bed of roses.

These players need your support. You show support by being there to cheer for them whether they win or lose.

I have only during my broadcast career when I was was doing games been associated with three losing teams. Pat Smith's first baseball team was 8-13. The 1981 and 1982 Ahoskie teams had back to back losing seasons. It is no where near as much fun broadcasting games that you lose over winning.

I'm not going to not show up next week to support them because I think they might lose. You band wagoners can stay home, I'll be there to support them, the coaches and players.

Missed Opportunities

Hunt took advantage of Gryphon mistakes while the Gryphons fizzled golden chances on Hunt errors.

Hunt gave the Gryphons the ball on the Hunt twenty one yard line midway in the first quarter on a ball snapped over the punters head that the Gryphons eventually blocked. Results Hunt returns a interception back to their forty.

While driving late in the first half Hunt steals the ball from Marquavis Alston and returns it 48 yards to give Hunt the lead they would never surrender. Early fourth quarter a Collins Cuthrell pass is picked off and returned 70 yards for a Warrior touchdown.

Take away those two scores and you have a championship battle at 14-14. However they don't allow you to take away scores and the Gryphons lose on Homecoming night 28-14 to Hunt.

Rocky Mount had the ball six times inside the Warrior 40 yard line but could only score twice.

The loss is the first in conference play for the Gryphons who fall to 1-1 and 3-4 overall. Hunt is now 5-3 and 2-0 in the Big East.

There will be a big football game in Pinetops next friday as Tarboro survives a dogfight with Kinston and wins 20-16 while Southwest Edgecombe roughs up North Pitt 44-12.

That sets up Tarboro at SWE next Friday night both teams will go into that game undefeated and I don't know whether they have ever played each other in such an important football game.

In Big East action Northern Nash without Coach Mickey Crouch who is serving a one game suspension loses their 13th in a row at Southern Nash 27-6. This sets up Hunt- Southern next week for the Big east lead.

Finally tonight Nash Central wins their first Big East game tripping up Fike 27-13.

There is a biggie in Soccer Saturday afternoon as the Gryphons host Hunt in what is for the conference championship . The first kick is set for 2.00pm

Soccer Sloshes to Victory

The end of the regular season is one week away for soccer. The weather is doing it's part to play havoc with the end of the season. The Hunt-RM match postponed Monday due to the weather is going to be played at 2.00pm Saturday.

Needing badly to get the match in last night the Gryphons traveled to Fike and came away with a 3-1 soccer victory. Now Saturday's match means everything. Regardless of what happens Saturday there are two games left next week to finish the regular but without a victory on Saturday then the Gryphons will need both victories next week to hold on to second place.

It will be the #1 seed meeting the #2 seed in volleyball in the championship of the first Big east Volleyball tournament.

Rocky Mount took four sets but beat Nash Central 3-1. In the second game of the night Hunt got a strong challenge from the home team Southern Nash but prevailed in four games 3-1.

We taped both matches to be seen later on the "Stretchlon Sports Show".

This sets up the championship Tuesday night at 6.00pm Rocky Mount - Hunt. by winning tonight Hunt qualifies for the playoffs as the #2 seed from the Big East. Regardless of the score on Tuesday the Lady Gryphons are the #1 seed from the Big East.

Ritchie Pridgen former head football coach of Fike who retired after the 2008 football season and hoping to come back to coach football as a double dipper but lost that chance with all the budget cuts has popped up at Northern Nash. Ritchie will help as assistant coach the rest of the football season and will have a full time job at Northern.

This is a good catch for the Knights.

Big football game at Home Friday night. Hunt Warriors and the Gryphon clash looking for a share of first place. It is my opinion that the winner of this game will win the conference. I'll take the Gryphons in a close one 26-20. It's homecoming for the Gryphons

Southern Nash travels to Northern Nash and the Firebirds would like to keep their share of first place with a victory. I think they will 26-8.

Fike and Nash Central collide and for the loser it will be their second loss in conference. I'll take the Bulldogs 20-19.

