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.
