Good Start For Gryphons

The first play of the season was a 40 yard run by Darius Richardson which lead to a seven play 79 yard drive for a touchdown and Rocky Mount starts the season like the state championship is just around the corner. Just under three minutes into the game Rocky Mount lead 7-0 after Darius Richardson ran it in from the one. Fernando Alfaro added the extra point. Then Bertie took to the field and they preceded to run 33 of the next 43 plays in the half.

The Gryphon defense played soft in the first half and Bertie ran 31 times and produced 156 yards, but when they had to come up with the big defensive play the Gryphons did stopping Bertie on a fourth and one at the Gryphon 4 yards line. That would be as close to the goal line the Bertie offense would get.

Waldo Harris who completed 1-3 passes in the first half connected on a pass to Miguel Valdez and he scooted 68 yards and the Gryphons had their second big play of the game. Gryphons lead 13-0 at the half.

A B Whitley had the defense huddled under the goal post on the north end of Roy Bond Stadium and Dickie Shock had the offense over on the other side during the half time and when the defense started the second half had fire in their eyes and force five fumbles including a 75 yard fumble return for a touchdown by Naz Green and Rocky Mount lead 19-0 in the third quarter.

Tevin Taylor saw action in the second half at quarterback and tossed a twelve yard touchdown to Damien Strickland and the Gryphons were rolling. The Gryphons lost their shutout with 47 seconds to go in the game when Bertie picked up the only turnover of the night by Rocky Mount and raced 70 yards for their only score.

Bertie had 32 yard more of offense than Rocky Mount but after having 174 total yards at the half the Gryphon held Bertie to only 60 yards in the second and 29 of those came on one play. Rocky Mount had only 28 rushing attempts for 120 yards while they added 82 passing yards.

Gryphons win 2010 opener 26- 7 over the Bertie Falcons.

Northern Nash after five years of no non-conference wins jumps on Beddingfield 21-0 and holds on to win 21-13.

Nash Central finds out Tarboro is still good despite losing 25 seniors as the Vikings shut out the Bulldogs 20-0

Southern Nash puts up 50 on Franklinton but only wins by 23 50-27.

Southwest Edgecombe without their starting QB still hits Northeastern with 40 points winning 40-14.

Gryphon soccer wins at Bunn 7-1

I'll be at Northern Nash all day tomorrow as the "Stretchlon Sports Show" is taping all four matches in the Nash County Volley Ball tournament.

Head Knocking Begins Tonight

All four public high schools begin play on the football field tonight and in order to see any of them you will have to hit the road in order to watch any of them.

Dickie Schock's second Gryphon football team begins their 2010 season playing on highway 13 in the middle of Bertie County the home of the Bertie Falcons. Mystery revolves around both teams as the gryphons replace nearly the entire back field while at Bertie Greg Watford moves into the captains chair guiding the Falcons.

Gryphons 18 -Falcons 13

Most Northern Nash Knight fans can't remember their last non-conference win way back in 2005 but there is hope tonight that Northern not only wins a game but that this is the start of a season when Knight fans can say"We are back". I think Northern gets err done.

Northern 26 - Beddingfield 14

Nash Central has a problem that maybe that younger players are the future but how much playing time do you give the younger guys over the returning veterans. Tonight's question is Tarboro's State championship last season. Is it the end of their run or the middle of a sweet decade.

Tarboro 26 -Nash Central 20

Southern Nash's run through last season playoffs continued to show Eastern North Carolina football that the New-6 and now the Big East is a football power. Will the Firebirds lead the way for the conference this year? They begin tonight at Franklinton.

Southern Nash 34 -Franklinton 14

Gryphon soccer and Lady Gryphon tennis have their second matches of the season today.

The Nash County Volley ball Tournament is Saturday at 10.00am at Northern. Lady Gryphons start the action at ten. Yesterday even though they lost 3-0 to South Central the Lady Gryphons served notice that this years squad is better than last year. South Central dominated them last season and I don't remember that Rocky Mount got ten points in any game against the Falcons. Yesterday's scores were 25-15, 25-11 and the final game was 25-23 and the final point of the game was as exciting of a point that I have ever seen in my brief volley ball watching career. The Lady Gryphons did well despite the dominance of South Central at the net.

We head into the first Friday night of high school football and former assistant coach Chris Lee who is now in his second year at Louisburg must face what no school should have to go through, the death of a player. Earlier this week a Louisburg football player drowned in a friends pool.

Our prayers are with Chris, his team and the family of the player as they tackle this event in life.