If Tarboro wants to meet Southwest Edgecombe next week for the conference championship then they need to beat Kinston Friday. It will not be easy. Kinston will not go down lightly but the Vikes will prevail 24-21.

Greene Central gets their chance at Southwest Edgecombe after giving Tarboro a game last week. Not that close this week SWE 35 Greene Central 14.

Don't forget that pregame on am 1390 begins at 7.00pm. At this writing I don't know whether we have cured the internet problem so we will be world wide or not.

Hope so.

Weather May Have A Say

Rocky Mount and Fike girls tied for first place in the Big East's first tennis season. The conference tennis tournament is underway at Barton College but before it ends Wednesday night weather may not let it end. Depending on how far they advance in the tournament and with the forecast not good the rest of the week. Officials just may add up the points through ever how far they get on Wednesday and call it a tournament.

Wishing not to have to have a playoff match for first place , a coin toss was held for the #1 seed in the playoffs. Both Rocky Mount and Fike beat each other when they were home and since they both have met in the third round of the playoffs the last two years home court is important. The lady Gryphons get the #1 seed. Should both survive their first two rounds of playoff matches they would collide in Rocky Mount.

The cell phones have been busy over the last twenty four hours as with the pending weather approaches and with the thought that Hunt and Rocky Mount soccer would have three matches next week if they kept the schedule they were on, it has been changed to Saturday at 2.00pm at Rocky Mount. That's right the soccer game between Hunt and Rocky Mount has been moved to Saturday.

Rocky Mount travels to Fike tomorrow and Hunt host Southern Nash if they get them in. Since it rained on Monday neither team has played this week so the Saturday match would only be their second this week if the rain doesn't stop Wednesday's matches.

Rocky Mount girls volley ball watched Nash Central the # five seed beat Northern tonight a # four seed so Girls volleyball will feature # one seed Rocky Mount and Nash Central at 5.00pm Thursday in the semi finals of the conference tournament. Hunt the # two seed will play the host Lady Firebirds who knocked off Fike tonight. the finals are next week.

I see in the Rocky Mount Telegram that Mike Moseley former Athletic Director at Nash Central and basketball coach has joined John Thompson staff at Wesleyan. Once you get coaching in the blood it's hard to walk away in the prime of your life.

Kind of a full circle so to speak as Rennie Taylor who for the past several years has been basketball coach at Rocky Mount Academy and before that a John Thompson assistant at Wesleyan has followed Moseley to Nash Central and is the new basketball coach.

Mickey Davis who has been part of the Wilson County sports for a long time and in the past ten years has lead Wilson to hosting all types of Babe Ruth World series is going to be inducted into the Babe Ruth Southeast regional Hall of Fame on Saturday night. Next step after the regional is the National Babe Ruth Hall of Fame and if Wilson keep hosting Babe ruth World series it won't be long.

By the way Wilson will host another one next year.

Who's The Best?

The NFL season is not yet 1/3 of the way but there seems to be a division this year of the cream of the crop from the bottom of the ladder.

The New York Giants, maybe the best defense and Eli Manning has become a very adequate quarterback( and I say that knowing he has one of the best lines in football and doesn't have to scramble very much).

Minnesota Vikes. I still am unsure of this team.

New Orleans and Drew Brees have been spectacular so far

The AFC the Colts are undefeated but you have to wonder what will happen if Manning gets hit and plays three weeks hurting.

Denver has impressed me and surely the biggest surprise of the year.

Cincinnati is the only team on this list that has lost and it was on a fluke play at the end of the game.

If I had to pick I would take the Giants and Colts in the Super Bowl or as it would be called the Manning Bowl.

In college Florida, Alabama and Texas seem to be the cream. Southern Cal will be near at the end and if they kill the Fighting Irish this week they will be back in the playoff picture.

If I had to pick today I'm taking Alabama and Texas for the BCS National championship.

October 23rd is the Tarboro-Southwest Edgecombe game. They are clearly the best two teams in this area. If everyone is healthy as of today I'm taking SWE in that one 26-14. A classic game of Power against speed. This game is close enough that speed can win it.

