The Rocky Mount Gryphon basketball teams played in Asheville Saturday in the North Carolina Coaches versus Cancer event held in Asheville on the campus of the University of North Carolina Asheville. The girls action took place in the Justice Center which is the old gym at UNCA while the boys action took place in the new Kimmel Arena.
The girls were OnThe court early at 10am and the Lady Gryphons were sluggish at best and Hayesville took advantage to storm out to a big first quarter lead of 18-4. The Lady Gryphons fared better the second but still found themselves down by 16 at 32-16. Better effort in the third trimmed the Hayesville lead to 45-32. The fourth quarter was a 12-12 draw and the Lady Gryphons go down to defeat for the first time this season. 57-44
Across campus the boys were the second game of the day in the Kimmel Arena taking on East Chapel Hill. The boys later start paid off as they were not as slugish as the Lady Gryphons and they rushed out for a quick 14-6 lead. They increased the lead to 11 at the half at 33-22. The Gryphons increased the lead to 19 at the end of the third at 54-35. ECH won the fourth by a 21-13 score as the Gryphons win their first game of the year 67-56 over East Chapel Hill.
Amir Pittman lead the Gryphon attack scoring 19 points and also hauled in 12 rebounds. Isaiah Alston lead the Gryphons with five three pointers and Kenaz Cooper added two more. Alston scored 17 points and Cooper and 14 points. The Gryphons are back in action Tuesday as they make their first home appearance when they host Hertford County who beat the Gryphon boys on a jump shot at the buzzer last.
Tarboro's loss in the third round of the 1-AA playoffs Friday brings about thoughts about playoff football. Once the Vikings were finished with their non conference schedule they were 3-3 and all three losses were to Washington a 2-A team, Roanoke Rapids another 2-A squad and Southern Nash a 3A team. Tough schedules help players have to play at their best and by the time conference play starts you are tested tough and you see the results as Tarboro breezed in conference play and their first two playoff games.
Here is where over all schedule hurts when you lose to bigger schools. By the third round Tarboro had to hit the road and play at a team with an overall better record but surely had not played the schedule Tarboro had. If Friday's game had of been in Tarboro the score probably been reversed.
So it is a double edge sword playing bigger schools and over the years Tarboro has handled many of those games in the past. When you don't win them it hurts your overall record for the playoffs. Then there is one other thing too, moving to 1A hasn't been the cakewalk that most of us thought. Don't care what level you are in there is plenty of cream at the top of every level.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Friday, November 28, 2014
Third Round Horror
There were only two local teams playing football on this Friday night and both teams were representing Edgecombe County and both were on the road. Over in Elizabeth City the high powered speed of the Northeastern Eagles were taking on the SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars which this was a classic matchup of will speed or power win this one.
It did not take long as the Eagles took the opening kickoff and marched down the field to lead 7-0. The Cougars responded by marching with their opening drive but a missed extra point and the water started pouring over the dam after that. NE march with their second drive and the Cougars fumbled the kickoff and before you could blink it was 21-6 at the end of the quarter and 34-6 at the half.
It didn't get any better for the Cougars gave up two more scores and Northeastern went for a two point conversion to get the lead to 42 and the clock running. When you are that far ahead get the game over and hope you have no injuries for the Eastern final.. Northeastern 48- SouthWest Edgecombe 6
Tarboro had a first quarter much like SWE as they found themselves down 15 to nothing in the first quarter against the defending 1-AA state champs James Kenan. Both teams put scores on the board in the second to give Kenan a 22-6 halftime lead.
Tarboro's defense stood tall in the second half and the offense scored but once as the defending state champs have beaten Tarboro 22-14. This knocks every team from our area out of football for this season and it is now on to basketball.
Tonight now that Rocky Mount is out of the playoffs the basketball teams are in Asheville spending the night where Saturday morning they will be taking part in the second annual Coaches versus Cancer at the University of North Carolina Asheville. This is of course the North Carolina High school coaches Association high school version in North Carolina of what the college coaches have been doing for several years.
