Hunt Defense Shines

The Hunt Warriors defense stood tall  twice, once late in the third quarter and early in the fourth as they held Douglas Byrd without any points inside the Hunt 15 yard  and that preserved a third round 3-AA playoff victory for the  Warriors 20-14.

Dexter Wright got Hunt on the board on their opening drive of the game with a 6 yard run and Hunt D dominated the first quarter.   Byrd got on the score board at the 8:09 mark in the second quarter when Jose Sanchez intercepted a Jacob Williams pass and took the pick six to the house to tie the game at seven.

It took only one minute and seven seconds before Hunt retook  the lead when Malik Williams took a pitch around the left side and preceded to go 68 yards to give  Hunt the lead at the half.  Byrd took their only lead of the game. Midway in the third to lead 14-13 but the lead was short lived as Hunt on their first play after the lead change retook the lead at 20-14 when Williamson hit Darian Ballard for a 70 yard touchdown strike.

Byrd drove to the 15  line but Hunt held in four plays but a face mask penalty gave one more play  but the extra play did little good for Byrd.  A Hunt three and out and after a punt return Byrd started on the Hunt 25 yard line. Once again from the ten yard line Hunt stopped Byrd at the  15 yard line.  The Warriors started using  the clock and finally punted the ball to the Byrd six yard line.  Byrd threw a screen pass and the catcher turned and fogged a pass to a wide open receiver which Hunt ran down at the Hunt 10 yard line but the passer was over the line of scrimmage and the ball came back and Byrd never crossed the fifty after that.

Hunt will travel to  Southern Durham who tonight beat Orange 31-24.

The news is not so good in Tarboro as the Vikings suffer their worse loss since the 2008 State championship game. When they lost 51-28. Tonight Wallace Rose Hill shuts out the Vikings in the second half and roll  35-10 in Tarboro.   It is the first time since  2007 that Tarboro has not played a football game in December.

Thanksgiving Friday Tradition

It is almost like a family reunion but the Tarboro Vikings will hold their sixth annual Thanksgiving Friday Family reunion called the state football playoffs when they will be match up in a game they just might lose after going eight straight weeks of averaging 51 points while allowing just 7.

My concern for the Vikings is they are for the  last two months are not playoff tested tough as the foe tonight Wallace Rose Hill is.  They have not play a game since their lost to Southern Nash in which the starters needed to play the fourth quarter. Despite that The Vikings play another week 26-20 over WRH.

Hunt the lone  beast from the Big East tangles with Douglas Byrd who last week took care of Fike.  This game will go down to the wire and Hunt will play in another Eastern Final. Hunt 26 Byrd23.

Oh yeah, there is a minor football game being played in Chapel Hill as Duke tries to clinch a ACC Championship  appearance against Florida State.  This just might wind up being the best Carolina-Duke game in history.  Have both ever been involved when both could win a share of a title ?  Carolina wins. 35-28 .

State will go out winners as they beat The quitters 38-24

Miami travels to Pittsburg where their decline will continue Panthers win at home 36-26.


If Florida State is to have a shot at the National Champoinship they must beat Florida.  They will 44-21

Georgia Tech host Georgia.  All of the Bull dogs are hurt aren't they?  Dogs win 35-34.

Clemson travels to South Carolina and if the ACC is to be able to say they are worthy of the statement that they are catching up  with the SEC Clemson needs to win this game.  They do 31-21.

Wake travels to Vanderbilt and the SEC wins this one 28-16 .

Virginia Tech Travels to Virginia and can Virginia score enough to win this one knowing VT can make the title game if Duke loses.  Tech 24-13 .

Syracuse at Boston College wait on Bowl invitations with the Cuse winning this one 38 -28 .

Our Day Of Thanksgiving

Two weeks ago tonight several new members were added to the Twin County Hall of Fame.  Today  we give thanks to one of those members who even today more than 40 years after his departure from Rocky Mount we can watch him at his craft.  Friday night will be the last night of the high school football show WRAL's "Football Friday " for this year anchored by Rocky Mount native Tom Suiter.

Tom grew up just across the street from Rocky Mount High School but he never attended high school here but at 12 years old followed his father's footsteps  to Christ School in Arden.  Tom was multi talented on the sports fields of Christ School and even today some 46 years after his departure he still holds the single game scoring record of 48 points in basketball, that is right even after the famous Plumlee brothers played there Rocky Mount's Tom Suiter still holds the single game scoring record.

Off to Erskine College where Tom would become sports editor of his school newspapers by his senior year.  Tom's first paid job was the PA announcer for the old Rocky Mount  Leafs bringing down a salary of six dollars a game perched on the old press box at the old Municipal Stadium  while home for summer vacation in 1969.  Tom ran many a mile around the old dirt track behind Rocky Mount high school during summer vacations since the track was right across the street.

Tom realized as a junior at Christ Church that he wanted a job in sports. Never in his wildest dreams could he ever imagine that WRAL would become his home in 1971.  Spent many a weekend on the sports desk waiting for his time to become the sports anchor.  By the 1980's Tom help create one of the most watched sports show in the history of high school sports, "Football Friday".  Every NFL football players wants the spot light on "Monday Night Football" every high school football player in North Carolina that can receive the WRAL signal wants his 15 seconds on "Football Friday".

Many of us thought Tom retired from WRAL  in 2008  but we still see him with the "Extra Effort Award" and during the fall Football Friday..   Every Saturday Tom scans the high school football schedules of Wake County schools first then heads in all direction deciding on what games can be covered with 13 Photographers.   That's why you might see Rocky Mount- Nash Central game paired up with Hunt at Northern Nash.

So by 7pm Friday Tom has already written his lead in for every game like "Let's head to Rocky Mount where the Gryphons at 7-3 play at Northern Nash 4-6 but still has a shot at the playoffs".  Once each photographer finishes the first half of their first game they send Tom their highlights and Tom picks his plays normally four or five that make it to TV.  By the time he has finished the first batch the second games are in and here we go trying to get them all ready for 11:35.  If you take notice most of the highlights start with Wake County Schools and the schools further away are processed for the last part of the show.

Tom Suiter turns 66 next June and no one can predict the future.  I asked Tom if there was a chance retirement  when it comes might be in Rocky Mount?  "Raleigh is only an hour away.  Before I went off to Prep school Rocky Mount was a place of good friends,  nobody ever locked a door, people gave a hello greeting and came right on in. "

If you think about it Tom Suiter's style  as a sportscaster is just like when he grew up in Rocky Mount.  Every Friday night he tells us to come on in and everyone in the viewing area comes over to Tom's house to enjoy a Friday night of football.

Thank you Tom Suiter you have made Rocky Mount thankful that you call Rocky Mount home and whenever you decide it is time to unplug your mic we will always remember your favorite phrase "let' s go to the video tape"'.