Southern Nash, Hunt and Rocky Mount are tied after the first week of Big East play. Hunt plays Rocky Mount Friday at Rocky Mount. I think the winner of this game takes the conference. I would suspect our #3 team if they win in the first round which is in doubt could draw Hertford County in week two and maybe our last team in may get them in round one. I'm not sure we have anyone in the Big east that will survive past week two of the playoffs.

If that happens just remember the first year of the New-6 all four baseball teams lost in round one. The next three years two eastern Finals as a state title.

Hunt-Rocky Mount Soccer Postponed

If you had any thoughts of going to watch the big match between RM-Hunt for first place in the Big East and sit in the rain, well you never had to do that. The game was postponed until Thursday October 22nd. What this does is that this could possibly be for the regular season championship because the 22nd is the last day of the regular season.

In order to make that game the championship the Gryphons must beat Fike at Fike this Wednesday. Then play three games in four days next week. Monday they will play Southern at Home, then Wednesday at Northern for what should have been the last game of the season and then Thursday Hunt at Rocky Mount.

The reason the game is being put off until next Thursday is Hunt has a Non-conference match this Thursday with Middle Creek. Next Monday they play Nash Central at home and finish up Wednesday/Thursday at Fike and then Rocky Mount.

So playing three games next week there is no advantage to anyone.

Tennis begins the conference tournament Tuesday continuing until Wednesday depending on how the weather acts. The tennis team will host a first round game at home next Tuesday Oct. 20th.

The Big East volleyball Tournament starts Tuesday at Southern Nash. Nash central plays Northern Nash and Fike meets Southern Nash. The Northern -Nash Central winner meets Rocky Mount Thursday at 5.00pm in the semi's . Hunt awaits the winner of the Fike -Southern match at 7.00pm Thursday.

The conference tournament championship game will be Tuesday at Southern Nash. In the past the volleyball tournament has been three straight days in a row but the coaches felt if the tournament finished this week that would be a week without playing for the #1 and #2 seeds. Rocky Mount for sure will open the playoffs on Saturday October 24th. Hunt will be the #2 seed as long as no one beyond the #2 seed doesn't win the tournament then they would get knocked out as only two teams make it this year.

Tennis starts tournament play tomorrow and if you don't already know they did beat Northern the other night 9-0, which means in ten conference matches our ladys had an overall match record of 73-10. they never gave up a single point to any team other than Fike. That is like saying the football team had eight shutouts during the season.

Baseball Needs More Replays

If you have had the opportunity to see the replay of the fathom foul ball in the Yankee- Twins series then you have to be a proponent of more instant replays in baseball.

Joe Mauer of the Twins hits a line drive down the left field line which tics off the glove of the Yankee left fielder and hits the ground about a foot in fair territory. The umpire who is in left field only ten yards away immediately signals foul ball.

I know that calls are made wrong a lot in life but in most cases they are bang bang could go either way until you use slow motion to review it. This play was never in doubt and slow motion made it even more clearer.

The cynic I am, my first thought was MLB had better check this umps checking account, someone has paid him off. Replay could of course prevent that.

I am very happy for Duke football. Last week they made Virginia Tech work hard for victory. Yesterday they were clearly the best team even when it was 28-28 at N C State.

All of you Carolina folks who were complaining that State only had two wins over FCS teams Gardner Webb, and Murray State a month ago looks like you caught State in wins against the FCS having now beaten Citadel who lost by 36 to Elon yesterday and Georgia Southern.

I think the best thing every Division one team could do is not play a FCS team at all. I would like to remind State and Carolina NC Central is now Division one and just down the street.

I am sorry to have to tell you this but our first night on the web never happened. If you are a person that listens to our radio broadcast on any Friday night you know our quality has not been up to snuff this year.

We hope to try again next week for the web.

Wes Bradshaw is finding out as the executive producer of our radio games that there is more to it than showing up and flinging it.

We also need more support from am 1390 than just taking the money to be on the air. We have had numerous complaints of phones ringing in the back ground while we are on the air. That's the station not with us in the booth.

If you spin the dial every Friday night there are very few high school games on the air any more. The first reason for that is local radio stations no longer are training grounds for people just getting in the business.