The Lady Gryphons 1-0 on the season take on Hayesville a 1-A school who will be playing their first game this season at 10am while the boys 0-1 will play in the second game of the day against East Chapel Hill. ECH is 2-1 having already beaten Hunt 54-49 and Carrboro while losing to Chapel Hill.
Friday night N C State won their 6th game of the season and are 6-0 for the first time since 2004. They beat Boise State 60-54. The Pack is second in the ACC so far if you are looking at RPI as Duke is 8th and State Top 30. No other ACC team at this point have played any tougher schedule according to the RPI.
It did not take long as the Eagles took the opening kickoff and marched down the field to lead 7-0. The Cougars responded by marching with their opening drive but a missed extra point and the water started pouring over the dam after that. NE march with their second drive and the Cougars fumbled the kickoff and before you could blink it was 21-6 at the end of the quarter and 34-6 at the half.
It didn't get any better for the Cougars gave up two more scores and Northeastern went for a two point conversion to get the lead to 42 and the clock running. When you are that far ahead get the game over and hope you have no injuries for the Eastern final.. Northeastern 48- SouthWest Edgecombe 6
Tarboro had a first quarter much like SWE as they found themselves down 15 to nothing in the first quarter against the defending 1-AA state champs James Kenan. Both teams put scores on the board in the second to give Kenan a 22-6 halftime lead.
Tarboro's defense stood tall in the second half and the offense scored but once as the defending state champs have beaten Tarboro 22-14. This knocks every team from our area out of football for this season and it is now on to basketball.
Tonight now that Rocky Mount is out of the playoffs the basketball teams are in Asheville spending the night where Saturday morning they will be taking part in the second annual Coaches versus Cancer at the University of North Carolina Asheville. This is of course the North Carolina High school coaches Association high school version in North Carolina of what the college coaches have been doing for several years.
The Lady Gryphons 1-0 on the season take on Hayesville a 1-A school who will be playing their first game this season at 10am while the boys 0-1 will play in the second game of the day against East Chapel Hill. ECH is 2-1 having already beaten Hunt 54-49 and Carrboro while losing to Chapel Hill.
Friday night N C State won their 6th game of the season and are 6-0 for the first time since 2004. They beat Boise State 60-54. The Pack is second in the ACC so far if you are looking at RPI as Duke is 8th and State Top 30. No other ACC team at this point have played any tougher schedule according to the RPI.
Sports Not All About The Glory
Every game when we celebrate victory over on the other side of the field is a team that lost a game. Sometimes in order to achieve glory there are heartaches and pains to endure. Two local athletes from this area have major injuries at their colleges and there are questions about their future sports endeavors.
Far from the spot light heard this week that MJ Gainey while playing basketball at Newport News Apprentice school has suffer the same knee injury that sidelined him his junior season at Rocky Mount high. You may recall during the state championship game when Rocky Mount had the game at hand Gainey played the last minute still In a heavy knee brace and made a lay up near the buzzer which sent many in the stands to tears not only for the joy of a Gryphon victory but for MJ getting in the game and scoring after being a major part of that state championship team. This new injury may bring an end to MJ's basketball career.
It was announced Tuesday that Todd Gurley underwent successful knee surgery which may have brought an end to Gurley's college career. Gurley a junior at Georgia before his injury was in major conversation as the best college football player in the country. Now a junior Gurley has the option to turn pro and may never play another down for Bulldogs.
6-2 last week on the picks which run my guess record to 85-30 on the season. This is the last week of the regular season so this is last week of college picks this season.
Pack at Tar Heels: I think this will be a good game as both team already bowl eligible. Only thing they are playing for is this is the State-Carolina game. Carolina 38-State 28
Deacs at Devils: Duke offense struggling but Wake has no offense. Duke 17-3
ECU at Tulsa: A win is a better bowl game for the Pirates 38-23.