Raining Inside And Out

Just maybe the rout of Rose last week lingered in the minds of the 2013/2014 Rocky Mount Gryphons but South Central brought in a talented group of guards who had no other choice but to shoot outside shots because the Gryphon  big men owned the inside.  The Falcons made nine three pointers on the night and each one seemed to keep Rocky Mount at bay until the about the two minute mark of the third quarter.  Isaiah Alston found his three form and rained down seven over the next six minutes scoring 29 on the night as the Gryphons survive South Central 76-74.

Rocky Mount dominated the backboards winning  that phase 40-22.  Immanuel King lead the way hauling down 18 boards and he added 17 points for good measure. Donte Battle added nine rebounds and 18 points.

Rocky Mount trailed 19-16 after the first quarter.  38-27 at the half and before they finally got their engines running trailed 42-27 early in the third quarter but cut the lead to 56-51 after three.  The Gryphons lead by three, three different times down the stretch but could never get out go the clutches of the Falcons.  Jermaine Wilis who had four threes finished with 21 points and Tyree Suggs had four threes himself also  tossing in 21

The Lady Gryphons won their first game of the year beating South Central 47-41.  The Lady Gryphons were coasting along having lead the entire game and were leading 34-29 after Carmen Richardson scored eight straight points but she tumbled to the floor clutching her knee with about 1:49 to play in the 3rd quarter.  From that point on the Lady Gryphons would make only one basket by freshman Michelle Gainey.  It wasn't because they were not shooting nothing was going in.  Rocky Mount made 11 free throws.  The good news Richardson returned to the game   to help solidify that Pam Gainey defense that put the clamps on the Falcons down the stretch

Carmen Richardson lead the Gryphons with 19 T T Thomas added 11. South Central won the rebounding  38-32 but the Lady Gryphons cut the total in half in the fourth quarter getting rebound and putting the ball by up but missed every one.  Tamara Harper yanked down 9 rebounds for Rocky Mount.  The Gryphons caused 24 turnovers while giving the ball away only  13 times.

Northern Nash girls stay undefeated beating Conly while the Northern boys lost by six.

N C State The NFL Quarterback Factory

The Wolfpack has three starting quarterbacks starting the NFL.  Mike Glennon  was rumored going to be the starting quarterback during summer camp butTampa decided to sit the rookie and made a mid season switch.  The first couple of games he looked the part of a rookie but now the last three weeks has played the part of a cagey veteran in leading  Tampa to three straight wins and during this win streak has five touchdowns and only one pick. His quarterback rating has been over 110 during the streak which puts his rating at 91for the year.

Russell Wilson  in his second NFL season just might be the best of all those quarterbacks from the so called super class in 2012.  Yes the run and gun quarterbacks were suppose to change the NFL but all of those running quarterbacks have found out the NFL has coaches that can look at film and come up with a plan to stop quarterbacks that can't be accurate throwing.  Russell Wilson doesn't fit that mold.
First of all he only runs out of desperation not part of the huddle call.  Most of all he is an accurate thrower in the pocket or while rolling out out.  His QB rating is 105 and the NFL standard these days is any QB over 100 is classified down right great.

Then there is Philip Rivers who went over 30,000 yards last week in his 10 year career.  There is no doubt if he played in New York where he was drafted he would be considered just may be top five quarterbacks of all time.  But he plays for San Diego who always some how pulls bonehead plays like intercepting a pass that beats Tom Brady in 2005 playoffs  while returning the ball fumble it and Brady is setup to runout the clock and watch the winning field goal.  Just maybe Archie Manning knew what he was talking about when he wouldn't let Eli play there.

Rivers has won 60 per cent of his games for a team that many times he has to score 41 to win.  His one chance when San Diego was the best team  he has surgery on his knee the  Monday before the AFC championship game  just  to hold his knee together.  Between being the toughest he is the one of the most accurate in the history of the NFL.  He is 4th in passing yardage this year but  there are 10 quarterbacks have attempted more passes than he has. Just this pass Sunday brought his team back three times in the fourth quarter to win in KC to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.  His QB rating on the season is 106 and his 95.7 is sixth best in NFL history

Ok Wolfpack fans this year has  been a stinker.  The football season ends Saturday for theWolfpack but we can all turn our attention to our three Wolfpackers quarterbacking  in the NFL  Just might have one in the Super Bowl.

Big East Football Review

Colin Cowherd during his midday radio show on ESPN plays this game called Colin is right Colin was wrong.  Let 's go back and look  at what I predicted in Big East football.

I predicted Southern Nash First :  We could play this game just about all the time.  If only this team didn't have injuries.  When you look at their over all record boy what could have been.  During the season 11 starters missed games  at some point during the season.  Finished fourth.

I predicted Northern Nash second :  I thought Northern was a sleeping giant that just needed someone to get the most out of a team that has fallen into that pit of never finishing off a game.  Randy Raper had this team showing promise and were a hard team every time out to beat but to many losses for second finished 5th.

I predicted Hunt would finish third:  During their non-conference games  that prediction looked good but by the time conference rolled around round Hunt was right back where they are always near the top and this case champs again. They are  only Big East playing on Thanksgiving Friday.

I predicted Rocky would finish fourth:  If you recall I said 2-3-and 4 could all flip flop positions.  when you look at their 3-2 conference record they beat each team behind them in standing and lost to the two that finished ahead of them.  Rocky Mount finished third.

I predicted Nash Central would finish  fifth:  They came as lose as anyone  to be on the nose. I had no idea they would be as bad as this season finished not winning any games at all some in a way they were no where being as I thought they would be? they finished sixth.

I predicted Fike would finish sixth.  As bad as I that I thought Nash Central would be I thought Fike would be worse.  Even though they didn't win the conference title they probably are the best team in the league but finishing second created a rough two road games in playoffs.

Looking at next year in the prediction bowl.  I doubt Fike or hunt will fall far from where they finished this year.  Northern Nash, Rocky Mount and Southern will all look to finish third and I don' t SE central being much better next year.

World Stopping (Duke/Carolina) Play A Meaningful Football Game

North Carolina won their fifth football game in a row after they were a dumpster fire when they lost to Miami on that Thursday night game.  Those five wins in a row have earned  the Tar Heels a Bowl game of some kind. From where they were then to where they are now is a great coaching job.  Sometimes changing players makes a world of difference and the QB change changed
the Heels year even if they didn't make a complete change until rthe injury.

Duke rides a seven game  winning streak and they haven't lost since that 58-55 game with Pitt.  Duke has won nine games for the first time since 1941.  Those nine wins earned Duke a home game in the Rose Bowl in 1942.  What nine or ten wins this year does for Duke is totally what happens next Saturday versus North Carolina who still  has a shot at a tie for first even though they can't win any tie breaker.

We have never I think in my lifetime seen a more important Duke-Carolina  football game than this one coming up.  This ought too be this Saturday night prime time game.

Ruffin McNeil has his Pirates primed for a ten win season after scoring 42 on the Wolfpack.  ECU scoring points is not the surprise for these Pirates but they have gotten to where they can actually stop somebody now.  It is the first time in their history that they have beaten State and Carolina in the same  year.  That is probably not as many years as people think.  I doubt they have played both in the same year all that many times.