The most important reason that is it more costly to produce a live program off site from the radio station than doing programing in the studio with a computer. That basically means they have to charge more to do ball games than they do to air one commercial.

In case you didn't know it, today's disc-jockeys don't have to sit in the studio for four hours and talk at the end of each record any more. Computers can be told when to play a song and when to air the recorded weather without the disc-jockey having to sit there continuously.

We are working hard trying to improve the broadcast quality. Sometimes it hard to tell.

Gryphons Are A Work In Progress

I think what you saw from the Gryphons last night is about what you are going to get this season. This team is not half bad, but when compared to the last two Gryphon teams who were undefeated in regular season there is just no comparison.

Hunt will bring a team here that I think is the Southwest Edgecombe game of the past four years. Hunt like us is no comparison to SWE of the past. If the Gryphons can win next week then there is a good chance for an undefeated conference record.

If you look at some of my past statements I told you this team was going to win games 28-14 instead of 42-14 like you have become accustom to. If this team does win out I think we will be a completely different team than what we are even right now and that will be for the better.

The past three weeks all I have heard was the players don't like Schock, he has no personality. What does that have to do with coaching football.

My senior year in high school Daryll Allen came to Ahoskie high as an assistant coach. 1971 he became the head coach. People were complaining that Allen had about as much personality as a rock.

As the years past, they found out that he was different once you knew him. It took me five years to get to where I felt like I didn't have to pry information out of him. Give Schock a chance. He has still only been here less than three months.

One thing people found out was Allen could coach football and that is all they really cared about any way.

Yes of course there is the following the legend syndrome. Schock will have to win a state title to to get out of the shadow of B W Holt. Just looking at what the JV's have coming up I don't think a state title is just around the corner. We are in a period where we don't have the great athletes like we have had the last five years.

But, we still have good athletes.

Our senior players have never experience three losses in bunches like we have experienced this year. They will be better football players because of it. Now hear me when I say this because I don't think it's possible. Wouldn't it be funny if we got all the way to the eastern finals or even won it all because we went through some bad times but they came out of it better people because they stuck together.

Sunday night on the "Stretchlon Sports Show"there is going to be a live segment at 8.00pm with Ken Sykes who is the travel league coach of the Nashville Cardinals. They are putting on a skill challenge in a few weeks and he will talk about some of the pro baseball players that will be here.

Following the live part of the show we will show the awards presentation the City Of Rocky Mount made to the Senior little league state champs. That's Sunday night at 8.00pm on WHIG TV.

They're Baaaaack

Those of you that root for someone other than Rocky Mount and for those of you who pull for the Gryphons that thought the world was coming to an end for Gryphon football I just want you to know that the Gryphons are right where I'd thought they would be 1-0 in conference play.

It only took one play for the Gryphons to find that step that has been missing the last three weeks.
Marquavis Alston's 74 yard run on the first offensive play gave the Gryphons the lead that they never surrendered.

Dominque Holloway torched Southern Nash for 180 yards last week but the only torch tonight was a 85 yard kick off return, Behind the line of scrimmage the Gryphon defense held him in check.

Two missed scoring opportunities in the first half made the half time score closer than the way the game was played. Gryphons lead 18-7. Each team scored once in the second half as Rocky Mount kept the Bulldogs at arms length the entire game.

Alston went over 200 yards rushing for the game. In the first half Collins Cuthrell timly passes to Brandon Jones and Cuthrells runs instead of throwing led the Gryphons showing any one who wanted to watch that they are not going to give a conference championship away with out a fight.

Gryphons 25- Nash Central 13

Next week Hunt travels our way and when they get here it will be two of the first place teams playing each other. Hunt shuts out Northern 45-0. I understand coach Mickey Crouch was tossed out of the game in the third quarter. If so he will sit out the next two game.

Southern Nash rebounded from their first loss of the season as they beat Fike 28-6. Right now the Firebirds,Warriors and Gryphons have the lead after the first round of Big East Conference play. Unlike golf where you only play four rounds there are still four rounds to go to win the Big East.