Pitt at Miami: Miami is home 31-27
Florida at Florida State: FSU field goal late wins it 31-21
Georgia Tech at Georgia: Has the makings of great game. Georgia at home wins. 33-28
South Carolina at Clemson: Who is the Clemson quarterback is the big question? Clemson 28-26
Virginia at Virginia Tech: a loss and VT has a losing record. Tech 23 Virginia 21
Kentucky at Louisville: Interstate rivalry goes to Louisville 38-27
Syracuse at BC: BC isn't a bad team at all. BC 24-19.
Far from the spot light heard this week that MJ Gainey while playing basketball at Newport News Apprentice school has suffer the same knee injury that sidelined him his junior season at Rocky Mount high. You may recall during the state championship game when Rocky Mount had the game at hand Gainey played the last minute still In a heavy knee brace and made a lay up near the buzzer which sent many in the stands to tears not only for the joy of a Gryphon victory but for MJ getting in the game and scoring after being a major part of that state championship team. This new injury may bring an end to MJ's basketball career.
It was announced Tuesday that Todd Gurley underwent successful knee surgery which may have brought an end to Gurley's college career. Gurley a junior at Georgia before his injury was in major conversation as the best college football player in the country. Now a junior Gurley has the option to turn pro and may never play another down for Bulldogs.
6-2 last week on the picks which run my guess record to 85-30 on the season. This is the last week of the regular season so this is last week of college picks this season.
Pack at Tar Heels: I think this will be a good game as both team already bowl eligible. Only thing they are playing for is this is the State-Carolina game. Carolina 38-State 28
Deacs at Devils: Duke offense struggling but Wake has no offense. Duke 17-3
ECU at Tulsa: A win is a better bowl game for the Pirates 38-23.
Pitt at Miami: Miami is home 31-27
Florida at Florida State: FSU field goal late wins it 31-21
Georgia Tech at Georgia: Has the makings of great game. Georgia at home wins. 33-28
South Carolina at Clemson: Who is the Clemson quarterback is the big question? Clemson 28-26
Virginia at Virginia Tech: a loss and VT has a losing record. Tech 23 Virginia 21
Kentucky at Louisville: Interstate rivalry goes to Louisville 38-27
Syracuse at BC: BC isn't a bad team at all. BC 24-19.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Plenty To Be Thankful For
We have come to the National Holiday that President Abe Lincoln started in the middle of the Civil War, Thanksgiving. I don't know about you but I have plenty to be thankful for as my family has received many blessings this year.
Daughter Amy was married last November and I am thankful for her husband who is a Christian man and their lives seem to be truly loving. He truly is a blessing to my family.
Son Brooks as he progresses in the world of Tri Athlon coaching has received a blessing in getting a job on the world stage as a Tri coach for the U S Olympic team. It is something he has dreamed of and he has been blessed in all the good things that have fallen his way.
Daughter Stephanie got a promotion in her job working for a company in the Research Triangle. Her husband Jared got out of the Marines in July after serving in Okinawa and Afganistan. Their two children are on travel soccer teams with CASL. They have been blessed in so many ways this year.
Daughter Morgan has just finished her third year as manager of the Campbell Volleyball team and is progressing nicely into womanhood. She has surprised both her parents as her grades at Campbell keep getting better.
Wife Pat and I have been world travelers this year following Campbell Volleyball. Heard this week that there will be a weekend in Dallas next year as well as a Florida trip to Jacksonville next fall. The closer we get to that retirement age it seems the more we have to do everyday. I am so thankful that at this point in our life we still have our health that keeps us in jobs that we can do all the traveling we have done.
Two Edgecombe County football teams have been blessed to be playing on the Friday night after Thanksgiving. In Tarboro this is a tradition isn't it. SouthWest Edgecombe joins them this year.