It is very disappointing that the Pack has lost seven in a row and are on the verge of not winning a conference game for the first time since 1959.  In all of this poor play there is one good sign for this team.  They have played to the end in every game which tells me that the coach has his players
attention.  If they keep listening to the coach during a losing streak and the last couple of games mean absolutely nothing don't you think when better days arrive this team just might have a great coach for the future

Gainey Wins NCAE Award

Friday Mike Gainey two time State Champion basketball coach for Rocky Mount High who just  a couple of months ago won the Charlie Adams award from the NCHSAA won the North Carolina Teachers Association (NCAE) award  as the male high school coach of the year.  Gainey won the award during the State NCAE convention going on in Raleigh through Saturday.

Round two of the high school playoffs three Big East teams begin play and Hunt as the Big East champion has survived to play another day and the Warriors beat West Brunswick 43-14.  Hunt will play Douglas Byrd of Fayetteville who tonight jumped out to a 19-0 lead on Fike and held on to beat the second seed from the Big East 26-20.  This sets up a third round match up of Hunt traveling to Byrd Thanksgiving Friday.

Southern Nash traveled to Eastern Wayne in the 3-A playoffs and the fourth seeded Firebirds lose on the road 21-17.  I thought both Fike and Southern had their hands full as both lose.  Heading in to round three Hunt will be the only team left standing and at this point the Big East overall record is 4-3.

Tarboro as expected had little trouble beating Camden winning 33-7 the easy ride ends next Friday night as Wallace Rose Hill will be in town as they beat Tarboro's conference mate Riverside Martin by a 43-14 score.

The third team from Wilson County Beddingfield traveled to Elizabeth City to playNortheastern and the season is over for the Bruins as they lose 43-29.

The basketball game on the schedule for Rocky Mount was put off due to Hertford County still playing in the football playoffs.  HC lost to night  19-7 to Northside of Jacksonville.  Northern Nash played basketball winning both games against  Southern Wayne. Boys game was 65-58.

Pirates Invade The Wolfpack

Last week I missed the Carolina game, Duke and Virginia a Tech did manage four wins including the 69-66 NCW loss.  My guess rate for the year now stands at 56-25.  Let's see if we can improve this week

ECU at State:  Can State win at least one conference game this year is the big question because the Pirates will roll in this but somehow I think State makes it respectable.  Pirates 38 Pack 28

The  Heels are on a roll and what better time than to play a non conference game just before the Duke which this year will actually be a big game. Heels 42 ODU 23.

Who would have ever thought a football game between Wake and Duke would ever be important.  Wake just might give Duke all they want but Duke will prevail 26-19.

Virginia at Miami gives you two teams heading up hill at the wrong time of year.  This will probably be a ugly game to watch so just tell me the score later. The U 44 UVA 16

Idaho at FSU :  How in the world is this game on the schedule FSU 62 Idaho 13.

Another one of the can't wait to watch Alabama A&M at Georgia Tech.  The wishbone rolls Tech 44-A M 22.

The Citadel at Clemson:  Notice it seems this week is the ACC week to play the patsies.  Clemson 59 the Cadets 13.

BC At Maryland:  Once again I will not pick the quitters. BC  27 Maryland 23.

Pitt at Syracuse:  This must be a Big East conference game but Pitt takes this one.  35-23. It is the transition time of the year when other than Saturdays there is more college basketball to watch than college football.

Battle Leads Gryphon Rout

I know it is early but the 2013-14 Rocky Mount Gryphons basketball team is getting plenty of press around the state as the possible pre season favorite to win the 3-A basketball title in 2014.  Yet he Gryphons opened the season Tuesday night with a trip to Rose High and Rose will always give Gryphons fans  a look see as how good the Gryphons might be in any sport.

Senior power forward/center Donte Battle already a three year varsity starter and the MVP in the State Champion game in Chapel Hill in  2012 lead the Gryphons in scoring tossing in 24 points and by doing so went over the 1,000 point barrier  for his career as Rocky Mount crushes the Rampants 82-55.

Rocky Mount lead by 12 at the half and poured it on in the third and 29 at the end of three periods.   The first game for the Lady Gryphons without J'Kyra Brown the Lady Gryphons lose 46-41.

Round two  of the State playoffs  Start with Hunt Hosting West Brunswick.  At 4-7 WB  is in that 3-A/4A league so most of their seven losses have come to the bigger schools in their league.   Hunt advances 31-14.

Fike  11-1 travels to Douglas Byrd 10-2.  There is no doubt  in the opening two rounds Fike has played the toughest two games over anybody else in the state.  Went 6-2 last week and games like this is a flip of the coin  will not help the average.  If Fike can some how win this game Big East will be strutting their stuff.  Fike 31 Douglas Byrd 21. .

Southern Nash at Eastern Wayne:  EW 's only two losses of the season are to Rose and New Bern.  Since  I think  the Firebirds are just beginning to get it together this year EW is strong.  This might be the game of the night but EW advances 38-35

Beddingfield at Northeastern. Should be high scoring game but NE will win at home 34-26

Tarboro will get one more scrimmage before the real playoffs begin. Tarboro 46 Camden 6 .

The NFL's Average Team

If you have read any of my stuff from the past I talk about the Want a bees at times.  They are the average team that dreams of the day being the New England Patriots but something always seems to get in their way and most of the time it is their own feet.

That first team of average is the Dallas Cowboys.   They are the darlings of NFL TV networks.  About every three weeks they play so well that the media is picking them as the next Super Bowl champion but by the next week they have lost to the winless Tampa Bay Bucs.

The next great average team is the New York Jets.  The news media of New York thinks. That if you live across the East or Hudson River you don't know how to live and you know nothing about sports because all the great teams reside in Giant or Jets land.  The Jets can beat New England one week and get blown out in St Louis.

Then there is San Diego.  Yes they have a great excuse. The worse stadium in the NFL but they even though they have a top five NFL quarterback they always manage to give up a 95 yard drive to lose on the last play of the game or fail to get 30 inches in three plays.

Now this brings us up to the Carolina Panthers  who very seldom are good enough to be considered want a bees.  They ride a six game winning streak which includes the 49's and Patriots back to back. Yes it is time to call the Panthers the next great team of the NFL. If they are as great as the Cowboys are Jets then they are in line for the big flop this weekend against the Dolphins.

If the Panthers are as great as we wish the to be then this Sunday's game with Miami just may be the biggest game the Panthers have played since their Super Bowl game a decade a go.  If they are really the Chargers or Cowboys then they will find a way to lose.  Should they win then Sunday week is the next biggest game in this Panther decade.

Season Is Over Football Review

The three public high schools in Rocky Mount are putting away equipment and for the 2013 football year is over.  What is the future for our three high schools for the next high school season?

