3-Way Muddle

We are down to the final Friday night of the high school football season. The Big East heads into tonight with a three way tie and the chance of being a three way tie on Saturday looms. We will start the look at tonight’s games at the best chance of the three way tie being broken.

Southern Nash at Nash Central: After last week’s stinker I have no faith in the Bulldogs. They do however still have a shot for 3rd place. If they beat Southern they would be tied with the Firebirds but beat them head to head in conference play. I have no idea how this new POD system is going to work in the playoffs but I have a feeling the #1 Big East will play #4 in the Big East in the first round. If this happens then my recommendation of eliminating one round will get stronger in football. Southern Nash beats Nash Central 26-14.

The revenge game Northern Nash at Rocky Mount: If no other reason the last play of last season for Northern should be plenty of motivation in this one. Northern has lost seven straight to Rocky Mount. If last year’s finish was not enough to get Northern fire up then the seven straight losses should. Northern has not beaten Rocky Mount at the RMAC since 2000. 2002 was played at Nash Central. A victory by Rocky Mount and they will probably get into the playoffs as a fill in the brackets team. Rocky Mount has score in the twenties only three times this season. I think the Knights defense is the best in the Big East. The other two tied for the lead Rocky Mount score seven against each. Why would we expect them to score more than seven against Northern? Northern 28 Rocky Mount 7

Hunt Plays Fike: Hunt is sitting pretty if it comes down to a tie with Northern Nash, they hold the tie breaker. If after tonight’s action there is still a three way tie then 1 and 2 will get homes games next week and 3 hits the road. A real stinker for the loser of the draw if it comes to that. You know Hunt is pulling for Nash Central to break any three way log jam and Northern Nash is pulling for Fike. Regardless of whom each is pulling for Hunt gets a lead early and sits on this one. Hunt 27 Fike 7.

Tarboro at Beddingfield: Since conference play started the Vikings have gotten better each week and are primed to head into the playoffs undefeated something they have not been heading into the state championship games of the past two seasons. Beddingfield needs this game for positioning in the brackets. Tarboro 39 Beddingfieldd 16

SouthWest Edgecombe and North edgecombe are off this week as they finished their seasons last week. The football brackets for the playoffs will be release sometime Saturday afternoon.

The Gryphons host at 2.00pm Saturday in the second round of the soccer 3-A playoffs against West Brunswick at RMHS. I think this will probably be the last game on campus this season. Eastern Standard Time comes back Sunday and if the Gryphons are alive still to host a third round game next Wednesday it will have to be at night at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex. You know the NCHSAA is not going to let RM host a game at 2.00pm on a school day.

If for no other reason if you want to see two of the best soccer players in North Carolina in action Rocky Mount has them in Andrew Morales and Matt Williams. Matt is a scoring machine while Andrew can do things with a soccer ball that you didn’t know could be done. If would be a shame if either or both have success at the next level or beyond and you never saw either play. Rest of the Gryphons aren’t too bad either considering they are 20-2-1 heading into the game Saturday.

Would like to congratulate Aaron Mcfarland of Southern Nash, he is the only player from the Big East to make the Shrine Bowl team.