Gryphon Grit

Yes it was Halloween night and Southern Nash opening kickoff was a pop up to the pitcher but the Gryphon front blockers admiring how high the kick was and Southern started on the Gryphon 48 after the Firebirds recovered the rolling free football. Less than three minutes Dion Lavendar one yard sneak gave Southern a 7-0 lead. Richard Hall carried for the Firebirds from one yard out gave the Birds a 14-0 lead in the second quarter and at this point Rocky Mount still does not have a first down. Two things changed the momentum of the game. Jason Battle went to Josh Carter at quarterback and Broderick Caudle intercepted a Lavendar pass on the Southern 29 yard line and took it to the house to get the Gryphons on the board and everything is now pointing to Rocky Mount.Josh Carter connected with Rashawn Harris for a 33 yard pass tied the game at 14 with 4:29 in the half. A Gryphon field goal attempt on the last play of the half was wide left and a 14-14 halftime score. The Gryphon D stopped Southern on their opening second half drive and the Gryphon duo of Josh Carter connected with Broderick Caudle on a touchdown pass but once again the ep was wide left and the Gryphon lead for the first time. By the end of the quarter Micah Varnell connects on a 29 yard field goal and the Gryphons and the Gryphons lead by more than one score. Starting the fourth quarter the Gryphons D stymies Southern and Rocky Mount offense converts two fourth down plays the second a 12 yard Carter to Harris pass to give the Gryphon a 30-14 win. As of this minute the Gryphons own 3rd place in the Big East after Fike beat Northern Nash 29-12. Hunt shutout Nash Central so Fike and Hunt play for the Big East crown next Friday. The loser can finish no worse than second. If the Gryphons win at Northern they collect third but should Northern win there could be a three way tie for third between Northern,Southern and Rocky Mount. Tarboro took care of business and clinched first beating Northampton 50-7.

Positioning Time

Glad I do my high school picks on Thursday because I think as tonight progresses toward us many teams will move Friday games to Thursday because of the weather forecast is miserable for Friday night. Last week I went 6-1 and that gives me an overall 63-11 on the season. Southern Nash at Rocky Mount. Major questions for both. The Firebirds are looking for available players in the backfield and Rocky Mount is looking for it's defense after the last two weeks. This will be a game of Southern offensive and defensive lines matching up again the smaller but quicker Rocky Mount line. Rocky Mount needs to find it's game again in the next two weeks Southern Nash 23- Rocky Mount 17 Fike at Northern Nash: The Big East for years has been a pound the ball conference and when the playoff start they have been able to out muscle most teams. Here comes the run and gun of Fike I suspect Northern who just maybe has the best defense in the league will have to cover all over the field. This game will be a question of Northern's speed in the secondary. Fike 35- Northern 14 It is conference championship time for Tarboro. Northampton County is the last team standing that can take the title away from the Vikings. Riverside Martin and Northampton seem very close to the same and Tarboro beat Riverside 48-0 last week. Maybe a little closer this week 40-0 Tarboro. SouthWest Edgecombe at North Johnston. It is all about playoff positioning for the Cougars. North Johnston is winless and the Cougars need to growl in this one. SWE35- NJ 6 North Edgecombe at South Creek: Tarboro is on the horizon next week so the Warriors have got to take care of business this week. NE 35 South Creek 13 Rocky Mount Prep has their first conference win under their and now hold on to two home victories. Riverside is a decent team but come into the week's game with Prep bleedy after the beating Tarboro gave them last week. Riverside 48 Prep 16 Nash Central travels to Hunt and the Bulldogs have to hope Hunt is already thinking about next week's championship game with Fike. If they are that's good for Nash Central they will only lose 35-6. If Hunt is ready it could be worse. RMA opens their state private school playoffs tonight against the team they just beat last Friday Cary Christian. The Eagle will advance to the Final Four 44-6.