Nash Central:  The future can only be up for this team who was 0 for the season.  The first issue of business would seem to be what is the future of the coaching staff.  Unless their is a resignation nothing is going to happen there until the end of the school year.  Those that want change want it to happen now that they want someone in place to start second semester.  Teacher contracts are not like college and pros for every coach teaches a class and any new hire would have to be able to fill a job second semester but if the existing coaches are in the class room there are no jobs to fill.  The number one issue will be what is the Nash Central Administration feels.  Do they think this was just one o years there is no guarantee a change will come.

Northern Nash:  After finishing 4-7 the Knights  made great strides in 2013.  I am sure most folks in Red Oak wanted more and quite frankly it almost happened.  Randy Raper will have a full year under his belt at Northern in January so he begins is second season of attitude adjustments.  Boy, the Knights should look towards Duke in what a new coach can do when all the changes are made.  Randy Raper has too good a history to come to Northern and fail, so look for more wins in 2014.  There are a few areas that Northern  will need to get better in for next year and now that Raper has seen both the JV's and varsity players in action he now knows what players he can look for better play fron in 2014.

Rocky Mount:  Two straight years of eight regular season wins. And two straight first round exits.  Jason Battle's first year he put Rocky mount back on the winning ledger.  I don't know whether anyone thought eight was possible this year so this is a nice surprise to play so well.  When looking at the Gryphons victories Triton was their best one.  There is however disappointment in both lopsided losses to Fike and Hunt in conference. The two years both of the playoff games have been major disappointments last years lost to Jacksonville was unexpected while this one against Orange  not competitive enough.  Jason Battle has proven to be able to communicate with his players.  His next big step is installing more discipline.

Southern Nash is still alive in the playoffs and they seem to be getting better as more players return from injury.  They very we'll make it another week.

Upside Down World We Live In

What is this world coming to.  So far in 2013 Miami has won the ACC basketball championship and now Duke just might be the second best team in the ACC in football.  For all of those who like the world to stay the same this year has rocked the normal world we live.   When you add that Rocky Mount Academy  has now won a football title  this world has fallen off axis.

If there is one thing  that coaches have in common is when ever they arrive in a new place they want to change everything and put their brand on it because every win and loss while they are in charge of the ship falls under their watch.  It is their fault when they lose and most of the time they are there now because the one before them is no longer there because someone wasn't satisfied with the amount of wins.

That new coach always says we have to change the culture but what they are politely saying is the losing attitude has to stop.  It has been five years since David Cutcliffe came to Duke a place that had only won three games the three years before his arrival.  BW Holt's arrival at RMA the Eagles were winless the previous season  before his arrival.

What do both of these coaches have in common that they came to a place that only had football as a thing to do in the fall?  You can believe this that what ever they tell their players they back it up  and as time passes those promises begin to show results in games and player beliefs intensify that what the coach says is coming to pass.

After years of coaching these two coaches have former players return just to be a part  of the coaches wisdom.  If I was a Duke football player and walked into the locker room in the summer and there sat Peyton Manning first of all I would be impressed  and wonder why would he be at Duke but when you remember Coach Cut was his coach when Peyton was at Tennessee.

Over the years Holt's staff has been loaded down with former players still learning from the master teacher.  Each one of these players have returned to the man that helped mold them and many would like to be coaches in the future.

There is always a matter of luck in any sport.  Duke has faced in the last four weeks or so teams that had injuries that put them on the field against not a full strength.  RMA caught a break having Hobgood lose their first game and gave RMA a home game in the second round.  Opportunity knocks and for those there to take advantage of that opportunity rewards await.

Most of us get up every day and either go to work or school.  Every day opportunity awaits for those who are prepared. Doesn't seem funny that there are just some coaches that have there players ready for opportunity than other.  Coach Cut and Holt have been good shepards  to their flocks and always have them ready for the next opportunity.

Friday Night Tears

We all as fans want our team to do well in every game they play. People become so tunnel visioned that they become obsessed. Once the mountain top has been toppled you find that those you pull for the hardest wanted what you wanted just as much as you did. I have heard from many that say they saw B W Holt with tears in his eyes Friday night. Don't you think it has been a burden on his shoulders to think he has in his career been with one hand on the mountain top seven times but never get to the top to even pull himself onto the top. I wish I could have been there to enjoy B W and his Eagles in their moment of glory. Just think what a great decision Beth Covolo made just two years ago bringing Holt to RMA. I bet the crowd there Friday night pulling for the Eagles is bigger than all crowds put together at a RMA home games in the last six years. As a child I never understood why my daddy got so much joy from getting one pair of socks for Christmas. Those there Friday night to bask in the glory for B W Holt got a Chrismas present in watching his joy. 248 teams opened play Friday night in all eight NC High School playoffs. It was 124 games played Friday night. Many of you know I despise five games to win the state title. There are simply too many teams in the playoff who don't deserve to be there and when they get to where ever the game is being played to go home in a short order of business getting the living day lights beat out of them. Friday night there were 26 games where the winning team scored 50 or more. Of those seven scored at least 60. There was even a playoff game Friday night in which the winners put a 70 spot on the board. That works out to 18% of the games were laughers. If the playoffs were reduced to four games almost all of the first round games would have been more like Rocky Mount 8-3 at Orange 10-1. To me that is a playoff first round game not Rocky Mount Prep losing 62-0 after having won only two games. Here is another desturbing number twenty games the winners won by more than 40 points. Why do we have to keep enduring these pitiful games. I would love to see how many people were in attendance to these games when everyone knew before the game was played it shouldn't be played. We got rid of the POD system which was a great thing for those in 4-3-and 2-A playoff games. Let's reduce to four playoff games where everyone thinks his team has a shot in the opening round because they are good enough to be there not because we need a filler team. That doesn't do any good for the winning team and it makes a bad team have to endure another crushing loss.

Eight Is Enough

It took B W Holt eight tries to ever make it to a state championship game but when he got to his first he had his team ready to win it. RMA almost scored on the opening kickoff and stuck it home to take the lead. By halftime RMA lead and then Holt had to think I have been here before. Nursing a 36-30 lead and all his Eagles had to do was run out the clock you have to think that some where in the mind of this football coaching legend he had to think back just five years ago his Rocky Mount Gryphons team nursing a 19-14 lead against West Craven and driving for one more score and the dreaded fumble and a WC td late. Not tonight however as the RMA Eagles stick a state championship touchdown on the board in the last two minutes to beat the defending eight man football championship 42-30 over Southampton Academy. An estimated crowd of Twenty five hundred were in the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex to see HOLT and the Eagles win their first state title together. Rocky Mount Prep first ever playoff game will be one to remember a 62-0 loss to SE Halifax. Hunt the top seed from the Big East over came a slow start to win their opening playoff game beating Terry Sanford 35-14. Fike over came a 0-26 score and scored three touchdowns the last three minutes of the third quarter to beat Lee County 41-26. Southern Nash fell behind early but romped in the end 51-22 over Swansboro. Tarboro in a cakewalk advanced to the second round with a 52-0 win over Spring Creek. North Edgecombe loses 40-22 to East Columbus. Rocky Mount will be the only Big East team to lose as they fall at Orange 31-3. they knew they had a toughie but SouthWest Edgecombe failed to score in a 40-0 lost to the top seeded T W Andrews. The end of this week has turned the future of several local girls sports stars. Rocky Mount basketball player Carmen Richardson has signed to play basketball at Queens College in Charlotte with her former high school teammate Tia Hudgins. Richardson as a sophomore was the third leading scorer behind J Kyra Brown and Hudgins. As a junior she moved up to second behind Brown but this year she will be expected to take the lead on this year's Gryphon girls team. Over at Northern Alexis Hill has signed with Gardner-Webb where she will play basketball. Hill the last two years has been the main engine to a high powered Lady Knight basketball team having averaged over the last two years 12.9 points. Jessica Ricks a Lady Knight center fielder who just might be the best hitter in the history of Northern Nash hit over 550 last year and she has all next spring to hit some more before she heads to App State.