SouthWest 10-3 heads to Elizabeth City to take on Northeastern 12-0. The Eagles Dominated both Hunt and Northern Nash winning by 28 against each. This will be a monumental task winning near the Virginia border. I think Northeastern has a real shot at the State Championship. NE 35 SWE 27
Tarboro hits the road heading south and SWE and Tarboro couldn't get much further apart than they are as James Kenan host the Vikings. Tarboro is 10-3 while JK is 11-1. Don't think when you look over the schedule for James Kenan it is as good as Tarboro. However I think JK is a tough place to play at JK wins this one. James Kenan 37- Tarboro 32.
If this comes to past we are in total basketball mode every where next week.
Daughter Amy was married last November and I am thankful for her husband who is a Christian man and their lives seem to be truly loving. He truly is a blessing to my family.
Son Brooks as he progresses in the world of Tri Athlon coaching has received a blessing in getting a job on the world stage as a Tri coach for the U S Olympic team. It is something he has dreamed of and he has been blessed in all the good things that have fallen his way.
Daughter Stephanie got a promotion in her job working for a company in the Research Triangle. Her husband Jared got out of the Marines in July after serving in Okinawa and Afganistan. Their two children are on travel soccer teams with CASL. They have been blessed in so many ways this year.
Daughter Morgan has just finished her third year as manager of the Campbell Volleyball team and is progressing nicely into womanhood. She has surprised both her parents as her grades at Campbell keep getting better.
Wife Pat and I have been world travelers this year following Campbell Volleyball. Heard this week that there will be a weekend in Dallas next year as well as a Florida trip to Jacksonville next fall. The closer we get to that retirement age it seems the more we have to do everyday. I am so thankful that at this point in our life we still have our health that keeps us in jobs that we can do all the traveling we have done.
Two Edgecombe County football teams have been blessed to be playing on the Friday night after Thanksgiving. In Tarboro this is a tradition isn't it. SouthWest Edgecombe joins them this year.
SouthWest 10-3 heads to Elizabeth City to take on Northeastern 12-0. The Eagles Dominated both Hunt and Northern Nash winning by 28 against each. This will be a monumental task winning near the Virginia border. I think Northeastern has a real shot at the State Championship. NE 35 SWE 27
Tarboro hits the road heading south and SWE and Tarboro couldn't get much further apart than they are as James Kenan host the Vikings. Tarboro is 10-3 while JK is 11-1. Don't think when you look over the schedule for James Kenan it is as good as Tarboro. However I think JK is a tough place to play at JK wins this one. James Kenan 37- Tarboro 32.
If this comes to past we are in total basketball mode every where next week.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Dedicated To Tiara
The Lady Gryphons got their basketball season started last night with a trip to South Central and the big question how well will this team play having just a few weeks ago lost a team mate Tiara Hinton and the answer to that is the Gryphons have Pam Gainey on the sidelines and the Lady Gryphons dedicating their season to Tiara are ready opening night at South Central winning 47-40. The Lady Gryphons for the most part led most of the way.
The Gryphon boys hit the court having to do something they haven't done in a long time. Play a team bigger than they are. The shorter Gryphons on the road at South Central lost 62-59.
Boy the pace picks up as there are many games this that are must win for both teams until next week when we go through this again. Had a very good week going 11-4 running my totals for the year to 110-64. Thankgiving brings us three games so the week gets going quick.
Da Bears at Detroit: Interesting game to begin the week. Detroit nevers wins do they on turkey day. This game will be underway before I get up from table. Probably will sleep through most of it. Detroit wins 26-23.
Philly at Dallas: Wow is this a big one or what. Loser may score 30. Dallas escaped my predicted loss in New York but I think the Eagles are the best team in this division even though Tony Romo is having a solid year. Both teams may score during the last two minutes in this one Eagles 36- Boys 34.
Isn't it a little unfair to have three great games on tap Thursday, there can't be any good games left for Sunday. Seattle at San Fran: A true head knocker as the loser is probably is out of the playoffs. Low scoring but home team prevails San Fran 20 Seahawks 17.
