Basketball Is Off and Running

The boys varsity basketball season got underway this weekend and Rocky Mount has taken home the championship in the Knightdale Tipoff Classic.

Friday saw the Gryphons eek out a 86-85 victory over East Chapel Hill. Saturday night the Gryphons found themselves matched up with conference rival Fike who had beaten the host school Knightdale by five on Friday. The Gryphons win the championship with a 20 point victory over the Golden Demons.

The girls lost a heart breaker on Friday losing 38-37 to Wake Forest Rolesville but was able to take third place in the tournament winning by four over the host Knightdale High.

Brain game: I was home Saturday morning and saw the Rocky Mount team crush it's two opponents on the WRAL-TV show " The Brain Game".

I sure do miss Mark Roberts host of the Brain Game on WRAL with the traffic reports week day mornings.

Did you see where Kendall Noble former Gryphon football player was named second team all MEAC in football?

Now that Thanksgiving is gone I wore Christmas red to church yesterday. It had nothing to do with N C State beating Carolina on Saturday.

Congratulations to the E C U Pirates finally beating Southern Mississippi. What better time than to clinch their division and in doing so get to host the conference championship Saturday. GO Pirates

Gryphon Players Of The Decade

Once again the radio crew has come up with their top fifteen players of the decade in Gryphon football. Wes Bradshaw, Charles Alston and myself have come of with fifteen really good ones. Any time you win 93 games in ten years it takes more than fifteen player to make that happen. Remember, as they say this is for entertainment purposes only. Don't get all our of whack if we left someone off or they are not in the right order. I can tell you the three of us disagreed on the order on several players, but then it again this is my blog so I had final say.

15

The linemen: Linemen are hard to rate. Once the ball is snapped you don't notice them until after the play is over. Unless there is holding, a sack or a big pileup you never know they are out there. I can assure you coaches on the other teams know they are there when they look at film. We have pick five linemen and we are calling them #15. Regardless here are the five linemen of the decade.

Torey Lee : "Pork Chop" Maybe the best down field blocker in Gryphon history
Whit Barnes: Committed to Wake forest even before his senior season. That will tell you right there he was on everybody's radar.
Kendall Noble: Has the body size to make it in the NFL. Has been a multi year starter while playing at Norfolk State at tackle.
Nazir Levine: Gryphon backs have made many a yard running behind Nazir.
Chauncey Perry: Wide body who could make way for Gryphon runners.

10.

Brian Goodwin: Was such an all round athlete. Was more valuable to team on defense. I still think he could make NFL as cornerback but chose Carolina Baseball.

9.

Rob Nelson: Despite quarterbacking on a losing team in 2001 people forget that he was named Big East player of the year.

8.

Mike Mason: Blazing speed was double teamed most of his career. Hold most pass receiving records for Rocky Mount.

7.

Collins Cuthrell: Won 21 game as a two year starter. The only quarter back this decade to average ten wins a season. Took every snap his senior season and considering he was hit on almost every pass play that will attest to his conditioning and strength. Third all time in most passing categories.

6.

Demetric Marshall: 2,100 yards rushing and thirty touchdowns in one season. That one season is probably the best individual season of the decade.

5.

Robert Hart: If a player ever had the right last name it was Robert. Robert Hart was the leading tackler in Gryphon history at the time of his graduation. If you saw him in the hall way you wood never know he played football. He is a prime example of why sports can be great. Robert was able to be a great football player despite his body telling him he wasn't capable physically of doing what he was able to accomplish.

4.

Nick Hahula: Holds every kicking record related to points in Gryphon history. Whether it was his kickoff in the end zone or punts with no return Hahooola was a vital part of the Gryphon defense with field position. Started at fullback his last two seasons for good measure.

3.

Marquavis Alston: All time leading rusher and touchdown maker in Gryphon history. Only running back to get a thousand yards rushing in a season twice and he did it three times. Had good speed but was not a speed merchant. Not all that big but could always get five more yards after contact.

2.

Terrell Hudgins: Holds almost every passing record and total yardage records in Gryphon history. Could also have played defense but was too valuable at quarterback to risk a defensive injury. While at Elon has become the greatest pass receiver in college history. Has a chance in pro football at wide receiver.

1.

Stephan Virgil: How good was Stephan? He started his fist game his freshman year and every game there after. Played only defense early in career but his athletic ability gave him more offensive time as career developed. Scored as runner, pass receiver, kick returner and defensive back. Hold Gryphon career record for yards per catch average in career. Regardless of what position he played he produced. Has started his last two years at Virginia Tech at cornerback.

When you consider maybe two hundred player have played Gryphon football this decade it is impossible to find only the best fifteen. There is no disrespect to any one intended who is not on the list. Tell us who you think should be on the list any why?

What A Night Of Football

Four local teams took to the field in the third round of the state playoffs and three of the four went to the wire.

In what was billed as the best game across the state was played in Pinetops tonight and the billing did not disappoint with the results except for the score. Playing in front of a full house but not quite as many as witnessed the Tarboro game a few weeks back Reidsville and SouthWest Edgecombe battled right down to almost the last play before Reidsville edged the Cougars 22-20.

The end of the first quarter saw a 0-0 game and 14-14 at the half. Then it remained 14-14 heading into the fourth quarter. Reidsville score early and made the two point conversion and the Cougars scored with less than three minutes to play and missed their two pointer.

SWE tried an onside kick but Reidsville recovered but the Cougars forced the two time defending champions to punt with just over one minute to play. SWE moved it to the 21 yard line and on fourth down tried a game winning field goal but the muddy field the snap never got back to the holder and no attempt was made.

Reidsville 22- SouthWest 20

The last surviving Big East team is still alive and well despite losing four fumbles on the game. Southern Nash has gone to Gray's Creek tonight and will come home from Hope Mills with a 13-7 victory. Gray's Creek fumble on Southern's ten yard line with over two minutes to play but they held the Firebirds and got the ball on the Southern 42 yard line with a minute to play and were driving until the Firebirds intercepted a pass to seal the game.

Southern Nash 13- Gray's Creek 7

They lost their first three games of the season but after tonight North Edgecombe remains alive in the 1-A playoffs with a 16-8 victory over Jones County. The Warriors will have to travel again next week as they will take on Wallace Rose Hill in Teachey next week.

North Edgecombe 16- Jones County 8

The laughter of the night took place in Tarboro as the Vikings continue their assault on a return trip to the state championship game as they white washed Whiteville 41-0.

Rocky Mount boys opened the basketball season beating East Chapel Hill 86-85 and play Fike tonight in the championship game of the Knightdale High tip off tournament. The girls lost 37-36 to Wake Forest Rolesville.

Sunday's blog: Top fifteen football players of the Decade.

Thanksgiving Friday Football

Four Twin County teams are still alive in the state playoffs the Friday after Thanksgiving. Two of those teams Tarboro and SouthWest Edgecombe are no surprises at all. North Edgecombe and Southern Nash I doubt whether they expected to still be a live way back when practice started the 1st of August.

Reidsville @ SouthWest Edgecombe

There is no bigger game in the state tonight than the 2-AA playoff game in Pinetops featuring the most celebrated football program in North Carolina history in Reidsville. Reidsville won their first state title back in the 20's and right now rides a 45 game winning streak. If Reidsville wins their 18th title they must pass through a power running Cougar team that should be use to playing in the mud for the third straight time this playoffs . It is unfortunate that this games outcome may come down to the team that can stand up during the crucial plays. Even though I picked the Cougars to win the state championship way back during last years football season I think SWE goes down tonight. Reidsville 27 SWE 20

Whiteville @ Tarboro

Two big third round games being played ten miles apart I think the Vikings will advance and continue their quest to make it to the State championship game two years in a row. This game will not be easy but the Vikes are better Tarboro 28- Whiteville 14

North Edgecombe at Jones County

If there was ever a good story this year in high school football you don't have to look any further than Leggett. Mid September seemed as if two wins on the year would be a wonderful year. Here the Warriors are playing the Friday after Thanksgiving. Jones County 25 North Edcombe 16.

Southern Nash @ Gray's Creek

The coaches knew what they were talking about when they voted Southern second place in the pre-season poll. The last surviving Nash County team and Big East member has a shot in this one. Unset can only happen if the Firebirds hold on to the ball. Gray's Creek 26 Southern Nash 22.

Rocky Mount starts it's basketball season today as both the boys and girls take part in Knightdale High's Thanksgiving basketball tournament.

Greatest Gryphon Games Of the Decade

How great a game is sometimes depends which side of the scoreboard you sit when the game is over. When you lose you tend to forget the great things that you do to make a game special. Victory lingers in your mind forever. The ten best games of the decade have three Gryphon defeats. One thing to always remember the more important the game is tends to be remember as great long after a really good regular season game has faded in your memory.

10

The final game of the 2003 football season. Rocky Mount heads to Northern Nash as the favorite for the first time in several years. Northern jumps to a 14-0 in the first half. Down 14-7 heading into the fourth quarter a Stephan Virgil Punt return ties the game. The ensuing kickoff the Gryphons cause a fumble on the return and recover deep in Knight territory. The Gryphons waste little time and beat Northern 21-14.