Tarboro finally had a battle on their hands but beat Greene Central 21-7. Southwest Edgecombe beat Beddingfield 52-22

Hertford County beat Currituck tonight 68-0. Rose beat Ashley 33-21 so the three teams to beat Rocky Mount now have a combined 20-2 mark on the season.

Coach B W Holt was in the house and after the game as we were all leaving from the parking lot Holt who stood in the end zone all night shook hands with Dickie Schock and looked right at Dickie and said"People have got to realize that twelve players who played on this field last year are playing Division 1 football this year." Meaning it takes time to replace those type of players that we don't have this year. But I can tell you the Gryphons are coming.

Tennis Wins Piece Of The Pie

All during the NEW-6 years Fike girls reigned supreme in Girls tennis. Rocky Mount has always had good teams but not good enough to beat Fike. This year started out the same, in their first meeting Fike whipped the Lady Gryphons 7-2.

Any time you play a team you hope when you lose in tennis you would hope for a 5-4 score. 7-2 is a right good thrashing. So the Lady Gryphons even though they have completely dominated every other team in the Big East still faced Fike at their place. I am not sure any one in Wilson had any idea they would lose to Rocky Mount.

Last Thursday the Lady Gryphons got revenge with Fike winning 6-3 at their place. Tonight the Lady's did their part in sharing the conference regular season. I stopped by on the way to pick Morgan up from the RM-Northern Volleyball game to take her to Tar River practice and after the singles were finished Rocky Mount won all six matches 6-0. They were in the process of playing the doubles when we left but the the six points was enough to grab a share of the conference regular season championship. If by some miracle Fike lost to Hunt today then the Lady Gryphons would win the conference out right.

The volley ball team put a capper on a perfect regular season as they beat Northern Nash in five sets. The fifth set was 18-16 a Rocky Mount win.

What a fall the Lady's sports program has had both volley ball were 10-0 and tennis 9-1 in conference WAY TO GO GIRLS.

Yesterday cross county ran as all members of the conference met for the fourth time this year. The girls finished second to Fike and the boys second to Nash Central.

Monday night is a big night in soccer Hunt 6-0 in the league comes to Rocky Mount 5-1. Hunt beat the Gryphons 3-1 at Hunt the first time around. If Rocky Mount has any thoughts of winning or sharing the conference title they must win Monday.

Football Friday finds the Big East 3-A playing conference games for the first time. Rocky Mount host Nash Central. Northern has a home game with Hunt and Southern Nash visits Fike.

Both Fike and Nash Central have made quarterback changes in mid season which have helped both squads.

AM 1390 coverage of Gryphon football goes on the web at 7.00pm Friday night.

Gilrs Tennis #5 In State

Tuesday the Lady Gryphon Tennis team played their final home match of the season and blanked Southern Nash 9-0. Thursday is the final regular match of the season and with a victory it is possible for a tie for first place with Fike. The only problem Northern Nash is the team we have to beat and you know Northern enjoys beating Rocky Mount especially if Rocky Mount can lose something like a championship if Northern can knock them off.

Their win last week over Fike has propelled the Lady Gryphons to #5 in the latest tennis rankings.
They are now 15-3 on the season. In conference play the lady Gryphons have played 69 individual matches and doubles matches. They have won fifty nine and lost only ten. In the head to head competition with Fike in two matches they have lost 10 matches while winning eight. That means our girls have not loss one point to any other conference team. They have all been shutouts.

Tennis begins the conference tournament at Barton college next Monday.

Today the soccer team beat Nash Central 8-3 at the soccer field. They are now 5-1 in conference action and they host Hunt Monday. Hunt put the one in the loss column on the Gryphons earlier this year so Monday is a biggie if the soccer team has any thoughts of the league championship. Hunt remains unbeaten in the conference. Their victory today is #14 in 17 tries. They have only one lost and two ties.

JV Football travels to Nash Central Thursday night, Varsity host Nash Central Friday. This is the first conference game of the season for football so the three straight losses will be a distance memory if they can get back on the winning track for the rest of the season. I think you will see more long gainers like you have come to expect from Gryphon football, mostly due to to the Big east is down in football from top to bottom.