Washington at Indy: Do we even need to play this one as Washington can't stop Indy from scoring so this is going to be rout. Colts 41 Skins 24
Tennessee at Houston: Home team needs this one to stay alive for playoffs. Texans win 26-20.
Cleve at Buffalo: They are hopeful to play this week in Buffalo. I have liked Buffalo all season and after the weather am pulling that since they had to give up a home game that they have a good finish for a change. This is a different team in Cleveland as they are for real. This is hard one to pick. I'll take Buffaloe 26-23
San Diego at Baltimore: Both are just out of the playoffs it the season was over today. There is so many teams right on the bubble a loss for either is not a killer but others will have to start losing to get loser back in the hunt. Baltimore 27 Chargers 24.
New York Giants at Jacksonville: This is the kind of game the Giants lose Jaxsonville 24 Giants 17.
New Orleans at Pittsburgh: New Orleans kind of like Seattle can't win on the road. In fact having trouble winning any where this year. Steelers 26 Saints 20
Carolina at Minnesota: Chance this week for the Panthers to get a much needed win cause they can still win the division but some how they lose Vikes 30 Panthers 20
Arizona at Atlanta: Cardinals get back on course at they win on the road. The North Carolina State bird 24 those Hawks 20.
How many more great games can we possibly be this week. New England at Green Bay This just might be preclude to Super Bowl. Remember this is going to be played in the frozen tundra. Should be shootouts but probably won't be. Packers 27 NE 23
Denver at Kansas City: Denver has been leaky lately. KC one hard place too play. Chiefs tie for the in west. KC 26-21. KC has lost one of their top defenders in Eric Berry but I think they win any way.
Miami at the Jets: Miami is plain better and win on Monday night football Dolphins 26 Jets 17.
The Gryphon boys hit the court having to do something they haven't done in a long time. Play a team bigger than they are. The shorter Gryphons on the road at South Central lost 62-59.
Boy the pace picks up as there are many games this that are must win for both teams until next week when we go through this again. Had a very good week going 11-4 running my totals for the year to 110-64. Thankgiving brings us three games so the week gets going quick.
Da Bears at Detroit: Interesting game to begin the week. Detroit nevers wins do they on turkey day. This game will be underway before I get up from table. Probably will sleep through most of it. Detroit wins 26-23.
Philly at Dallas: Wow is this a big one or what. Loser may score 30. Dallas escaped my predicted loss in New York but I think the Eagles are the best team in this division even though Tony Romo is having a solid year. Both teams may score during the last two minutes in this one Eagles 36- Boys 34.
Isn't it a little unfair to have three great games on tap Thursday, there can't be any good games left for Sunday. Seattle at San Fran: A true head knocker as the loser is probably is out of the playoffs. Low scoring but home team prevails San Fran 20 Seahawks 17.
Washington at Indy: Do we even need to play this one as Washington can't stop Indy from scoring so this is going to be rout. Colts 41 Skins 24
Tennessee at Houston: Home team needs this one to stay alive for playoffs. Texans win 26-20.
Cleve at Buffalo: They are hopeful to play this week in Buffalo. I have liked Buffalo all season and after the weather am pulling that since they had to give up a home game that they have a good finish for a change. This is a different team in Cleveland as they are for real. This is hard one to pick. I'll take Buffaloe 26-23
San Diego at Baltimore: Both are just out of the playoffs it the season was over today. There is so many teams right on the bubble a loss for either is not a killer but others will have to start losing to get loser back in the hunt. Baltimore 27 Chargers 24.
New York Giants at Jacksonville: This is the kind of game the Giants lose Jaxsonville 24 Giants 17.
New Orleans at Pittsburgh: New Orleans kind of like Seattle can't win on the road. In fact having trouble winning any where this year. Steelers 26 Saints 20
Carolina at Minnesota: Chance this week for the Panthers to get a much needed win cause they can still win the division but some how they lose Vikes 30 Panthers 20
Arizona at Atlanta: Cardinals get back on course at they win on the road. The North Carolina State bird 24 those Hawks 20.