9

The Eastern Finals in 2008. Rocky Mount leads 19-14 heading into the fourth quarter. The Gryphons running the clock out need one more first down and victory is ours. A fumble and West Craven marches down the field to score with 1.10 to play to take a 21-19 lead. Little time was almost enough for the Gryphons as they made it to the twenty two yard line. The only lost on the field all year for the 2008 Gryphons.


8

The opening conference game of the 2004 football season finds Rocky Mount traveling to Rose to take on a Rampant team that has dominated Rocky Mount the last ten years. The first half sees both sides create big plays and exciting scores. The Gryphons pull away in the third quarter only to watch Rose make a dash back and make the game close. This was the first sign that the 2004 Gryphons were going to be special. They beat rose 41-33.

7

The Eastern Finals in 2007. Rocky Mount faces off with Western Alamance for the third playoff year in a row. This game swings back and forth all night. Late fourth quarter Western forges ahead 44-37. Rocky Mount is coming right back down the field until an interception is return for a touchdown. Final score Western Alamance 50- Rocky Mount 37. The final score was in no way a reflection on how close this game was.

6

Heading into the final game of the 2009 season there is a potential three way tie possibility for second place in the new Big East conference. There is a drawing between Rocky Mount, Northern Nash and Southern Nash in case there is a tie. Rocky Mount gets fourth. That means if they lose to Northern instead of second place out right they will be out of the playoffs. Northern plays their best game of the season and has Rocky Mount on the ropes until Rocky Mount scores with 3.1 seconds to play in the game. 15-12 victory sends the Gryphons to the playoffs and Northern out of the playoffs.

5.

It has become a habit in the New-6 conference play that the winner of the Rocky Mount-SouthWest Edgecombe game will win the conference. The fourth year in a row the 2008 game is played on a Monday night at SouthWest. Rocky Mount leads 7-0 and the Cougars are on the goal line with a fourth down. There is no forward progress. The Gryphons hold, will win the conference crown and the 7-0 victory saved an undefeated regular season.

4

The opening game of the 2002 football season Rocky Mount travels to Douglas Byrd. Last season Byrd had embarrassed Rocky Mount at home. Before the game Byrd dedicated the press box to their Hall Of Fame coach Bob Paroli. The Gryphons jump out early and lead right to the end. Byrd scores late and the HOF coach Paroli instead of playing for over time goes for the two point conversion to win in regulation. The Gryphon D holds and escapes with a 20-19 upset win over Byrd. This was the game that put Rocky Mount on their seven year run of winning football.

3

Third Round of the 2006 state playoffs. Rocky Mount finds themselves matched up with Western Alamance for the second year in a row. Another shootout in which Rocky Mount scores with just over a minute to play. WA scores with six seconds to play to pull out the 41-37 victory and make the Gryphon ride home home about as miserable as it can get.

2

SouthWest Edgecombe and Rocky Mount square off in Rocky Mount during the 2007 regular season. Rocky Mount leads 15-12 late in the game. Less than a minute to play and Southwest gets a pass receiver open and is running to victory until Brian Goodwin runs him down at the five yard line and punches the ball free for a teammate to fall on it. Victory is saved.



There is one other game that we need to talk about. It will go down as the one to forget this decade. Rocky Mount leads Philip Rivers' dad Wakefield team 27-0 in the second quarter. A complete collapse by the Gryphons and they lose the playoff game 41-33. Easily the most disappointing game this decade.

Ahhh so many memories but here is the best one of all.

1

2004 conference championship game at New Bern. The up and coming Gryphons are undefeated and lead just about the entire second half. New Bern comes back and ties late in the game at 28-28. The first over time neither side scores but there is a delay over a fumblerooskie play that New Bern tried but failed to execute. New Bern scores first in the second over time and takes a 35-28 lead. Rocky Mount comes right back to make it 35-34. Everyone in the stadium is readying themselves for a third over time. B W Holt says this game is going to be decided right now. He puts the decision squarely on his shoulders to take the blame if we fail and lose. Terrell Hudgins rolls right, is hit at the one yard line but he falls across the goal line and the Gryphons pull off the upset of the decade and for the first time Gryphon fans realize they have a Hall of Fame coach in B W Holt.

I know I left off a few really good games. You have to remember this is only ten games out of 129 played this decade.

I hope you enjoyed the memories. Sunday's blog will name the top fifteen players of the decade.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Gryphon Basketball Begins Friday

Mike Gainey will begin basketball season for the first time in six years with the entire team when the first game is played. The success of the football team in the recent past has prevented basketball from practicing in the preseason with the whole squad. Gainey has had his whole team all this week in preparations for the season opener Friday.

Both the boys and Pam Gainey's girls will be in the Knightdale High tournament which will have four girls and four boys teams tournament.

The boys with the influx of three transfer players should be the odds on favorite to win the first Big East basketball regular season title. The girls have already had a season ending injury to to the probable starting point guard which dampens hopes.

Early season looks: Carolina Basketball the defending national champions in college basketball already have a lost on the season to Syracuse who is no slouch. Sure seems to me that the Heels have a team full of 6 feet ten inch players that weight one hundred eighty five pounds. Point guard looks like another concern. Down year in Chapel Hill so they will probably will only win twenty two this year.

We will get a real good look at Duke tonight as they play in the semi finals of the Preseason NIT in New York. If I had to guess right now Duke is better than carolina but not by much. Duke does have better guards.

In Raleigh N C State is off to a 4-0 start. The past few years State has had a really good front line and poor guard play. This year the guards are better but not by much. Eighteen wins would be a great season for the Wolfpack.

E C U what more needs to be said. Basketball power Campbell has already beaten the Pirates. I just don't understand why year in and year out football and baseball hold their own in Greenville but basketball takes a back seat.

Saturday Tar heel football visits the Wolfpack with a Florida bowl game on the line for the Tar Heels. All indications are that the Heels should dominate. Why Don't I think so? State is terrible on defense but Carolina is not that good on offense. The Carolina defense scores more points than it's offense but State can move the ball. Don't be surprised if there is move blue in the stands than red.

First time In Six Years

Rocky Mount High School's football ball team will not practice on Thanksgiving day for the first time since 2003. Regardless of what happens the rest of the way for any team still playing, to me Thanksgiving Friday was the bench mark that you have had an excellent season. Rocky Mount was three and two during those Friday after Thankgiving games.

How about Edgecombe County: All three high schools are still alive in their divisions.

Just maybe the biggest game in the state Friday night will be played in Pinetops. Two time defending State champions Reidville will make a visit to rural Edgecombe County to take on SouthWest Edgecombe. The winner here will be the odds on favorite to win it all in two more weeks.

Tarboro as a number six seed has a home game Friday. Whiteville upset First flight and as a seven seed will travel.

North Edgecombe hits the road for the first time traveling to Jones County. who would have ever thought in mid September that the Warriors would still be playing football now.

Big East Lone Survivor Southern Nash will make a trip down I-95 and get off on exit 40. Grays Creek will be a stiff test for the Firebirds. If I recollect Southern has not made it to the third round since 1991. I do remember that distinctly. The second round matchup that year was against Hertford County and the game was played at Southern in a driving rain storm. Southern won 18-14. I was in the booth calling the game for Hertford County.

Speaking of Hertford County they have a matchup Friday night against Havelock our old Big East conference member friends. Hertford has won both playoff games without their starting quarterback who is recovering from hairline fracture in his shin. His replacement just threw five touchdown passes this past week against Western Alamance.

Thanksgiving on this blog we will give you the top ten games of the decade in Gryphon football.

Bits And Pieces

I don't know if you saw this on channel five sports Thursday night or not but the "Extra Effort Award" winner last week was Mary Katherine Price from Fike. Most of the time when any athlete is high lighted it is because of athletics. Prince not only is the the best tennis player in the conference but she has never had a grade below an A in high school. She is the president of three clubs at Fike that she is in. I recommend going on line and viewing this story. It is a good one.

Both Hunt and Rocky Mount soccer teams lost to Jacksonville by 5-0 scores in the soccer playoffs. Jacksonville lost on Friday in the semi-finals in the state by a 2-1 score. Good grief. How good do you have to be to win a state title.

The State 2-AA football championship may be played in Pine Tops Friday night. SouthWest Edgecombe host Reidsville the two time defending champion who has won 45 in a row. I think
Sandra Langley probably needs to get with Mike Gainey and move that game to the RMAC. There could be 10,000 there for that game and with their field in a mess that might be a good move.

Terrell Hudgins regular season career came to a close Saturday as he keeps adding records. He had ten catches for 144 yards which is the 28th time in his career he has had at least 100 yards in a game. He caught a touchdown pass for the 33rd time in a game. Thinking back, I don't think he has played in but 42 games. If you remember he broke his foot and missed I think two games his freshman year.

He will play at least one more as Elon meets Richmond in the first round of the division one FCS playoffs at Richmond.

Appalachian State is back to try to retake the title Richmond won last year.

North Carolina meets N C State Saturday with the Chic-fil-A bowl on the line for the Heels. This will be a game of two defenses. One (Carolina's) has gotten better while States defense can't stop anybody.

Michigan losing to Ohio State Saturday finished 1-7 in the Big Ten.

I would suspect Tim Tebow will win the Heisman Trophy but I think this is a year that any body could win it. Voting for the Heisman is like voting for the top twenty each week. If you don"t see them play, how can you vote for or against anyone or team?