Only Southern Nash has a winning record. Hunt is 3-3, Rocky Mount 2-3, Nash Central 2-4, Fike 2-4 and Northern 0-6.

Volley Clinches Bye

The Lady Gryphon Volleyball team made sure that there was no chance for a tie with any one this afternoon knocking off Southern Nash for the third time this year. The Score was 3-0. The ladys are now 9-0 in conference and go for a perfect conference season Thursday at Northern. Today's victory moves them to 15-3 on the season.

The conference volleyball tournament starts Monday at Southern Nash. The semi-finals will be Wednesday and after Thursdays match at Northern the Lady Gryphons are off until the 15th. Should they win their semi-final match the tournament championship is Monday the 20th.

I don't know why no one has been talking about this but do you know our girls tennis team knocked of Fike last Thursday at Fike 6-3. That comes on the heels of Fike winning 7-2 here three weeks ago. I have not heard how today's match with Southern Nash went but with the regular season ending Thursday the lady Gryphons are in a flat footed tie with Fike.

I hope you saw on Rocky Mount highs web site but starting this Friday Rocky Mount high school football goes on the world wide web. I understand we had issues with some of our broadcast Friday night but Wes Bradshaw did tell our audience that discussion were started last Thursday to put Rocky Mount on the web and all the issues were resolved Monday to make it happen Friday night.

I know people like Greg Pierce in Fuquay a die hard Gryphon fan can now hear the Gryphons live on Friday's instead of waiting for the score at 11.00pm.

While other sports are finishing up their regular seasons football is just beginning conference play Friday night. An improved Bulldog team from Nash Central make the long six mile ride to take on the Gryphons. Since coach Crudup moved Dominque Holloway to quarterback the Bulldogs have been much improved.

Should be an interesting game since after losing three in a row the Gryphon Confidence has been dented.

Morales 3 Northern 1

Monday afternoon Northern and Rocky Mount meet on a field on conflict going head to head once again. Soccer was the game. An overcast day slowing turned at halftime to a misting rain and a slow drizzle by games end.

The first thirty three minutes there were few opportunities, when there were Rocky Mount had more but Northern missed several good chances also.

The 6.31 mark of the first half Andrew Morales got hold of a pass in front of the net and knew where to put it to keep Northern's keeper Jeff Powell away from the shot 1-0 Rocky Mount
Just before the Half Morales put a dagger in the hearts of the Knights, placed a midfield kick just over the out stretched arms of Powell and just under the top bar of the net to score goal #2.

I can't say that over the years I have watched many soccer matches from start to end on TV or even live at soccer games for that matter. In my inexperienced life I have never seen a mid field shot placed more perfect from such a long distance from the goal. In Golf it would be like making a hole in one. 2-0 Gryphons at the half.

Less than three minutes into the second half Morales in a crowded bunch put a shot on goal that I don't even know how he got it by his own players much less the Northern Knights. Third goal of the game within ten minutes of playing time and Rocky Mount had all they would need.

Northern Issiah Gonzales scored for Northern with just over twenty nine minutes to play. That score gave Northern life and made Rocky Mount last minutes seem as if they stopped in time . Northern had several chance but they were turned away by the Gryphon defense and keeper Drew Gorham.

Rocky Mount wins #12 on the season and are now 4-1 in the Big East. Northern's loss their fifth of the year but the important item is that is their second loss in conference action and puts them two back with five conference games to play to Hunt the conference leader.

Tomorrow is the last regular season home game for Volley ball. They will meet Southern Nash. Morgan Doughtie will be singing the National Anthem before the Varsity game. I think I know the words now as Morgan has been practicing at home tonight and I think she has sung it at least forty times.

Oh say can you see

Taking the Next Step

Both North Carolina and N C State want to be considered top level college football programs. In order to step to the next level teams that are great don't lose to the average team. I think with the quarterbacks that both teams have State has a chance for a better season this year than Carolina. Both have a lot of average teams left to play and if they don't step up more losses coming for both.

