First Two Week Trends

The Rocky Mount  Gryphons have been impressive the first two weeks of the high school football season scoring  85 points.  They have scored on defense, special teams and even  a touchdown or two from their offense.  The closer we get to conference play the less teams will kick the ball to Rashawn Harris on punts.  If the late Charles Alston was still around Harris has to be close to the all time record on punt return touchdowns from last year and the early season this year.

The defense has allowed just seven points and the defense seems to be quick and to this point quicker than the first two games.  One more week until a trip to Rose an a meeting with SouthWest Edgecombe who will run right straight at them possibly taking away the quickness factor.

Northern Nash's defense had a hard time with the Northeastern speed.   The best way to off set quickness is occupy the ball on offense and score early and hope to wear out  the opposing defense in the fourth  quarter.  Up next for the Knights will be another fast team where to this point has had trouble holding onto the ball.  Northern has played Tarboro as well as any other non conference foe in recent years.  They will need to keep the Vikings out of the end zone.

Southern Nash so far has shown to be average on offense and average on defense.  That is not a good combination if this trend holds for the whole season.  I think if you ask any coach regardless of wins and losses is seeing players improve as the season progresses.  There is still four more non conference games to go before the playoff push begins.

The streak stands at 15 at Nash Central.  Their defense has been half way decent but the offense has had halves so far this season that they were non existent and it puts way too much pressure for the defense. The Hertford County non conference game may be their chance to break the streak in a couple of weeks.

North Edgecombe was very competitive against SWE  and that might lead them to be in that final game against Tarboro at seasons end with a chance for a conference crown or a high seed in the state playoffs.

We have gotten so use to expecting Tarboro to run all over everyone that it seems unnatural for them to act as mere mortals.  If they don 't do anything else this week is they need to be able to make the exchange between the center and quarterback.  Once they can do that then they can  focus on others parts of their game.

Rocky Mount Academy in two short years under BW  Holt has risen from the patsy to the hunted.  They have risen to the Level where Tarboro has been where they will be expected to win every game.   That is a new problem for the Eagles as they now have to learn to be ready to play regardless of the quality of the foe.