New Orleans and Indianpolis remain unbeaten in pro football. I just don't think Indy will make it to the Super Bowl.

Look what happen to Oakland when they put an average quarterback in the game. They finally gave up on Russell and won. If they keep their defense and get at least an average quarterback next year they could be trouble for San Diego in the AFC West.

Thursday we will high lite the top games of the decade in Gryphon football.

Greatest Gryphon Plays Of The Decade

The finish of this year's football season has brought to a close maybe the best decade of football in Gryphon History.The 60's produced two State titles and it is hard to not say the 60's wasn't the best. This decade the first of the 21 st Century has produced more victories than any other 93. If not the best decade this one has been outstanding.

I proposed a question to Wes Bradshaw and Charles Alston. What are your top ten plays of the decade? Between the three of us we have come up with fifteen of what we are calling the Greatest Gryphon Plays Of the Decade.

15

Derrick Downey's 100 yard interception return against Hunt in 2003. Last play of the game, Rocky Mount leads by two touchdowns Hunt goes for end zone and Downey picks off the pass at the goal line and streaks for a touchdown. It is the only play of 100 yards or more in Gryphon history.

14

Jordan Ford's 95 yard kickoff return to open the 2008 game at Hunt. Big crowd on hand, in fact most of them were still in line buying tickets at Hunt when Ford fielded the kick. This play shocked Hunt and the Gryphons rolled 44-6.

13

Jason Tyler's 99 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Arrington. It is the longest play from scrimmage this decade. Who would think that you would try to pass on your own one, but B W Holt did and in 2005 Gryphon history is made against Kinston.

12

Terrell Hudgins 88 yard pass to Will Johnson at Rose in 2004. This play showed the Gryphons that they could play with Rose a team that had dominated them the last ten years. The 41-33 Gryphon win was the first sign that the 2004 Gryphons were going to be special

11

Nick Hahula's 84 yard run against Western Alamance in the Eastern Finals in 2007. Hahula on a championship stage showed everyone he was more than just the Gryphon kicker.

10

Demetric Marshall's 86 yard run from scrimmage against Hunt. The Gryphons are being shutout against Hunt. One run and the whole game changes and the Gryphons come from behind to win. This is part of Marshall's 2,100 yard rushing season and 30 touchdowns both Gryphon records.

9

Mike Mason's catch and run of a Terrell Hudgins pass in 2002 against Hunt. a simple pass, throw it out to the sidelines and let Mason Run. He did 74 yards later the Gryphons scored the only points to be scored in this defensive dominated game.

8 and 8A

Collins Cuthrell is part of two plays on one drive that leads to maybe the most exciting ending to a Northern Nash - Rocky Mount game. Northern leads 12-7 and the Gryphons are driving. Cuthrell rolls left, he is swamped by two Northern defenders and he is on the way down for a sack when he flips the ball over his shoulder to a waiting Marquavis Alston who streaks from the 23 to the five. Four plays later on fourth down from the four yard line Cuthrell once again rolls left and is hit at the three yard line but somehow gets the ball to the goal line and a Gryphon Victory.

7

Defeat is at hand. Down 19-17 to Southern Nash with only 75 second to play. The 2009 Gryphon team finds a way as Collins Cuthrell hits a wide open Jordan Ford for a 60 yard touchdown pass. Pandemonium breaks out from the field to the stands and in the pressbox as the Gryphons win their first late minute game of the decade.

6

The opening game of the 2002. Rocky Mount travels to Byrd who just the year before embarrassed the Gryphons in Rocky Mount. Byrd dedicated the press box to their legendary coach Bob Paroli. There was no one on Byrd's side thought they would lose to the Gryphons. The Gryphons lead most of the game but a fourth quarter rally by Byrd gets the score to 20-19 Gryphons. Byrd goes for the win but a team play by the Gryphons defense stops the two point conversion. Gryphons win 20-19. This play is the turnaround that the Gryphons needed to get started their run this decade.

5

Donavan Sinclair's punt return against Hunt in 2007. Tied 20-20 in the fourth quarter but momentum is now with Hunt. The Gryphon defense forces a punt. One play the Gryphons go from hanging on to victorious as Sinclair returns the punt to the house and the Gryphons win 27-20.

4

If there was ever a team play of the decade this is it. Rocky Mount leads SouthWest 7-0. The custom during the NEW-6 era was the winner of SouthWest -Rocky Mount would win the conference championship. The Cougars have a fourth down on the Gryphon goal line. There is no forward push and the spot says the Gryphons have held. This victory wins a conference championship and preserves a third undefeated regular season for the Gryphons this decade.

3

Stephan Virgil's punt return against Northern Nash in 2003. Highly favored Rocky Mount is down in the fourth quarter to the Knights. Virgil fields a punt and follows a wall 74 yards to tie the game. The Gryphons go into a feeding frency and on the following kickoff cause a fumble and the Gryphons comeback from the dead to beat Northern.

2

Brian Goodwin's strip of the ball against SouthWest Edgecombe in 2007. Rocky Mount is preserving a 15-12 lead with less than a minute to play. A SouthWest receiver catches a pass and is wide open streaking for the end zone. Goodwin chases him down and in the process strips the ball away and the Gryphons recover at the five yard line. This play preserved the victory, a conference championship and undefeated season.

1

Double Over time. New Bern has just taken the lead on Rocky Mount and Rocky Mount responds and score to cut the lead to 35-34. Everyone at New Bern this night readies themselves for a third overtime but hold the phone. B W Holt goes for the win. Terrell Hudgins rolls right is hit at the one yard line and falls across the goal line. Gryphons pull off upset of New Bern and win conference crown and go unbeaten in the regular season for the first time this decade.

This play by far is the top guts call of the decade. Holt decides to put the blame on his shouders if doesn't work. Instead Gryphon fans realize that they do have a Hall of Fame Coach.

There you have it. What we consider The Greatest Gryphon Plays Of the decade and to this point of the 21 st Century. Have we left any out? Let us know if you have one that needs to be on this list.

There are great efforts made in every game by players. Some because they win games or help win championships become more valuable over time than others.

This Has been A Great Sports Fall.

The football team's lost last night officially ended the fall sports programs at Rocky Mount High. Every sport during the fall advanced beyond the the conference and made the playoffs.

Cross Country; The boys team finished third in the regular season which qualified them to the regional. They didn't finish high enough at the regional to advance to the state.

The girls finished second in the conference which qualified them to the regional and they finished high enough to qualify for the State meet. The girls finished 16th at the state meet.

Volley ball: Undefeated conference play highlighted the Big East champs season. Lost a heartbreaker in the second round of playoffs.

Tennis: Tied Fike for the regular season conference championship. The team lost out in the third round of the playoffs. The doubles team of Lindsey Thomas and Kate Gray advanced all the way to the state doubles title match before losing. Addie Keeter and Caroline Nelson made to the the state championship weekend.

Soccer: Lost four times in 26 matches. Advanced to the third round of playoffs after finishing second to Hunt in the regular season.

Football: Finished second in the regular season. Lost out in second round of state playoffs. Finished season on high note winning four of their last five.

Tomorrow my blog will feature the best plays of this decade in Gryphon football. This program won 93 games in ten years which is nine wins a year. In order to win that many there were some outstanding plays along the way.

Trojans End Gryphon Season

The opening drive of the game gave the Gryphons a clue that they had a chance to move the football on South Johnston until the Gryphons ran out of downs near the twenty five. The Trojans first drive also showed Rocky Mount that it was going to be a hard night to stop the short pass attack of South Johnston as South Johnston went down the field three straight times in the first half.

The good news for the Gryphons was that Rocky Mount kept the ball away from the Trojans so they could only score three out of three times to lead 21-6 at the half. Rocky Mount scored on their third drive deep into Trojans territory on a Marquavis Alston run to cut the lead to 14-6 with less than three minutes in the half,but South Johnson only needed five plays to go 65 yards for the 21-6 at the half.

It didn't look as if things were going to be much better in the second half as the Trojans took the second half kickoff and wasted little time in making it 28-6 early in the third quarter. Then it seemed that the Trojans tried for the knockout punch and tried a couple of deep passes in which the Trojans misfired and after holding the Trojans the Gryphons streaked down the field to cut the lead to 28-12 on a Jordan Ford Run.

The Gryphons tried an onside kick but it was ruled the Gryphons touched the ball before it went ten yards and yet the Gryphons got the ball back holding South Johnston for the second straight time.

The fourth quarter saw the Gryphons faced with a fourth and fifteen at their own thirteen yard line. Collins Cuthrell acted as if he was going to rugby kick the ball which has become the fade in college football but instead stopped turned and threw to a waiting Jordan Ford on a screen pass and Jordan went sixty five yards before the Trojans tackled him at their twenty two yard line. The Gryphons punched it in and for a moment the South Johnson fans sat dazed at Rocky Mount went for two to cut it to a one touch down game and failed and that left the score at 28-18.

The killer play of the night was the return on the Squibb kick which was fielded near the thirty two yard yard and before the runner was down they were inside our twenty five yard line. It was easy pickings from there and South Johnston lead 35-18 and the Gryphons never scored again.