Who in the world would have thought that Denver and New Orleans would be undefeated in the NFL after four weeks. New Orleans made the Jets look like they had a rookie quarterback and Dallas is a glitz team. They only beat average and worse teams. If you are any good at all Dallas can't beat you so Denver must be making that step forward to the elite.

Monday is Northern and Rocky Mount soccer at 5.00pm at Rocky Mount. Rocky Mount is 11-1-2 while Northern is 11-4 but both at 3-1 in conference play and neither can afford two losses in the first go round of conference play. The team that loses most likely is out of any chance of finishing in first place.

I'll be there for the Stretchlon Sports Show.

The two losses that volleyball took on Saturday drops them to 14-3 on the season. They return to action Tuesday for the final home regular season match against Southern Nash. They finish the regular season Thursday at Northern Nash. Tennis is home Tuesday hosting Southern.

I don't know if you ever heard this score but the JV's lost at Rose Thursday 36-32 in the last few seconds.

Conference play begins Friday for football. I know most of your have given up already on the Gryphons but those of you that have only shown up when they win any way. I think you will be surprised when we get back to playing teams on our level that we are going to make some big plays again.

Best receiver In College Football

It was early in the second quarter Scott Riddle completed a twelve yard pass to Terrell Hudgins and the former Gryphon and North Carolina high school player of the year in 2005 has become the all time leading pass receiver in major college history. Elon wins at Furman by a 19-12 score. Terrell had 16 catches for 209 yards and and a touchdown catch with that yards he is less than 400 yards from becoming the all time receiver in yardage gained. If and when he breaks that record he would pass Jerry Rice. Oddly enough Hudgins became the all time Division one and two receiver today. The division one record of 316 was broken on his second catch and the all time record with his third.

From Greenville South Carolina to Greenville North Carolina Terrell's sister Tia and the Lady Volley ball team play in a doubleheader today against, first South Central and then New Bern. Already down two set to none Tia went down with a high ankle sprain and finished the day propped up on the bench watching her teammates get handed their Lunch.

South Central and New Bern both were bigger and more athletic than the Lady Gryphons and they were 3-0 losers in both matches. This is the level of competition the Ladys will face in the playoffs and today they were shown that they are a long way from advancing deep into the playoffs.

South Central the host school had set up the day as a Pink day for Breast Cancer and all proceeds from this round robin affair went to the American Cancer Society. Good event for Cancer but not a good day on the court for the lady Gryphons.

Both North Carolina and N C State have high hopes of playing in the ACC championship game but both had their hopes dashed. Carolina can't score atouchdown against a team Bill and Mary Beat in Virginia. Virginia 16- Heels 3 N C State had moments of greatness and then poor play in playing just good enough to lose to Wake Forest 30-24.

ECU holds off Marshall 21-17. Duke gives a good effort but falls to Virginia Tech.

I will finish up tonight and say anytime you make it to the ESPN scroll you know you have made the big time. While watching the State -Wake game at 6.32pm ESPNU they scrolled the announcement that Terrell Hudgins of Elon had 16 catches for 209 yards to become the all time receiver in FCS History. WOW

Heartbreaker

The Rocky Mount Gryphons lose their third straight game for the first time since 2001.
Rose only started twice all night on their side of the field. Giving them great field position all night the Gryphon defense holds the Rampants to one Touchdown.

A missed extra point, A missed wide open receiver on a fake field goal, a blocked punt, a fumble giving Rose the ball on our 32, and a fifty yard field goal with just over two minutes left and Rose squeaks out a 16-13 victory over a scrappy bunch of Gryphons.

Herford County won again tonight, Southwest was a winner and Rose now at 3-2 on the year the teams that have beaten Rocky Mount are a combined 17-2. Quite frankly the defensive front for Rose was the best we have seen all year, not the best team but best defensive front.

Now that the tough part of the schedule is over expect an over night improvement in the Gryphons.

If you are a consistant reader here then you know way back I predicted Rocky Mount to be 8-2 when the season started. I thought SWE and Rose would beat us. I didn't know until we played them how good Hertford County was.