How many more great games can we possibly be this week. New England at Green Bay This just might be preclude to Super Bowl. Remember this is going to be played in the frozen tundra. Should be shootouts but probably won't be. Packers 27 NE 23
Denver at Kansas City: Denver has been leaky lately. KC one hard place too play. Chiefs tie for the in west. KC 26-21. KC has lost one of their top defenders in Eric Berry but I think they win any way.
Miami at the Jets: Miami is plain better and win on Monday night football Dolphins 26 Jets 17.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
A Star Is Born
I hope you recorded Monday's The Price is Right. If you did you had a chance if you looked quick to see Pat and myself appear on camera nine times. Just as soon as the show started we were on camera as the camera zoomed across the audience. In total we get nine shots on camera for maybe a total of 15 seconds. Once I got into the groove I was a high fiving fool as contestants ran by me heading to the stage.
The telephone has not stopped ringing from talent scouts that saw me that see potential in me in either TV or the movies. I have been offered jobs as extras as they see me as the guy walking by as the stars walk down the street. I have been offered a free all expense paid trip to Nashville (NC) in my first movie appearance.
I didn't see it but the Virginia Tech Wake Forest game has to be the lowest scoring double overtime game since the NCAA went to overtime games. I would like to know who endured the entire game from start to finish? No touchdowns during the game and two field goals for Wake in both overtimes and they win 6-3. Isn't this the Virginia Tech team that beat Ohio State supposedly a team close to making the top four and the college football playoffs?
We have in the Doughtie house hold a Gardner Webb women's college basketball schedule signed by Alexus Hill back up point guard of the Bulldogs. I bet you don't have one. Saturday Morgan traveled with the Hill family to GW and watched Alexus score eight points and hand out six assists as the backup point guard. Hill's college career is off to a great start. The starting guard is a senior and it is obvious Alexus is being groomed for that starting job next year.
Tonight high school basketball gets going for real. Rocky Mount is at Winterville South Central.
Nash Central travels to Warren County Southern Nash is at Corinth Holders, Northern travels to DH Conley.
Last Wednesday dropped by Bernie Capps' house as B W Holt was leaving to head home for Christmas in Tennessee. If you wonder the power of any coach and his ability to get the masses to be on his side you should have seen some of those there to celebrate with coach the RMA football title. Holt not only gets the job done on the field but he has that ability to gets support from those of the community who become faithful to him. What makes him so love by those around him? He demands from his players their best, those who are faithful to him he returns their faith with the shirt of his back if needed.
The telephone has not stopped ringing from talent scouts that saw me that see potential in me in either TV or the movies. I have been offered jobs as extras as they see me as the guy walking by as the stars walk down the street. I have been offered a free all expense paid trip to Nashville (NC) in my first movie appearance.
I didn't see it but the Virginia Tech Wake Forest game has to be the lowest scoring double overtime game since the NCAA went to overtime games. I would like to know who endured the entire game from start to finish? No touchdowns during the game and two field goals for Wake in both overtimes and they win 6-3. Isn't this the Virginia Tech team that beat Ohio State supposedly a team close to making the top four and the college football playoffs?
We have in the Doughtie house hold a Gardner Webb women's college basketball schedule signed by Alexus Hill back up point guard of the Bulldogs. I bet you don't have one. Saturday Morgan traveled with the Hill family to GW and watched Alexus score eight points and hand out six assists as the backup point guard. Hill's college career is off to a great start. The starting guard is a senior and it is obvious Alexus is being groomed for that starting job next year.
Tonight high school basketball gets going for real. Rocky Mount is at Winterville South Central.
Nash Central travels to Warren County Southern Nash is at Corinth Holders, Northern travels to DH Conley.