The Gryphons finish the season 7-5 and three of their losses came at Hertford who beat and old Nemesis of both us 54-10 in Western Alamance. Hertford County is 13-0 on the season. Southwest Edgecombe who was muddied out tonight stands at 11-0 and tonights loss to South Johnston is 12-1. That's a combine 36- 1 record in three of our five losses are to very good teams.

Southern Nash Spotted Hunt a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and preceded to beat Hunt 20-10. Good going Firebirds.

Tarboro Took care of business beating Roanoke Rapids 45-7 to advance to round three. North Edgecombe cracked unbeaten Crestwell 40- 6.

All three Edgecombe County schools are still playing and Southern Nash now carries the banner for Nash County.

Here is a heads up on my Sunday blog we will feature the fifteen greatest plays of the 21st century for Gryphon football who went during the first decade of this century 93-36. That occurred even after the 2000 team went 3-8 and 2001 5-6.

Ready To Rumble

Round two of the state high school playoffs is only twenty four hours away and for the first time in almost two years in playoff football Rocky Mount enters a playoff game as the underdog.

The fourth round game at Western Alamance in 2007 and the third round game also against W A in 2006 are the only playoff games since 2006 that the Gryphons are not the favorite. The Gryphons lost both the 2007 game 50-37 and 06 game 41-37.

South Johnston plays host to the Gryphons in round two and according to The Fanstatic 50 the 11-1 Trojans will only be a one point favorite against the 7-4 Gryphons. I think the Trojans schedule has a lot to do with that, having played only two teams all year with winning records.

South Johnston will throw the ball maybe forty times in this game so it will be vital for the Gryphons to create a pass rush. During the season the Gryphons have very few sacks mainly due to the fact the Gryphons have not played a team that throws the ball.

All you have to due is recollect to last year in the eastern finals when West Craven threw 52 times and beat the Gryphons. However the Trojans don't have a quarterback or receiver like they faced in West Craven last year.

As is this Gryphon team's nature. I am picking the Gryphons 21-17

The other bracket game to look to will be the Douglas Byrd traveling to West Brunswick. This is the game where the SJ/RM winner meets in round three. If the Gryphons pull off the upset Friday night they would get a home game in the third round against Byrd. If West Brunswick wins the SJ/RM winner travels to Shallotte on Thanksgiving Friday night. Don't be surprised if the Gryphons play home one more time this year.

If you have seen me in my gold Chevy luv pickup truck since football season started then you know my parking pass into the back gate to RMAC is dangling on my review mirror. Even though last Friday night we thought was the last home game my parking pass will be dangling until the season is over.

When the playoffs are over the Big East in their first year will finish with a winning record since all three teams won in the first round. Hunt will host Southern Nash Friday night for the second time this year. Whichever team loses will not count as a lost for the conference since they are playing each other.

SouthWest Edgecombe is home Friday facing Northside out of Jacksonville. I think the Cougars will not be stuck in the mud like last week.

Tarboro visits Roanoke Rapids and even on the road in the second round Tarboro should advance easily.

North Edgecombe will play in a second round game for the first time in a long time as they travel to Creswell. Creswell is 11-0 and NE is only 6-4 but the Fantastic 50 is favoring the Warriors by seven.

Chris Lee will play in the second round with his Louisburg football team. Lee who left Rocky Mount in January to become head football coach at the burg is 9-3 this year and is traveling to East Bladen Friday. EB is 12-0.

Radio time for the pregame show on am 1390 begins at 7.00pm. Please go to Four Oaks and support this improving Gryphon football team. If you decide to stay home we will have the kickoff at 7.30.

Wrestling Wins Opener

Tonight at the Rocky Mount gym the Gryphons opened the season with a 74-5 victory over the Vikings of Tarboro. Rocky mount was able to present a lineup for all fourteen matches and Tarboro could not in six matches so the final score shows six forfeits by the Vikings.

The very first match of the evening turned out to be the most exciting one as Alex Knight wrestling in the 130 pound weight limit took on Benex Velasco and with 15 seconds to go in the third period Knight trailed 8-6 but was able to go up with a reversal and addition point to win the match 9-8.

The next four matches were forfeits as Nick Westcott won at 135, Chandler Phillips at 140, Deshawn Taylor at 145 and Damien Smith at 152 were all able to get the referee to hold their hand in victory without getting on the mat.

The 160 pound match Antonio Rameriz of Rocky Mount used just a few seconds over one minute to pin Tarboro's Arron Honesty. Rocky Mount's J K Williamson won on a pin over Travorius Joyner in the 171 pound class.

The lone victory of the night for the Vikings occurred when Chris cannon in the 189pinned the gryphons Matthew Yenny.

Cequarrie Wynn won on a disqualification in the third period while wrestling at 215. Xavier Hart won on a pin at the heavyweight level over Mary Bridges.

Sidorian Petway won for Rocky Mount on a forfeit at 103 pounds and Mason Holt won at 112 on a forfeit.

The final two matches were pins by Adam Mcrae for Rocky mount at 119 pounds over Marquell pitt and John Earl pinned Willis Shifflett at 125.

Good start for the Gryphon wrestlers.


Bad News to pass on: The Gryphon basketball team will not go to the Glaxo tournament for the second year in a row after all. When the original Glaxo schedule came out and when the Gryphons were not invited they obligated themselves back to the Nash County Christmas. It is now too late to pull out of the Nash County Tournament so they will stay in Nash County instead of playing at Broughton high like last year.

Tomorrow will talk more football but I will give you this little teaser. South Johnston loves to spread the field and throw.

Winter Sports Beginning

The wrestling team will open it's 2009-10 season tomorrow night at 6.00pm in the auxiliary gym at 6.00pm. Tarboro will be the visitors. Since both teams are involved in the second round of the playoffs in football they will not be at a full roster, Yours truly will be in the house taping for the Stretchlon Sports Show.

Tarboro plays host to Roanoke Rapids in the second round of the 2-A playoffs. Old Friend Russell Weinstein is the head coach now in his second season as head Yellow Jacket. Russell will be coming back home of sorts playing Tarboro as he was on Jim Brett's staff back in the 80's and 90's.

This to me is a hard stat to believe. Last Friday night was the first ever playoff win for Roanoke Rapids.

Finally we can put the Terry Sanford issue to bed. The judge ruled today that the NCHSAA was right in making Terry Sanford forfeit nine games and then take away their playoff spot. A few minutes after the ruling the Executive committee of the NCHSAA voted to put Pine Forest back in that slot that they had given them last week.

The judge's ruling allowed Terry Sanford and Pine forest to play Saturday night and Sanford won 48-27. Now that Sanford is officially removed and Pine Forest in, Pine Forest could become the first team in North Carolina history to lose two playoff games in one year.

As you all know the NFL is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the AFL which started in 1960. Each of the old AFL teams are picking their all time teams and my man Philip Rivers made the all time San Diego Charger team. He joins Dan Fouts , John Hadl and stan Humphries on the all time team at quarterback. Rivers in his fourth year as the starting quarterback already owns seven Charger records and is second in all others.

Did you know the first year in the AFL they were the LA Chargers. they moved to san Diego in 1961. Who knows before it is all over they may be right back in LA.

I can't wait until the furor dies down over Bill Belichek going for it on four down from his own 28 yards line with two minutes to go and leading by six in the Sunday night game against Indy. You would think he dropped the atom bomb with the way everyone is reacting.

Just in case you didn't know, Hunt was beaten by Jacksonville Monday night in the fourth round of the State Soccer playoffs. The score was the same as the Gryphons's lost to Jacksonville 5-0. I think the Cardinals are pretty good.

Gryphons Returning To Glaxo

Mike Gainey and the Rocky Mount basketball team were very disappointed when they did not get an invitation to return back to the Glaxo Tournament at Christmas as they had last year.

Tashawn Mabry back for his senior season still uncommitted to college and the additions to this years Gryphon team there are whispers that the Gryphons could be very good this year. Today coach Mike Gainey announced that the Glaxo tournament has called and the Gryphons are in and as a reward will take on C J Leslie and Word of God for the second year in a row in the opening round. Word of God is minus John Wall who tonight playing in his first college game for Kentucky had 19 points including the game winner at the buzzer.

Big East Sweep: Tonight Southern Nash has traveled to Dunn and after trailing 7-6 at the half shutout Triton in the second half and beat Triton 20-7. This gives the Big East a sweep in the first round of the 3-AA playoffs.

This victory will insure the Big East will have a team play the Friday after Thanksgiving as they will be matched up against Hunt in the second round. Their conference game this year was won by Hunt 28-20. Rocky Mount Friday plays Triton's conference companion when they travel to meet South Johnston. While Southern Nash and Rocky Mount were members of the New-6 the conference had at least one member make it to the Thankgiving Friday game every year. On a couple of occasions two teams made it to Thanksgiving Friday.

Winning all three first rounds games tells me that the top of the conference is just as good as the past.

I surely do think that Rocky Mount has a real chance in their game this week.

Old News sorry I haven't said anything about this before now but Lindsey Thomas was named the player of the year in Big East tennis. Coach Barrry Nettercutt was also named co-coach of the year. Teammate Kate Gray was also named to the all conference tennis team. Addie Keeter and Caroline Nelson were second team and Margaret Arroyo was Honorable mentions.

Terry Sanford spent today in court trying to get eligible after the NCHSAA said they were out of the 4-A playoffs for an ineligible player. Come to find out that the judge in the case is a graduate of Fayetteville High School which was renamed for former Governor and U S Senator Terry Sanford.