We Might Find Out About Duke

When you look at the seven wins that Duke has the Virginia Tech win is the the star on their cap. Saturady the Southern Nash of the ACC Miami rolls in to Durham and what do I mean by that is the injured Hurricanes who has had plenty of wind shear to calm the Hurricanes down as the season has grown into November. Last week I was 5-3 which runs me to 52-22 on the college perdiction business. Miami at Duke: You have to give it to the Devils as they have thrown 7 ints in the last two games and won both. This is the Blue devils last home game of the year and a win here elevates this season even higher with every added win. I think this is their last lost of the season until the Bowl game. Miami 31 Duke 26 Georgia Tech at Clemson: You know Clemson can still work it's way into a BCS Bowl game if they don't lose again this year and I suspect they won't lose this week. Clemson 46 Georgia tech 26. Didn't realize that this was Thursday night game. N C State at Boston College. Before the season started this was already in the win column for the Pack but the rotatation quarterbacks for State continue to see who can play worse than the other. Boston College 27-24 Syracuse at Florida State: This is last real good chance for anybody to derail the Noles. Will be interesting to see if the Cuse defense can slow them down or if all the negative pub this week hurts the Noles. I doubt it FSU 38 Syracuse 20 North Carolina at Pitt: This game will surely show us whether Carolina has improved or caught the slack part of their schedule at the right time. Pitt 31 Carolina 28 Maryland at Virginia Tech: Go Gobblers beat the quitters VT 31 Maryland 17 North Carolina Wesleyan at Methodest: The religious folks are good Meth 38 NCW 23 It seems as if the Big East is the second best soccer conference in the east behind the Coastal with Jacksonville. After Hunt had beaten the other Coastal team White Oak looked as if somebody from the Big East just might beat Jacksonville in the eastern Finals. No way Jax 6- Hunt 1.

First Round Picks

Sure does help to be a high seed in any playoff because that gets you matched up in the early rounds with teams that are about halfway shocked that they made the playoffs. Last week I was 6-1 missing only the Fike loss so for the regular season finished 76-13 on the year. As they say "playoffs start a new year" so let's see where these playoffs are going. East Columbus 4-7 @ North Edgecombe 5-5: This is one of those games where neither team has played the same team during the year so how do you pick such a game. EC has allowed 408 points during the season so do I think the Warriors can score in this one? I sure do North Edgecombe 28 East Columbus 14 Moving up to 1AA Spring Creek at Tarboro: This is one of those games in which the playoffs need to be cut back to four games instead of five. More bad can happen for Tarboro than good. Nothing could be worse than getting an important player hurt in a 45-0 playoff game and can't play rest of the playoffs. I'll take the Vikings with ease. SouthWest Edgecombe: What a reward for being in the playoffs. You get the best team in the tournament first game. SWE 5-6 travels to T W Andrew 10-1 who's only loss all year was the first game of the season to a much larger school. The Cougar defense had better be ready as Andrews has scored at least 35 in ten of eleven games. Andrews 42 SWE 22 Southern Nash 8-3 @ Swansboro 8-3: Oh boy Swansboro is in the league with West Craven, Jacksonville and the likes. I keep hearing rumors that the Firebirds are beginning to get some folks back and if that is true they could be a sleeper in the 3-A race because we all know that the Firebirds were my pick to win the Big East until all those injuries. I like the Birds in a slugfest 36-32 over Swansboro. Fike 10-1 at Lee County 9-2: If the Big East is as good as they think they are then Fike should go handle this one in a close game. This truly is a game of which conference is better because these are two #2's colliding. Fike 31 Lee County 28 Terry Sanford 4-7 at Hunt 8-3: If Hunt has their game face on this is a no brainer. But after beating Fike they could be flat and this game could be closer than needed. Hunt 35 Terry Sanford 21. Rocky Mount 8-3 at Orange 10-1: If Rocky Mount has penalties like they had last week kiss this one good bye. Here we are again looking at the strength of the conferences of these two teams. I don't get any feeling from the Gryphon fan base that they have a chance hitting the road in the opening round. They are could be right Orange 26 Rocky Mount 17 Southampton Academy at Rocky Mount Academy at Rocky Mount Sports Complex. State private school state championship on the line in eight man football. Southampton handled the Eagle at Southampton already this year. Now this one is in Rocky Mount where I hope a big crowd is following the Eagles. Holt and company earn respect but not a title Southampton 34 RMA 28.

The Old Ball Coach Just Might Finally Get One

2009 B W Holt retired as the head coach at Rocky Mount High School.  His last day as the head football coach he walked away with 321 victories in his back pocket.  Funny thing but Holt's coaching career and my radio career crossed paths in 1974 when he was the coach in Franklinton an  I worked at WPTM radio in Roanoke Rapids as we covered Weldon and on that night Holt did not collect one of those 321 wins.

While covering the Gryphons on the radio here in Rocky Mount Holt gave me the opportunity to watch film with him and you learn a lot about a coach when you see him stop the film and start diagraming plays that would work against the defense being shown on the film.  Not only could you see this man is a real coach but his teams he put on the field would convince anybody he could coach.

His ability to coach and win games  makes people appreciate his coaching ability.  Somewhere Holt has that ability that those players who play for him or people who he touches on a daily basis some how some way become devoted to him.  Yes he has a crust on the outside and for those who don't know him feel he is brash.  Yet those who are able to get under that crust find Holt devoted to those around him.  His devotion to them is handed back to him ten fold.

I don't know whether Starmount is in the state playoffs this year or not.  If they are out of the playoffs I will bet you there will be a delegation from Starmount here Friday night.  Those people still love him today for what he did for their program for 19 years. You know the Gryphons are on the road Friday night as they travel to Orange County.  The Gryphons are under dogs in the opening playoff game and I know die hard Gryphons will be in Hillsbourgh.  I believe since this game between RMA and Southampton Academy is being played at the sports complex instead of at the Academy there will be many Gryphon fans who are not going to Hillsbourgh but they will be at the Complex pulling for B W.