We are going to be 7-3 before the year is over. This team is not a good enough blocking team that we will beat any body 42-14. Every game is going to be 28-14 kind of games but we will win them.

Am I disappointed that we lost? You Bet I am realistic, I saw eight players on the sidelines wearing jerseys that did not play. yet, with all of the mistakes and injuries it took the longest field goal ever made against Rocky Mount to beat us a fifty yarder by Warren Harvey.

Folks don't give up on this team and I know most of you have because the crowd was about JV size tonight. You can't be and don't deserve to be 13-2 every year.

Southern Nash Found the Bulldogs of Nash Central had a real bite tonight at the Firebirds lose for the first time 22-12 to Nash Central. Since the Bulldogs moved Holloway to quarterback they have been a different team.

Fike let me down again a 22-19 loser to South Johnston.

Southwest Edgecombe traveled to Farmville Central and won 40-14. We need to keep watching Hertford County as the playoffs filter out we may wind up there again before the year is over they battered Edenton 35-7.

Tarboro, Hunt and Northern Nash all took the week off.

Next week the conference action begins.

This week the LPGA tour held a pre qualifying tournament in which in order to make it to the qualifying tournament you needed to finish in the top 17. Cousin Lauren Doughtie finished 4th shooting a four day one under score.

In a couple of weeks the Futures tour will have their qualifying tournament for those who did not finish high enough in the standings at the end of the year. Lauren now will try to keep her Furtures tour card. If she gets that then she can go to the LPGA qualifying school in November knowing if she doesn't make it on the LPGA she can again play the Futures again next year. Good going Lauren this is the best week that she has had all year.

Volley ball has a big day Saturday. They are playing in a breast Cancer event at South Central at 10.00am . All proceed from this event goes American Cancer Society. They play South central the only team to beat them at 10.00am and then play New Bern at about 11.30. Much like football they could easily lose both of these matches but in order to get better you need to be stretched to your limit.

Terrell Hudgins needs three catches for Elon Saturday to become the #1 all time pass catcher in college football history.

We are planning to go to watch Morgan be the manager of the volley ball team. Of course having a Parker's Barbecue help make the decision to go.

Back To Football

The Rocky Mount Gryphon football team gets back to the trenches Friday night as they host Rose High School. This is no longer a conference game but if I were Rose I would have revenge on my mind when they get off the bus.

Two years ago the Gryphons stopped Rose's thirty nine game winning streak which oddly enough started the week after Rocky Mount beat Rose in 2004, Rose won three State titles during that streak.

Then last year Rocky Mount laid a whipping on Rose 36-0 like they haven't had in ages. The shutout stopped Rose's 143 game scoring streak. If a 2-2 team needs motivation I think beating Rocky Mount could get the Rampants going.

After tomorrow night one of these teams will be 2-3. I don't think it will be Rocky Mount. Gryphons 27 Rose 19

I think this game should have been the first game of the season not the sixth but Southern Nash and Nash Central collide in a non-conference affair in Bulldog country. Southern wins # seven but not by much. Southern 26 Nash Central 18

Fike has a home date against South Johnston. I think I have picked Fike right only once this year. I will pickum one more time 24-16.

Hunt and Northern Nash take the night off.

Tarboro host Greene Central. Tarboro wins but not like the slaughters they had been laying on everyone else. Vikes 27 Greene Central 14.

The trap game of the week is Southwest Edgecombe at Farmville Central. After beating Rocky Mount and Kinston back to back the Cougars might think they are somebody and get caught with their pants down if they don't watch it. Cougars 26 Farmville 16.

Yesterday the Tennis team beat Greene Central to go to 13-3. Unfortunately I have not heard at this writing how today's big match at Fike turned out.

It was a struggle for volley ball but they clinched 1st place in the Big East today beating Fike in five sets. They play in a tournament Saturday at South Central and they meet South Central in the first match at 10.00am. South Central is the only team to put a L up against Volley ball in fifteen matches this year.

I know people are down on the football team because they are not 4-0 right now. Don't count this bunch out yet. We are better than our record. Kickoff is 7.30 but the pregame on radio starts at 7.00pm on am 1390