Sounds of a conflict of interest to me

Details released in court today is related to a grade being changed and no one knows how it happened. A Sanford player mysteriously had a failing grade in English go from a 54 to a 78 over the summer. The NCHSAA also provided as part of their eligibility efforts that the player in question had missed 15 days during the spring when the NCHSAA requires that no player can miss more than 13.5 per semester.

Verdict should come at 10.00am Tuesday as to whether Terry Sanford is in or Pine Forest. I wonder if Pine Forest could actually sue the judge since there seems a conflict of interest.

This is actually my Tuesday blog. Making the Glaxo Tournament and Southern Nash winning was to much good info to wait til tomorrow.

Round Two Matchup

The number one seeded Trojans of South Johnston Versus the number eight seeded Gryphons of Rocky Mount.

One of the things that everyone forgets during the seeding process for high school football, is that the teams are seeded based on a priority system with each conference getting priority over the others on a rotating basis from year to year. This year it is South Johnston's conferences turn to be the top prioritized conference. That means their number one seed is the top seed in the tournament.

The Trojans are now 11-1 on the year while the Gryphons are 7-4.

South Johnston's offense is averaging 32.5 point per game. The Gryphons are at only 22 point sper game.

The Trojan defense has giving up only 10.5 points while the Gryphons are allowing 18.0 per game.

If you go by paper this is a mismatch in favor of the Trojans.

Let's dig into the paperwork and see what we might find.

The Trojans have only played through twelve games only two teams with winning records, while the Gryphons a little tougher with five. The Trojans have played C B Aycock who they beat 28-21 and Triton who the Trojans beat 21-14. Rocky Mount on the other have played Hertford County who drilled the Gryphons 41-21. SouthWest Edgecombe beat us 28-14. Hunt was a winner over the Gryphons 28-14. They pulled off wins over Southern Nash and South Central who are 8-3 and now 8-4.

The over all record of all the Trojan opponents is 42-93 while the Gryphons opposition has a winning record at 66-64.

South Johnston has scored 57 points against Southern Lee, 52 against Eastern Wayne, 84 against North Lenoir and 42 against Southern Wayne. That is a total of 235 point against four teams with a combined 5-39 record.

The Gryphons in their game against Hertford county gave up 41, 28 to Southwest Edgecombe and 28 to Hunt. That's 97 points against three teams with a combined record of 30-3.

Drew Pasteur's Fantastic 50 is only making South Johnston a one point favorite in this game.

If any team wins on any Friday night they first have to believe they can win. Even though South Johnston is a number one seed the Gryphons will load the buses up on Friday afternoon knowing they have a chance to win this game.

The winner will meet the Douglas Byrd who upset Westover on Friday nightor West Brunswick. Byrd is a number twelve seed who beat a number five seed. However the game was shifted from Westover to Byrd because of playing conditions at Westover. West Brunswick is the host of this game is the number four seed.

If Byrd wins and the Gryphons upset South Johnston the game would be played in Rocky Mount. If West Brunswick wins the SJ/RM winner travels to Shallotte.

Boy wouldn't it be something to play on Thanksgiving Friday. The Gryphons have a great chance in this one.

Directions to South Johnston High: Take I-95 south until exit 87. Turn right off exit. Go about half mile until stoplight at 301, turn left school is six miles on right.

Gryphons Will Travel To South Johnston

After being delayed a night the Gryphons found out who their second round opponent will be in the state 3-AA playoffs and it is the number one seeded Trojans of South Johnston.

It wasn't easy for South Johnston as they survive a 10-7 first round game against Eastern Guilford. They will host the Gryphons with a 11-1 record with their only lost of the year coming from 4-A Clayton 28-20.

The only two teams that they played that the Gryphons also played were Fike who lost to the Trojans 21-19 while the Gryphons beat the Golden Demons 21-14. Northern Nash was trounced by South Johnston 35-0 while the Gryphons took the whole game to eek out a 15-12 victory over the Knights.

The Fanstastic 50 had predicted a Gryphon's four point victory over South Central has placed the Trojans as a one point favorite in the second round against Rocky Mount.

Hunt took care of business Saturday night beating Burlington Williams 42-27. Southern Nash the third member of the Big East will not play until Monday after the Triton Field was still unplayable Saturday night.

Tarboro continues to roll as they whipped Croatan 42-7. However Southwest Edgecombe had a rather uneasy time with West Stanley only winning by a 16-6 Score.

Looks like it is back to court for Terry Sanford as they beat Pine Forst 48-27. Now the judge must look over the eligibility of the of the Bulldogs after the NCHSAA had ruled them ineligible for the playoffs after Terry Sanford had reported they used a ineligible player in all nine of their victories this year.

Just like the Currituck administration expected Currituck was shut out 47-0 by Cardinal Gibbons. Currituck played the opening round game against Cardinal Gibbons after earlier in the week forfeiting the game because of the lack of interest by the school administration sending the team all the way from Coinjock to Raleigh and getting clobbered.

They probably are passing by Rocky Mount right now heading back to Currituck County after getting clobbered.

No wonder the world is in such a mess with school administrators teaching their kids , if you don't think you can win just quit.

Life Is All About Timing

Does any body remember the finish of the 2002 football season. Rocky Mount blew a twenty seven point lead at Wakefield and after the game there was dissension among the assistant coaches with the way we blew the lead.

By the end of the school year the head coach moved on. I really don't think there were many tears with the change. One coach is hired, wait a minute then unhired. It's time for football practice and a week before up steps a hall of fame coach. I am not even sure there were many in Rocky Mount blue and gold even knew the name of B W Holt.

Right off the bat the coaches and players accept him. There is a boat load of talent that needed a captain. Five straight wins and if there was any doubt about whether the man could coach he had won every one over from the players, coaches and fans.

Spinning forward six years. End of the year, a change in the coach that nobody wanted to see. A new man is in town. He is faced with a group of players that were now fully vested in the Holt winning ways. That boat load of talent is half empty. Some coaches not happy with the coaching pick, jump ship.

A couple of early wins do nothing to prove to the fan base that Dickie Schock can coach this team,
Injuries mount. First quarter of the first game the best receiver is lost. By halftime of game two the best defender is out. Game five brings on a 2-3 record and twelve people side lined by injuries.

There is dissension in the player ranks . A coaching moved that may have changed the entire season occurred off of the field. The most disgruntled player is suspended from the team. He is not kicked off but give a list of demands that he must meet if he wants to ever continue to be a Gryphon football player.

The injured slowly get healthy and the disgruntled find that being a Gryphon is more important than causing trouble. The players now that they have seen Schock as their coach for a full three months are buying into his method. It's not that much different from Holt's

You can see their play on the field has improved for about five weeks now. Let's don't get any ideas that Raleigh on December 12th is a possibility just yet. I can tell you this. This team is giving every thing they have. This is not a team that will beat any body 42-7. But they have proven the last three weeks that they are not out of any game in the fourth quarter.

It is easy to sit in the stands and make judgments base on what you think you see on Friday nights. The players on the field no longer have those judgments as they see every day on the practice field what it takes to be successful. Being successful is not always being 12-0 every season.

Next Friday night in all likely hood the Gryphons will be traveling to Four Oaks to take on the number one seed in the east 3-AA bracket. If you look at last year we are playing the Oxford Webb role and South Johnston is playing the role we had.


Webb came to Rocky Mount thinking they could win. I think we have a shot next Friday night. We now have a team that believes in their coach.

Gryphons Advance

All indications were this was going to be an even game and that's what we got tonight at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex, Rocky Mount will advance to play another day as they beat South Central 24-20.

The day had been blustery all day but about 5.30 a heavy mist which turned into a downpour of rain. I walked on the field about 6.15 and other than the top of the grass that was wet from the rain you could not tell that the ground was wet and inch below the top of the grass so the field was in excellent shape for tonight's opening round 3-AA playoff.

Rocky Mount scored first as on their third drive of the night. South Central looking for Alston to get the ball on a pitch wide, the Gryphons ran a trap up the middle with Jordan Ford and Ford scored from 14 yards out. Tim Bishop's extra point and the Gryphons lead at the end of the quarter 7-0.

The only score of the second quarter belonged to the Falcons as their Fullback Robinson had a two yard run for their first touchdown. Aaron Barnes blocked the extra point and Rocky Mount lead at the half 7-6.

The Gryphon's found themselves faced with a third and long deep in their own territory in the third quarter but Collins Cuthrell found Jordan Ford for a first down. It seemed to give the Gryphons life and they managed to take it for a touchdown on a Marquavis Alston Touchdown. Bishop added the extra point and the Gryphons are sitting pretty at 14-6.

Everything seemed to be going the Gryphons way but a botched defensive assignment in the Gryphon secondary and the Falcons found themselves on the two yard line where they scored a touchdown plus made a two point conversion to tie the game at 14 heading to the fourth quarter.

The Gryphons had a nice drive to the Falcon red zone but on a fourth down Tim Bishop kicked a 24 yards field goal in which he hit the right upright but sliced the ball over the goal to give the Gryphons the lead that they would never give up.