Last Wednesday dropped by Bernie Capps' house as B W Holt was leaving to head home for Christmas in Tennessee. If you wonder the power of any coach and his ability to get the masses to be on his side you should have seen some of those there to celebrate with coach the RMA football title. Holt not only gets the job done on the field but he has that ability to gets support from those of the community who become faithful to him. What makes him so love by those around him? He demands from his players their best, those who are faithful to him he returns their faith with the shirt of his back if needed.
Monday, November 24, 2014
The Propaganda Game
We live in a world where every car dealer is the number one. Number one in what is some times never discussed. Our government leaders tell us that they are going to Washington,Raleigh or Nashville to do the will of the people. Propaganda is in every part of our life and since this is a sports blog. We will talk today about the propaganda of this college playoff system.
Florida State remains the only undefeated team and if you watch them play there is no way that they could possibly beat any really good team because they play in the ACC which is rated tied for fourth in the big five which ties them for last in the power conferences.
FSU is in the RPI number one. How can that be that they are rated so high in such a sorry conference as the ACC? Just maybe the ACC is not such a disaster as others think. Last season the ACC captured every major award as far best player awards from Heisman to blockers the ACC won them all including the football championship.
Looking at the current top six in this race to be in the final four for the playoffs not one of them is rated in the top fifty in strength of schedule. Number one is Auburn and number two is Mississippi and both are not in the top ten and don't have any chance of making final four.
So how do we come up with this do called power rating? Alabama is one Oregon two Florida State three and Mississippi State Four. Here is a major question to throw in the hat. How much does ABC/ESPN the TV Rights holders have input on this matter? Why do we have a weekly show announcing the top four because ESPN gets ratings every time someone watches? Don't you think they want the best TV ratings matchups over the top four teams or the very best teams playing.
I think you will see about four or five years this four team playoff. Since there are five so called super conferences and many want-a-be conferences that want to make the top four eight teams seems to be the perfect playoff. The five conference champions and three at large teams. Eight teams takes three games where 16 takes four weeks and that would put a team playing 16 or 17 games. That's way too many when injury losses are factored in.
If you listen to the propaganda the SEC should have four teams in playoffs. Is there anybody in the country better than Baylor or TCU? You know when the final four is determined there will be plenty
of hollering they should have made it. You get it in basketball and baseball and and there are way more teams than four in their playoffs. If you want to make the final four prove it on the field and have your propaganda machine pushing your team.
Florida State remains the only undefeated team and if you watch them play there is no way that they could possibly beat any really good team because they play in the ACC which is rated tied for fourth in the big five which ties them for last in the power conferences.
FSU is in the RPI number one. How can that be that they are rated so high in such a sorry conference as the ACC? Just maybe the ACC is not such a disaster as others think. Last season the ACC captured every major award as far best player awards from Heisman to blockers the ACC won them all including the football championship.
Looking at the current top six in this race to be in the final four for the playoffs not one of them is rated in the top fifty in strength of schedule. Number one is Auburn and number two is Mississippi and both are not in the top ten and don't have any chance of making final four.
So how do we come up with this do called power rating? Alabama is one Oregon two Florida State three and Mississippi State Four. Here is a major question to throw in the hat. How much does ABC/ESPN the TV Rights holders have input on this matter? Why do we have a weekly show announcing the top four because ESPN gets ratings every time someone watches? Don't you think they want the best TV ratings matchups over the top four teams or the very best teams playing.
I think you will see about four or five years this four team playoff. Since there are five so called super conferences and many want-a-be conferences that want to make the top four eight teams seems to be the perfect playoff. The five conference champions and three at large teams. Eight teams takes three games where 16 takes four weeks and that would put a team playing 16 or 17 games. That's way too many when injury losses are factored in.