As for me I have to be in a Buies Creek for the final home game for Campbell volleyball Friday night.  Would love a rainout Friday so I could be there Saturday at the Sports Complex to see Holt try to win that elusive  state title. The man deserves a title.  I don't care whether it's eight man or Eighth grade a state title is a state title and 69 year old B W a Holt deserves one.

Having  already lost to Southampton by 32 points points earlier this year the Eagles will be big time under dogs in this game. Once again over whelming odds will be against him winning a title. Yet, once again B W Holt has a team playing late in the football season. Any man who can coach like he can needs at least one title. Go get him one Eagles!

Are The Panthers For Real?

Just a month and a half ago all of us Carolina Panther fans had relegated ourselves to another season lost.  In five short weeks the Panthers have won five games in a row and most of those five have been the butt kicking kind like 38-0 over the Giants.  Here is the good news about this win streak.  It has been lead by the defense.  With the exception of the Broncos just about every division leader has a good defense first.

Cam Newton has shown improvement but this winning streak is not totally  Cam.  Yes, the offense has a running game which helps Newton.  There is however a major change in the Panther approach with Newton.  They have cut down on the length  of Newton's passes.  They have gone to the ten yards down field instead of show us how far you can throw it and those passes were incomplete.

Earlier in the lost to Buffalo where the Bills drove 90 yards in less than two minutes the Panthers were a simple play zone and hope they don't throw one over our heads.  That is called a prevent defense and all that prevents is you winning the game.

Somewhere along the way the Panthers changed the direction the offense was going and the way the defense attacked the other teams offense.  More pressure instead of laying back and when you look what both sides of the ball have done in improving this team looks like a real contender.

If the playoffs started your Carolina Panthers would be the number five seed and travel to Dallas. As you know every week who's in and who's out changes.  There is one thing that should give all Panther fans hope as with seven weeks to go the Panthers are a healthy team.

The hope of every NFL team is win enough games to make the playoffs and if we get hot we just might win the Super Bowl.  Most of the time the hot team is the healthiest team left in the playoffs. Let's all hope the Panthers stay healthy.  If they do they might just surprise us all and make the playoffs.

New Format Does No Favors For Big East

We all wanted to get rid of the POD and that wish was granted.  The results will not favor the Big East. I would like to say that there is no perfect way when there are more teams in any playoff and there are several not deserving to be in it.  I do however favor this method being used where all the conference champions are seeded by record And then the second place and so forth.

Hunt is the only conference member that will be favored in their first round game and as conference champs draw the only home game.  They will host Terry Sanford from  Fayetteville who brings in a 4-7 record.  Sanford is one of those traditional 4-A schools similar to Rocky Mount that has dropped to 3-A with all the new schools built in Fayetteville reducing their size.

If there is one team that can say who did we make mad is Fike.  Ten and one one this season  and they don't even get to play home the first game as they travel to Lee County who will host with a nine and two record.

Rocky Mount will travel to Hillsbourgh to take on Orange who stands at ten and one while the Gryphons will come in eight and three.  You have to give it to Jason Batle as his first two years as Gryphon coach has produced 16 victories.  Number 17 will be hard to come by.

Southern Nash travels to Swansboro who is another one of those coastal schools growing due to the rush of people to live at the beach.  Topsoil is another of those schools that recently were either 1-A. Or 2-A that has moved up while most in this area are dropping.  There is one thing this year the Big East can do is prove as they have in the past that they are the best football conference in the east and win. two or more games next weekend.

Hunt has made it all the way to the Eastern Finals in Soccer. As they beat White Oak 2-1 to advance to meet Jacksonville later this week for the right to go the the State Finals

The college basketball season ifs off and running and the Louisville Cardinals are off to a good start as North Edgecombe basketball player Montrezl Harrell played  33 minutes for the Cardinals and scored ten points and had ten rebounds.  Montrezl as a sophomore was named one of the tri-captains of the team with two other senior players.

New Playoff Format

They got rid of the POD system so as we look at this brackets for the State High School playoffs there is not a team in site that any of our local teams have ever play in the early rounds of the playoffs. Rocky Mount as the Big East #3 seed is heading to Hillsbourgh to play the #3 overseed eastern team in Orange High. Orange had been unbeaten until last night when they lost for the first time. They come in at 10-1 while the Gryphons are 8-3 The Big East #1 seed is the only team that will get a home game as the #4 over all seed Warriors will host 4-7 Terry Sanford. So some 4-7 teams have made the playoff so is there hope for Northern Nash. The answer is no. The Knights football season is over. Fike lost for the first time last night an as a reward for their good season they get to travel to Lee County who is 8th seed while Fike is 9th seeded. Fike is 10-1 and Lee county is 9-2. All three top three seeds from the Big east are in the 3-AA bracket. Southern nash who makes the playoffs as a best of the rest category and is seeded 11th in the 3-A travels to Swansboro who like Southern is 8-3 but seeded 6th overall. How did everyone else is the area fare. Tarboro will be the #1 overall seed in the 1AA and will host 3-8 Spring Creek. North Edgecombe 5-5 is in playing 1-A and they get a home game against East Columbus 4-7. SouthWest Edgecombe is in by the skin of their teeth as they are the last team in, in the 2-AA. They draw the top team in 2-A T W Andrews 9-1. Beddingfield is in they get a home game against Graham 5-6. Rocky Mount Academy plays for their first State Championship in 8 man private school football as they will be playing Southhampton Academy from Courtland Virginia. They met about three weeks ago in Courtland and RMA lost 38-6. This time the championship game will be played in Rocky Mount but at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex. Who knows this could be and opportunity for the Sports Complex to shine if they get a big turn out for this game. This could lead to just maybe the 1-A and 1-AA Eastern Finals being played in Rocky Mount every year. Rocky Mount Prep earns their first playoff football game if you call a 2-9 record earning a playoff spot. They will travel to SE Halifax who is 7-4.

Big East Champs Hunt

The greatest game in the history of the Big East 3-A football has been won by

Hunt 41-34 in double overtime as they beat their arch rival Fike in double overtime.  It started as If Hunt is in for a laugher leading  21 nothing when Fike found a will and scored late and made a two point conversion to tie 28-28 to send it to over time. Hunt wins the top seed while Fike will represent the Big East as the number two seed.

In Death Valley Rocky Mount found the only way to move the ball was through the air and was able to secure the third seed beating Northern Nash 28-7.  There was nothing pretty about this  one as Rocky Mount had three ints  and Northern returned the favor giving Rocky Mount three fumbles.

Rocky Mount jumped to a 14-0 lead but Northern cut it to 14-7 at the half.  Northern had several third quarter chances as the ball stayed on the Rocky Side of the field in the third but their chances ran out and Rocky Mount added to second half scores.  The playoff brackets will be announced around  6pm Saturday night.

RMA is headed to the state championship of eight man football as they speak by St David's 48-46 at RMA.  The state championship game will be played at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex next weekend.