The very next Falcon drive Marcus Jones intercepted a Falcon pass at the Gryphon 40 and returned it all the way to the South Central 24. Using ball control the Gryphons took seven plays to march 24 yards but ate over three and a half minutes off the clock.

The Falcons were determined to give coach Dickie Schock ulcers as South Central drove back down the field and scored with 1.09 to play to cut the lead to 24-20.

Three onside kicks later the Gryphons finally recovered the only on sidekick that the Falcons were not offside and ran out the clock for a 24-20 hard fought victory over the South Central.

The Gryphons advance to the second round of the playoffs for the sixth year in a row. They will await the winner of number one seed South Johnston out of Four Oaks who will play East Guilford Saturday night.

There were may be 500 people in attendance tonight. If you recall last years opening round game against Jacksonville there was less than a thousand there because everyone assumed that Rocky Mount would roll over the Cardinals and they did with the clock running the entire second half.

This was the only local game played tonight as everyone else will try to play Saturday night. I suspect you will find a few members of the coaching staff in Four Oaks on Saturday night.

Game Friday Is On

Unless the weather takes a turn away from what they are calling for now, there will be Gryphon football Friday night. The weatherman is calling for a day much like Thursday afternoon has been with clouds and wind and a sprinkle every now and then.

Once the playoffs start they hate to call a game off after the visiting has left for the game. South Central being only a hour a way, I think if the weather turned bad maybe as late as 5.00pm Friday the game could be postponed but don't count on them waiting that long. Another consideration in the playoffs is, the officiating crew. Where are they coming from? If it is say a Greensboro Crew they are also in the mix about what time they need to leave to be here.

The rule of thumb during the playoffs all expenses come out of the gate receipts. That would be officials, clock operator, and transportation for the visiting team. So if any have left to come to the game you don't want to send them back home once they arrive and come again tomorrow. that doubles the expenses.

Breaking News : A Judge in Cumberland County has made a temporary Injunction against the NCHSAA stating the Terry Sanford has been removed from the playoffs with giving them a reason. Since Pine forest who was suppose to play Terry Sanford has not prepared to play Sanford and Sanford has not been allowed to practice this week since there seasom seemed over due to the forfeit from an ineligible player. The game has been moved to Saturday in order to give both teams a day to prepare for the game.

I would bet the judge must have a son who plays for Terry Sanford

The boys basketball jamboree is Saturday morning at the Gryphon gyms. You can watch basketball from 9-until 4pm. Eight teams are line up to scrimmage each other, Rose, South Central, Rocky Mount Prep, North Lenoir,Hunt, Eastern Wayne, Beddingfield and Bertie.

First round of the Playoffs.

NEWS Flash: Wison Hunt and Southwest Edgecombe have both moved their Friday first round games to Saturday.

Friday the Gryphons host the Falcons of South Central. Earlier this week I gave you several stats concerning both teams and all indications are as a 8/9 seeded game this is a toss-up.
Drew Pasteur of the Fantastic 50 rates the Gryphons as a four point Favorite. Pasteur rates Rocky Mount as the 31st best 3-A team in the state while South central is rated 39th.

Southern Nash hits the road. The Firebirds are rated the 30th best 3-A team travel to Dunn and take on Triton. Both teams are 8-3 and the Fantastic 50 give the Firebirds the edge by one.

The champion of the Big East Hunt is home Friday night and will host Burlington Williams. Hunt is favored by 21 against the 5-5 Alamance County school.

If Pasteur is correct the Big East will go 3-0 in the opening round. I would like to remind everyone the Fantastic 50 last year had the Gryphons as State champs.

North Edgecombe returns to the playoffs for the first time since the departure of Raymond Cobb now some five years ago. North Edgecombe at 5-4 on the year is favored by 30 over Columbia who will visit Leggett.

If the computers know what they are talking about the Fantastic 50 says both Tarboro and SouthWest Edgecombe will win state titles in 2-A and 2-AA.

Tarboro opens the playoffs at home against Croatan. The Vikings are favored by 34 in their Quest to return to Chapel hill and the State Championship game.

Southwest Edgecombe is only a 39 point favorite over West Stanley. at 5-6 W Stanley has a Major obstacle in trying to beat the Cougars.

You need to be in the stands to support your favorite team tomorrow night. As always you can catch Gryphon football starting at 7.00pm on am1390. We will try to get all the scores from all over the area as the game goes along.

Girls basketbal Jamboree

Thursday afternoon both gyms at Rocky Mount high school will be filled with basketball players as six girls basketball teams will find out how they compare with other teams of the area.

Rocky Mount will host Northern Nash, Nash Central,Southwest Edgecombe, Rose and North Edgecombe. The action begins at 4.30 pm and each squad with have three games and should conclude around 9.30 Thursday night.

The boys will host a jamboree on Saturday.

I hope that the weatherman is right. All forecasts seem to be saying the low pressure system Ida will move off by Friday morning and the chance of rain is spotty for Friday. Sounds like a good night for a playoff football game featuring the Gryphons and the Falcons of South Central.

We have not played one game yet, but the playoffs sure are causing a lot of controversy. I have already reported the plight of Terry Sanford High School which has had to forfeit 9 games due to the use of an ineligible player. That leaves them with not enough wins to qualify for the playoffs so instead of being a conference number one seed they are out.

Pine Forest the team Terry Sanford was suppose to play has been granted a victory over Sanford and now will prepare for the second round.

The Terry Sanford Principal has been suspended pending further investigations to the possible grade changing at the end of the 2008 academic year in order to keep a player eligible.

As much as I love sports I can not see cheating to win being something that would be satisfying after each game.

If you thought that took the cake here is a new item. Currituck High school is 1-10 this football season and qualified for the playoffs. They were scheduled to play Raleigh's Cardinal Gibbons high school this Friday night. The school administration decided that 1-10 was not worthy of riding all the way from Coinjock(three hours) to Raleigh, lose and then come back home 1-11.

The administration notified the NCHSAA on Monday that they wanted to forfeit the first round game. When the coaching staff told the players they were forfeiting the team protested and along when Currituck was notified they would be fines $1000 for not playing they have now decided they will play in Raleigh Friday.

If there is any thing good that can come from this. There is a movement within the football committee, I have heard of talk that next year the state may go back to four rounds of playoff games and this would help eliminate the 1-10 teams of the world riding all day to get their brains beat out by a 11-0.

Boy wouldn't that improve the playoffs.

Soccer Drenched In Jacksonville

There were not 26-0 for nothing. The third round of the 3-A soccer playoffs will be a game that the Gryphon players will not soon forget.

Traveling 100 miles to Jacksonville the boys soccer team found that the rains of now low pressure system Ida just arriving as they arrived in town. The entire game was played in a steady rain but what the soccer team found out was the most unrelenting steady rain came from the Cardinals who found the net for five goals and shut out the Gryphons 5-0.

One of the most successful seasons ends at 20-4-2.

This fall has been a tremendous sports year for Rocky Mount Sports. Volley ball went undefeated in conference play and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Tennis tied for first and advanced to the third round. Soccer finished second and advanced to the third round. Both the boys and girls cross country team finished third and the girls advance to the state meet where they finished 16th.

Lindsey Thomas and Kate Gray finished 2nd in the state in doubles tennis. Addie Keeter and Caroline Nelson made it to the quarter finals in tennis doubles.

Terry Sanford high had to forfeit all their wins (9) this year for using an ineligible. They just Friday beat Jack Brett to win their conference. Jack Britt after the loss to Sanford was seeded number three in their conference. Terry Sanford was suppose to play cross town rival Pine Forest but Pine Forest has been awarded a victory for the first round and Jack Brett will stay as three seed.

The Principal at Terry Sanford was suspended last Wednesday after it was found that a players grades were changed to keep him eligible. If I can use my old noggin here and surmise, this sounds like a grade was changed at the end of school last year to keep the player eligible this year.

South Central versus Rocky Mount:

South Central is the # three seed from the Coastal Conference. Rocky Mount the # two seed from the Big East.

Playoff seedings The Gryphons are # eighth while the Falcons are the ninth seed.

South Central is 8-3 while Rocky Mount is 6-4.

South Central averaged 21 points per game, the Gryphons 21.5

South Central gave up 14.2 point per game while the Gryphons gave up 18.5.

Both teams played a team during the season that didn’t win a game. South Central played D H Conley who was 0-11. Rocky Mount played Northern Durham who was 0-11.

Rocky Mount played two teams that finished the year undefeated, Hertford County and SouthWest Edgecombe while The Falcons played Havelock who finished 10-1 and West Craven that finished 9-2.

The Falcons score over thirty points only twice. 48 against West Carteret and 62 against Conley. That is 45% of the points that they scored all year. Rocky Mount scored 30 against Northern Durham and 33 against Northampton East. That’s 30% of the points that the Gryphons scored all year.

The two games in which Rocky Mount played the undefeated teams Hertford County and Southwest Edgecombe they gave up 37% of the points scored on them all year.

Central played down against two 2-A schools. Greene Central and Farmville. Rocky Mount played Northampton East 1-A and SouthWest Edgecombe 2-A.

The Falcons and Gryphons both played Rose and Northern Nash. Both lost to Rose. Central lost 13-0 while the Gryphons lost 16-13. South Central beat Northern their third game of the year 13-7 while Rocky Mount took out Northern last Friday 15-12.

