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.
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