Beddingfield beat SouthWest Edgecombe 31-20.  Tarboro as expected beat  North Edgecombe 47-0 to clinch  first place in the Twin Rivers.  Nash Central shocked Southern Nash  by putting 21 on the board and lead Southern 21-7 but lost second half 35-0 and the game 42-21.  Nash Central finishes the season 0-11

Former Rocky Mount Gryphon J'kyra Brown came off  the ECU bench today as the Pirate women opened up the college basketball game with a win. Brown in 19 minutes scored. 20 points to begin her college career..

Rocky  Mount Senior baseball player Will Edwards has committed to play baseball in  2015 for Chowan University.  Edwards spent most of his juNior  year with a broken foot and without Edward's bat or pitching arm Rocky Mount didn't have the year they could of had with  Will in the lineup all year.

Duke's Shot At the Big Time

Who in the world would have thunk it. Duke football is 6-2, if you remember they were 6-2 last year and after they became Bowl eligible they preceeded to lose five games in a row mainly due to the fact their schedule last year had all the heavy weights at the end of their schedule. This year their heavy weight schedule was in the beginning and they are 6-2 with State, Miami, Wake and Carolina left. They could be 10-2 or 9-3 and we all know Duke football has never been that good in your lifetime. Can they win ten during the regular season starts with Duke as a nine point favorite over State. State At Duke: I truly don't believe at 6-2 that Duke is a heavy weight but I also don't think State is playing right now to be considered a light weight. Who wins? I can't pick State until they show me they have this quarterback situation cleared up. Duke 27 State 24 FSU at Wake: This could be a trap game for the Indians because Wake is sneaky good at home. However, I think The Noles have too much to lose if they lose. Thanks to Stanford all the Noles need now is wins and they play in the BCS title game. FSU 38 Wake 13 Virginia Tech at Miami: Tech has shown you the last couple of weeks the Duke win in Blacksburg wasn't all that hot of a deal. Miami has sweaked by a few and got plastered in the second half against FSU. Miami wins only because Tech defense keeps them in game. Miami 27 Tech 13. Tulsa at ECU: The Pirates should win but State next week the Pirates may not be as good as they should. ECU 38 Tulsa 21 Notre Dame at Pitt: This is a ACC game isn't it? ND in a sweaker 24-21 Virginia at North Carolina: UVA is the best team in the ACC finding a way to lose games. If Carolina wants to win out and go to a bowl they can't afford a slip up. I think in the 4th quarter the Heels are nervous but pull it out 27-23 BC at New Mexico state: Must be a mistake playing this far from home this late in the season. NMS 35 BC 27 Syracuse at Maryland: I can't say I like either team but I sure hate the quitters Maryland I'll take the Cuse 24 Maryland 21. Tonight I will join Edward Green in the TV both as WHIG-TV will have two sets of cameras going tonight. Wes Bradshaw will be in Wilson Doing the championship game Hunt at Fike while we will cover Rocky Mount at Northern Nash See ya 2night!.

Last Chance for Some

Playoff or no playoffs that is the question. Several area schools would like to position themselves better than where they stand now to just maybe get a better matchup in the opening round. I Stand at 70-12 as we head to the last week. The average daily attendance figures are out and it is hard to judge where everyone will fall but after the Nash County realignment surely looks as if Rocky Mount is heading to the 3-AA playoffs this year. Here are the ADM's per Big East School. Hunt 1379-Rocky Mount 1333- Fike 1279- Southern Nash 1177- Nash Central 1072- Northern Nash 1069. If you divide the 3-A right down the middle Hunt, Rocky Mount and Fike will be in the AA level while Southern and Northern will go as 3-a level. Do remember one thing when deciding AA or A. It is divided by the teams eligible for the playoffs. Southern is in hold their breath mode as they could still go 3-AA. Since the redistricting in Nash County Rocky Mount this year has added about 150 while Southern has lost about 100, Nash Central about lost 75 and Northern Nash has lost about 150. Why the drop off? People continue to move away from the high unemployment areas and Nash county is still on that list. More students are choosing RM Prep and even the private schools in the area are getting more local students. Here's the games this week. Hunt at Fike. Fike has convinced me they are the best team in the Big East. They have the best offense and just maybe the best defense. Don't know whether Hunt can score enough to win this game. Fike 21 Hunt 13 Rocky Mount at Northern. I think Rocky Mount can score on Northern's defense more than I think Northern can score on Rocky Mount's defense. Still this is RM/NN. Rocky Mount 20 Northern 14. Nash Central at Southern Nash: This is a game where one team wants to get this season over while one can't afford another injury. There is no doubt Southern will win but this comes down to how many able body players Southern puts on the field Southern 26 Nash Central 7. Beddingfield at SouthWest Edgecombe: The Cougars need this one more than Beddingfield who could tie for first should Washington lose. I think Beddingfield is better. Beddingfield 26 SWE 20 St Davids at Rocky Mount Academy: It is all set up for RMA to make it to the State Championship game and never leave Rocky Mount. They beat ST David by 45 last time. About the same this time too. RMA 45-0 In the category of do we have to play these games. RM Prep at Northampton and North Edgecombe at Tarboro. Prep can't count themselves out of the playoffs yet but this game means more to Northampton 45-16 Prep loses. Jeff Craddock could start the JV's in this one and it would be a game. The JV's won't play until this one is in hand. 56-14 Tarboro.

The NFL Locker Room

I find it very hard to believe that one player in an NFL locker room could harass another player without the approval of every other player that lives within that room. Yes I believe that rookies are made to do things that the priviledge of being the elder statesman is dumped on the new kids on the block. If any team is going to succeed every member of the team has to pull his own weight. When the so called weak link in the chain isn't doing his part then the stronger links take action in order to strengthen the chain. Jonathan Martin the claimant in this case has had emotional issues in the past. I have not heard one Miami Dolphin come to the defense of Jonathan Martin the player claiming hasassment. I have heard several player defend the player suspended for harassment Richie Incognito. That tells me right there that the entire team approved of the action in order to try to make Martin a more emotional stable football player. Make him mad if need be and maybe he will become a better football player not the softy as is precieved by his team mates. You know that the NFL is a league of contradictions. ESPN shows highlights of players hitting others helmet to helmet. I know that is not a coach in America teaches tackling leading with the helmet. That is a broken neck waiting to happen for the tackler. Yet the players still tackle that way trying to jar the ball loose and then turn around and complain that they didn't know concussions were bad for your health. The NFL is a league that if you win everyone loves you and when you lose everyone thinks you are a bum. This locker room thing in Miami goes on in every locker room in the NFL. Our society is becoming a make an excuse for everyone. We can't keep score in little league because it might hurt a childs feeling that lost the game. The locker room of an NFL team only wants to win and anytime a weak link prevents that from happening that weak link will get cut. I doubt Martin will ever be wanted by any other NFL team because he can't pull his own weight. Martin is not even a rookie but a second year player so he should have at least gotten off the rookie do list. It would not surprise me that the Dolphin management approved Incognito to be the tough guy trying to toughen up Martin. Every team in the NFL only sees what good you can do for them. Someone thinks Martin could be great at some point in time or they would have cut him long ago. If you can't cut it you get cut that is plain and simple in the NFL. It is also the way of the world. If you are not cutting it in your job every company finds some way or other to get rid of you. The only problem for Joe Blow eight dollar an hour guy is nobody cares what happens to you. They can find another eight dollar an hour guy to take you place. The Dolphins have at least a half million in Martin and they would like to save their investment. I doubt Martin ever plays again for the Dolphins because his teammates will not have him as a teammate now. He has violated the code of the locker room. There is nobody that plays football could ever trust Martin as a teammate. Our world is just like an NFL locker room. If you are a working stiff working for someone else the only value you are is what you can help your company make. If you are not helping the profit line you are gone. In the NFL if you are not helping win games and because of you one of our best players is gone on suspension then you are not helping us and we will see if he ever plays for the Dolphins or any team ever again.