Looks like a low scoring evenly match game. The team that scores in the twenties will win. This is the way it should be when a eighth seed meets a ninth seed.

South Central is the team that knocked the 2008 baseball team out of the playoffs last year 4-1 at Rocky Mount.

Possible edge : Gryphons play at home. Final score is going to be something like 21-20.and that means it could go either way.

The winner will more than likely get South Johnston out of Four Oaks. They are the number one seeded team in the east and throw the ball all over the place.

What A Finish

The Rocky Mount Gryphon football team is seeded eighth in the upcoming playoffs that begin Friday. Unlike the past few years this year's Gryphon team is in the middle of the pack so to speak and will have to fight for every victory they can get.

These last two victories have been heart stopping finishes. Boy Isn't that the way all Northern-Rocky Mount games should end? Right to the end.

Friday night will not be easy. I compare this first round game to the 2003 matchup when we hosted Jack Brett. Brett won that year 24-17 and they also won the following week before being knocked out in round three.

Soccer will play Jacksonville in the third round at Jacksonville. They beat Eastern Wayne 3-0 Saturday. Jacksonville according to the Jacksonville paper is 26-0.

I watched the replay of the Northern-Rocky Mount game last night on WHIG. That last drive by Rocky Mount was awsome. I did not realize it while it was live but on the replay last night it looked as if Collins Cuthrell threw the ball backwards on the pass that was caught by Marquavis Alston and carried to the five yard line.

Four Northern players were tossed out of the game after the final touchdown. I have no idea who they were or don't even want to know. If they are juniors or sophomores they will have to sit out the first game of the season next year. If they are seniors and play basketball or any other sport they will have to sit out the next game they participate in.

Watched the Giants-Charger game yesterday. Jim Nance made the comment in the second quarter that Philip Rivers has score more points after fifty starts at quarterback than any other quarterback since Otto Graham in the 50's. The Chargers have averaged 28 points a game with Rivers under center.

Despite losing I like the way the Panthers are playing now. I really do think they have to make a change at quarterback next season.

Tomorrow I will break down South Central and take a look at the first round opponent

Playoff Brackets

Before we talk about seedings I think I need to explain how the seedings work to the Joe Friday fan. Each year the conferences are given a priority. The priority is different for every sport. Football the Big East may be ranked fourth on the priority list but first in soccer. That means when two teams with the same records meet in the playoffs the ties are broken on which conference has the top priority.

Rocky Mount has drawn the #eight seed and will have a home game against South Central. Rocky Mount is the is 6-4 while South Central is 8-3.

The only like opponents we have played are Rose and Northern Nash. South Central beat Northern in the fourth week of the season 13-7 while last Friday night we beat the Knights 15-12.

South Central lost at Rose 13-0 while Rose beat us 16-13. As you can see as a 8/9 seeding this is going to be a toss up game. The Fanstastic 50 has Rocky Mount rated as the 28th best team out of 96 in the 3-A ranks and South Central 31st.

Southern Nash is #11 seed visits Triton out of Dunn who is seeded sixth. SouthWest Edgecombe is the #two seed in 2-AA is facing West Stanley who is 5-5. Tarboro seeded sixth in the 2-A is seeded sixth and will host Croatan which has a record of 6-4. North Edgecombe is seeded #7 in 1-A is hosting Columbia in the opening round

Former Rocky Mount High School star Terrell Hudgins became the greatest receiver in college history today at Hudgins teamed up with team mate Scott Riddle on the opening play of the game and Riddle tossed Hudgins a 44 yard pass to break Jerry Rice's total yards receiving record in college history

Terrell finished with eight catches for 156 yards and with two regular season games to play is in reach of 5,000 yards for his career. He finish today with 4,815.

Soccer Advances: This afternoon the Rocky Mount high soccer team advanced to the third round of the state playoffs beat Washington 3-1.

Lee McAvoy score the Gryphons lone first half goal and at the half the number five seeded Washington Pam Pack was tied with the Gryphons.

Rocky Mount took the lead on a Justin Marsigili Shot that ricocheted to Tim Bishop and Bishop scored his third goal in the playoffs. Andrew Morales put the capper on the boards for the Gryphons to give them a two goal lead in the second half.

Unless another major upset occurs as the day goes on Rocky Mount will travel to Jacksonville Wednesday night and take on the Cardinals of Jacksonville who if they win today will be 25-0. This no doubt will be a major undertaking for the Gryphons.

The Aftermath

The last two weeks the Rocky Mount Gryphon football team has looked squarely into the eyes of defeat and grabbed victory.

Every game played you can look back and say, boy why did they run that or only if we had of done this.

Rocky Mount twice got inside the five yard line, once they fumbled and once the Knight's defense held.

Four minutes to play on a fourth down from the Rocky Mount twenty five yard line, it looked as if Northern was trying to get Rocky Mount to jump off sides like they had pulled off earlier in the game. Instead they try a quarterback sneak and Rocky Mount holds. Northern was six inches short of the first down. If they had of got the first down there the Gryphons may never get the ball back.

Maybe the play of the night happened in front of the Gryphon fans as Collins Cuthrell rolled out to pass only to be smothered by a Northern defender. From the press box it looked as if Collins was almost on the ground and flung the ball about five yards in front of him into the waiting arms of Marquavis Alston who motored for a Gryphon first down. The drive remained alive.

There is a least one more week of football in the first decade of the 21st century. Depending on how this team finishes the playoffs, it looks as if we will say this is the 8th best team this decade. This team might be down the list on best teams but they will be #1 in last second thrillers.

Collins Cuthrell touchdown with 2.3 seconds to play cut the heart right out of a gritty Northern Nash Football seeking to regain respect in the football community. Their defense gets my respect as they may have the best defense in the league.

Terrell Hudgins can capture the last of the major career stats in college football receiving today as Elon plays Western Carolina. Terrell needs 35 yards to become the all time leader in yards receiving. Earlier this year he broke college football's most catches and most 100 yard games in a career records.

Soccer is home this afternoon against Washington in the second round of the state playoffs. they will play on campus instead of the RMSC.

Bad News to report: Lauren Doughtie failed to qualify for the Futures tour shooting a 75 and 80 the last two rounds. She finished 32nd in a field of 276 players. If she does play this year on the Futures, she will have to qualify every Monday. All is not lost however, in three weeks she will return to Daytona Florida to go through another five day LPGA qualifying school. If she was to qualify for the LPGA tour, she would be in the big leagues of women's golf.

Later this evening when the brackets for football are released I'll let you know.

Another Miracle

Northern Nash at 2-8 was playing for second place in the brand new Big East. Rocky Mount was playing for a possible home game in the first round. Most of the game it seemed as Northern was going to do the impossible finish 3-8 and and finish second in the league.

Rocky Mount's victory over Southern Nash last week was the first late score victory of the decade. A week later Collins Cuthrell rolls out to the left on a fourth and 4 at the Northern's four yard line with seven seconds to play and when the clock stopped with 02.31 seconds Rocky Mount had essentially won on the last play 15-12.

I know all of you fans who jumped off the Rocky Mount band wagon and said Dickie Schock couldn't coach, I would like to remind you he has won two games in the past eight days when defeat was at hand. I have seen this team make adjustments the past two weeks that were good enough to win conference football games.

Northern took the opening kick off from the Rocky Mount forty seven yard line and pounded the Gryphons and took a 6-0 lead when Rashad Hedgepeth scoring from three yards out with 7.37 to play in the first quarter.

The Gryphon offense did better going backwards in the first quarter than forwards and with 8.31 to play in the half Northern found the end zone again when Tavis Richardson had a two yard run. Both two point plays the Gryphons stopped and for a while those two- two point conversion stops were the best plays that the Gryhons had . It was 12-0 Northern.

Finally with about four minutes to go in the half Rocky Mount finally found where the other side of the line of scrimmage was on drove for a touchdown with 1.15 to play in the half. Marquavis Alston added another touchdown to his all time list and Tim Bishop prove to kick the difference in the game when he made the score 12-7.

Rocky Mount who produced 200 yards of offense in the second half failed twice to score once on a fumble at the Northern Five yard line and once on a nine yard fourth down pass when the Gryphons need ten at the Northern five.

Rocky Mount stopped Northern and a fourth and one at about the twenty five yard line with four minutes to play and then unlike last week where one giant play won the game tonight Rocky Mount looked like a well oiled machine as they got 8, 5, 14 yards at a clipped until they reached the five yard line with 40 seconds to play. Three plays and basically nothing at the five brought On Cuthrell's heroics on a fourth down and only seven seconds to play. Being fourth down this was Rocky Mount's last play.

Cuthrell hit Diandre Harris with a two point conversion which gave the Gryphons the 15-12 win.

You have to hand it to Northern they did not play like a 2-9 team. Better days seem to be ahead for Northern next year as most of this years team is a junior squad.

Hunt claimed an undefeated conference slate beating Fike 49-0. Southern Nash got revenge from Nash Central for that non-conference defeat a bout a month ago winning 40-6.

I will blog with the pairings as soon as they are released around 6.00pm.

Now that Northern finished fourth in the league with only two wins there is a chance Northern may not make the playoffs and only three Big East teams get in. If Northern does get in they will probably be the number 16 seed and play the number one seed whoever that will be in 3-AA

I will also go the soccer match. Unfortunately I don't know what time the match is but I will have those results around six also.