The Rivalry Rages

Those that were there Saturday or watched on TV N C State had a picture of the state of North Carolina painted at midfield and inscribed was This is our state which is the theme they are using this year in all sports. Yes in the Dean Dome Carolina has a picture of North Carolina outlined on the floor with a tar spot on the heel. Even ECU has an outline with their Pirate logo inscribed. Many of the players from Carolina went after the game and stomped on the logo. Yes Wolfpack fans are out raged at the audacity that Carolina would do that. To me this is what it is all about with sports. The best way to stop them from going anywhere near your logo is win the game. Not only do you have to listen to the guys next door or in the office rag you for the next year but they insulted us by jumping up and down on our logo. Isn't life wonderful. We are more worried about our logo than Obamacare's cost. This past Saturday my daughter amy got married and I did my blog Saturday from another computer and when I got home I discovered about half of my blog did not post which was several of the college picks on Saturday. Of the ones that did show up I was only 2-3 for the weekend which runs my college picks to 48-19. My only miss on the high school picks was the RM/SN game and I got seven right running my high school record to 70-12 on the season. I do believe that high school picks as long as you are doing the teams in you local area you should be able to get 90% right on the year. Colleges about 80% but one of the reason I don't do pro games on my blog is that I only get about 66% of those right just picking the winners and losers. When you toss in the point spread anybody is lucky to be 50%. Now, back to the wedding. Amy's wedding was in a church on Lead Mine Road in Raleigh and the reception was at the Matthews House in down town Cary. If you followed GPS it took you down Hillbourgh Street while the football game was going on Saturday. Since most of the football crowd stayed till the end we missed the traffic getting over to Cary. My only problem what in the world is my daughter doing getting married on the State-Carolina day in any sport. I thought I raised her better than that.

Final Week Countdown

The Big East football championship will be decided Friday night at Fike High as the two Big East football teams who are 8-0 in the Big East between them collide for the title. It will be the wide open Fike offense against the Hunt power game. Northern will host Rocky Mount still with their playoff life on the line. If they finish with just four wins and do make playoffs they would be a very low seed having probably a conference champion in the open round. A victory would at least move they higher in the seedlings. Rocky Mount has the reverse problem a lost would lower their seeding while a win might get them a first round home game. Should they get a home game this year I can assure you it will not be against a low low seed but somebody in the middle seeding range. Southern Nash can probably start the JV's Friday against Nash Central and try to heal up several players that might be 100 per cent in two weeks. Surprise, Surprise Rocky Mount Academy gets a home game Friday after Hobgood who was in the Eagles bracket lose Friday. The Eagles will now play St David a team they have already rolled once this year. Should the Eagles win their semi final match the eight man State Championship game will be played at the Rocky Mount Sports complex regardless of who is in game. Northern Nash boys and Rocky Mount girls get 14th and 15th in the state cross country championship this past Saturday. One major problem eastern North Carolina runners always have during the state championship is the event is always on a hilly course and it is hard to prepared in the flatlands of eastern North Carolina. Rocky Mount former baseball star Brian Godwin made the Arizona Fall League all star team for the second year in a row. The top prospect of the Washington National is hitting 304 in Mesa Arizona. His team lost the all start game Saturday night.

Service and Dedication

There are many people in this world that can't continue to be athletes as they get older. Just about every school has that person, that does whatever they can to support the team. Roger Shearin of Northern Nash, is one of those people. Those of you who attend football games at Northern see Roger on the sidelines as the equipment manager for both varsity and JV football games. Roger loves his Knights! Roger continues to give back to Northern, the best way he knows how, and that is fixing helmets, facemasks and shoulder pads for all the players at Northern Nash. This Friday night in the Rocky Mount/Northern Nash football game, will be Roger's last home football game as the equipment manager. For 25 years he has been Mr. Dependability there for every game in the rain or mud, in victory or defeat, Roger has been Mr. Northern Nash Knight. Roger has done what he has physically able to do for Northern, and now it's time to step aside. Those of you who know Roger, know that he is a Christian man, and member of Parkwood Baptist Church. He has given his life to God and Northern Nash. For those who attend the big game, I expect there to be a few moments saluted to Mr. Roger Shearin, thanks for all that you have given to Northern and anyone else you have touched in your 25 years of excellence to high school sports. The Rocky Mount Gryphons have set up the season nicely after a big win over Southern Nash. In order to continue that nice setup, they have to win vs Northern or fall into chaos with a potential 3 way tie for 3rd place. The Firebirds with Nash Central on the schedule, will be favored in that game, so it comes down to who wins the NN/RM game, as it should be. IF NN wins, there will be a 3 way tie among SN, RM, and NN. With all 3 having beaten each other, who will win the 3 seed in the Big East? If it comes down to how you fared vs the top BE teams, the edge would go to SN as they were the most competitive. RM can solve this puzzle with a win against arch rival Northern Nash, and take a strong hold of 3rd place. So it comes down to Northern vs RM, the final game of the season. One has a chance to spoil the other. We aren't 100% sure of Northern's playoff stance if they lose, so you know Randy Raper will have them ready to play. For RM, there is no championship with a win, and maybe not even a home playoff game, but there motivation is in beating Northern Nash and securing 3rd place. Since neither can win the conference title, there is no better way then beating your arch rival. The way sports are suppose to be.

No Luster For This One

Most years at least one of the two teams of State or Carolina is halfway decent but neither has a whole lot to brag about this year. Carolina is coming off their best game of year while State is coming off a whomping administered by Florida State. Find it hard to pick either in this one. Could be a triple overtime 9-6 game. Pack wins at home 31-28. ECU hits the road going to Florida International. Last road game the Pirates limped home but not today. Pirates 42-FIU 16. Wake Forest heads to the Carrier Dome to play the Cuse. The Deacs are playing well and I think they bring home a win 28-23. Virginia Tech has maybe the worse offense in ACC but one of the best defenses. Regardless Tech offense will keep it close while the defense keeps them in game. Virginia Tech 20 BC 10 Pitt travels to Georgia Tech to take on the Jackets and I don't know why this game scares me this week. Should be all Tech. GT 35 Pitt 27.