I know that there are a lot of people that thought this Rocky Mount team this year was going to go undefeated but I said as far back at Christmas last year 8-2. I knew the blocking was not very good but I expected the blocking to start to come together around the fifth game of the season.. It took until about the eighth game before we began to block as a team. This team has shown improvement and with the way this team blocked the first six games a 6-4 record is very good. We were a bad blocking team after six games.

I would suspect we will be seeded about 7th or 8th in the 3-AA bracket which will get us a home game next week and then as long as we last we will be on the road. Support them next week better than you did tonight. My guess there was only 500 on the Gryphon side where on Northern's side, the stands were full pulling for a 2-9 team. That's loyalty!

Soccer, Home Saturday

The best that the soccer team could ask for they got. Washington the #5 seed from the Coastal conference beat Currituck 3-0 last night and that way eliminated a trip to CoinJock Saturday and a home soccer match instead.

The Gryphons will host Washington Saturday afternoon, probably at 3.00pm(the time has not been set yet) at the soccer field at the high school. If they manage a victory Saturday up next would be unbeaten Jacksonville who going into their match in the second round is 24-0.

How Important is Friday's Football game? A drawing was held this week between Northern,Southern and Rocky Mount in case their is a three way tie for second. If Northern beats the Gryphons and Southern beat Nash Central there will be a three way tie for second place. The conference needs to be able to tell the state by midnight Friday what the seeding from the conference are for the playoffs.

The drawing Northern Nash won so if a three way tie occurs they will get second. Southern will be third and the Gryphons will be fourth. The Gryphons can avoid the tie scenario by beating Northern and taking second out right.

Not only would Northern get second with a 3-8 record but it would insure them a playoff spot which is not guaranteed at 2-9. Second spot has a real good chance for a home game even though it is not guaranteed. It totally depends on how the second place teams are seeded amongst other number two seeds.

Sewing the seeds: Northern Nash has been down and out the past few years in football. However they are making strides. They are on a two game winning streak and this week if you have a child that goes to Northern you have received two messages from the Northern football team.

If anyone has a child within the Nash Rocky Mount school system you get telephone calls all the time when your child is absent or if something is going on at school like a PTO meeting. This week coach Mickey Crouch sent a telephone message to all homes within the Northern school district urging all fans to come out and support Northern Friday night against Rocky Mount. Those same Northern fans are receiving a call from linebacker Joe Young inviting fans to the game. This is a little thing, laying a foundation to return Northern to football prominence. This is only a start, but it is a good start to getting fan support back.

Finally the game: How long has it been that the Rocky Mount-Northern game has had so much riding on the last game of the season. The Gryphons can still win out right second place while Northern can insure themselves a playoff spot with a win. Which team will win their third in a row? I'll take the Gryphons 27-12. Southern will beat Nash Central 34-14. Hunt over Fike it just depends on how long Hunt plays the first team 40-6.

Air time on am 1390 is 7.00pm for the pregame show. Hope you are there but if not see you at 7.00pm Friday on the radio.

Soccer Survives Scare

They had to used a portable clock brought in from the Harrison Family YMCA. The PA system belonged to a music group. The Gryphons had played on the Rocky Mount Soccer complex field the same amount as C B Aycock and that was never. In the end none of that mattered only that the Gryphons found themselves in a struggle with Aycock who like the Gryphons had lost but three times all year. Tim Bishop scores two goals late in the game to lead Rocky Mount to a first round win over C B Aycock 2-1.

The first half saw both teams keep the other side in check and at the half the Gryphons had out shot the Golden Falcons only four shots to two. The second half started out the same but near the twenty five minute mark the Golden Falcons put the first kick of the night in net against Drew Gorham and took a 1-zip lead. Near the thirteen minute mark Matt Williams slipped a pass to Tim Bishop who found glory and tied the match at one all.

Williams found Tim Bishop again late in the match and Bishop put home the winning shot for the Gryphons. During the half I had commented to Will Williams Matt's Dad that Drew Nicks had substituted freely in the first half and Aycock did not take out one player. I have a feeling being a little fresher paid off for the Gryphons.

Rocky Mount will play the winner of Currituck and Washington. Currituck is the number one seed from the Northeast Coastal and sports a 13-1-2 record as they start the playoffs while Washington is the number five seed from the Coastal with ten wins and as many defeats and a single tie. As I write this tonight that score has not been posted on that game but if Currituck wins the Gryphons will have to trek to Coinjock Saturday for the second round. Should Washington pull off a major upset then the Gryphons would be home Saturday afternoon at the soccer field at the school.

Northern Nash lost last night to Jacksonville 5-0 and Fike also lost 5-1 to South Johnston. The Big East top seed Hunt had little trouble with West Carteret winning 5-0. The top two seeds in the Big East both live to play another day.

Somewhat surprising the JV's won their last game of the season beating Northern Nash 42-0. The clock ran continuously for most of the fourth quarter after Rocky Mount got the 40 point lead.

Cousin Lauren shot a 69 today to tie for the best round of the day and has moved into a tie for ninth in the Futures tour Qualifying tournament going on in Winter Haven Florida. She is now six shot out of the lead. 276 golfers started Monday. Ten failed to qualify for round three. Lauren's three rounds are 71-73-69. If she can hold right where she is for two more days she will requalify for the Futures golf Tour for her second year. The top eleven and ties qualify for the 2010 tour.

Now that there is no JV game Thursday night to go do the PA I guess I will stay home and watch game seven of the world series if there is one.

Soccer To Play At Sports Complex

The Rocky Mount boys soccer team will play for the first time ever at the new soccer complex across the street from the football stadium Wednesday night at 6.00pm. This is the first round of the playoffs and C B Aycock brings in a second place team from their conference.

This fall is the first time any one has used the soccer fields so if you have not been there yet, you drive into the parking area at the entrance of the complex. There is a service road which cuts between the little league fields and and the concession stands that leads you to a parking lot by the soccer fields.

The JV football game has been moved to Wednesday night against Northern Nash. It is the last home game of the season for the JV's. I will be doing PA for the JV game so we hope to be able to feed the soccer score while the JV's are playing.

There will not be a problem after all. The NCHSAA released the list of schools today and their attendence figures and it looks as if Rocky Mount will be in the 3AA this year. The last two years we have been border line but not this year. The half way point Rocky Mount is fourteen positions higher than halfway. It looks like every member of our conference will be 3-AA.

This week my cousin Lauren Doughtie is playing in a Futures tour qualifying tournament in Winter Haven Florida. It is a five round affair and after two rounds she stands 22nd in the field. She needs to make the top eleven to make it back on the Futures tour again next year.

She has qualified to try out for the LPGA qualifying tournament and that comes up in three weeks. So far she has shot 71-73 and is eight shots out of first. The tournament is played on four different courses and Friday if you are still around the remaining players will play one of the courses for the second time in the week.


Fike defeated the Lady Gryphon Tennis team today 5-1. This ends a solid season for the Lady Gryphon Tennis team.

ADM May Not Be Ready This Weekend

The average daily attendance scores which is the way football divides it's brackets in football may not be ready by Saturday in order for the NCHSAA get the football brackets out by Saturday when the football seeding are announced.

Boy will that bring on Chaos!

Girls tennis Fourth round is Tuesday at 4.00pm at Sunset Park. Fike and Rocky Mount with the winner playing for the eastern championship. Both teams split during the regular season, winning on the others court.

All I Can tell you right now is soccer plays Wednesday against C B Aycock the number two in their conference. So this is a tough match to start the playoffs with the the Gryphon Boys.

Called Dan Richwalski this morning to reserve space in the Northern Nash press box for Friday night's broadcast of the football game. Things have really changed for the better since Dan has been the AD for the Knights. There is no longer the atmosphere of us against the world that seemed to be in the air with the previous administration.

Dan has been a pleasure to work with any time I have been at Northern where it was for covering the Gryphons or for the Stretchlon Sports show. He acts as if he really wants you to be able to do your job. I say thank you to him for that.

Just three weeks ago we were not sure whether this game with Northern Friday night would have any value for either team. Rocky Mount and Northern both on two game winning streaks and Rocky Mount can still win second out right. Northern not only can get a playoff birth with a win, but can still tie for second place.

How bout Duke in the Gator Bowl? It could happen with the way the Blue Devils are playing.

ECU host Virginia Tech on Thursday night ESPN game this week. Everyone with Gryphon connections that can get to the game, this is as close to home as Stephan Virgil can possibly get back to near Rocky Mount.

Now there are only two NFL undefeated teams. Denver fell hard yesterday and only INDY and the Saints are left. What in the world was in the water that the Carolina Panthers were drinking. They need to bottle what ever it was when they came home yesterday from Phoenix

Tonight I will finish up with this: The football team had a come from behind victory over Southern Nash Friday night in which they scored in the last two minutes to win. In B W Holt's 71 victories can you tell me how many happened in the last two minutes? The Answer ZERO. There was the one against Western Alamance which we took the lead only to have them score as the game ended to win.

The only late victory by Holt in his tenure at Rocky Mount was the overtime game against New Bern in 2004. The Gryphons had the lead only to have the Bears tie the game and send it to overtime.

New Bern scored first to make it 35-28 and then there was that two point conversion to win by Rocky Mount.