If you listen to the propaganda the SEC should have four teams in playoffs. Is there anybody in the country better than Baylor or TCU? You know when the final four is determined there will be plenty
of hollering they should have made it. You get it in basketball and baseball and and there are way more teams than four in their playoffs. If you want to make the final four prove it on the field and have your propaganda machine pushing your team.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Not Average Big East Year In Football
Every since all four Nash County Schools have been together in one conference with both Fike and Hunt and some of the time with Southwest Edgecombe you could just about count on the Big East having a team play in the Eastern Finals. Not this year however.
Due to the fact that is has in the past been hard to go undefeated and sometimes a loss could drop you from first to fourth but still someone made it to the fourth game. This year like all of the past we thought we would have someone back there again this year but sorry no cigar for the Big East.
Why did we not have a eastern final team? Just might be this year we got caught with other teams having some of their best teams ever. Eastern Wayne is pretty dog gone good and do play in that 3-A/4-A league. Both Northern and Southern Guilford are having banner years.
Both Southern Nash and Rocky Mount found out that regardless of how good you might be give the other team a ball on the ground to recover that is a highway to disaster. Plain and simple this wasn't the Big East year.
It is mighty hard to begin basketball when football is not yet over. Rocky Mount postponed it game with Rose since both were still in football playoffs. Northern is the only team that played this week and the boys lost by 20 to East Wake and the girls won 50-46 over East Wake. Even this week is disrupted by Thanksgiving break. Long for the days in both high school and college when the official first game was not played until December 1st.
Mike Gainey while he had Dante Battle for four years yearned for the day when Dante was going to become a monster and every shot was a rim rattling dunk. Dante's personality just wasn't a look at me and see what I just did kind of guy. Now Dante is at Wallace State playing Junior college basketball and if you have access to Dante's Facebook page he has a video of his first college dunk. Wallace State doesn't do a very good job of updating their scores or stats. As of November 5th they were 2-1 and when you click on stats nothing happens.
Duke football has hit hard times and I think when you look at Duke the first thing I see is how were they winning? To me they were winning because of coaching but coaching has a hard time over coming poor quarterback play and the last few games Duke has not had much good play. How many other teams have the same problem.
State and Carolina will close out their football season Saturday in Kenan and I have looked back a long ways trying to see if this game has ever been the last game of the season for either before? I don't think they have ever played past thanksgiving ever. The News and Observer had a article in their Saturday paper whether Carolina should pass on the Bowl games this year considering that the NCAA is back investigating the latest findings.
Seems like it has been forever but get ready to record the Price Is Right Monday. Back in September the 3rd. Pat and I were at a Taping and it will be shown Monday. We might get 15 seconds of face time whenever the cameras were rolling. Whenever they show from the stage the audience we are on the second row on the left side. I'm on the end of the row. Hope our 15 seconds of fame doesn't get preempted from some type of national emergency and CBS cuts away.
Due to the fact that is has in the past been hard to go undefeated and sometimes a loss could drop you from first to fourth but still someone made it to the fourth game. This year like all of the past we thought we would have someone back there again this year but sorry no cigar for the Big East.
Why did we not have a eastern final team? Just might be this year we got caught with other teams having some of their best teams ever. Eastern Wayne is pretty dog gone good and do play in that 3-A/4-A league. Both Northern and Southern Guilford are having banner years.
Both Southern Nash and Rocky Mount found out that regardless of how good you might be give the other team a ball on the ground to recover that is a highway to disaster. Plain and simple this wasn't the Big East year.
It is mighty hard to begin basketball when football is not yet over. Rocky Mount postponed it game with Rose since both were still in football playoffs. Northern is the only team that played this week and the boys lost by 20 to East Wake and the girls won 50-46 over East Wake. Even this week is disrupted by Thanksgiving break. Long for the days in both high school and college when the official first game was not played until December 1st.
Mike Gainey while he had Dante Battle for four years yearned for the day when Dante was going to become a monster and every shot was a rim rattling dunk. Dante's personality just wasn't a look at me and see what I just did kind of guy. Now Dante is at Wallace State playing Junior college basketball and if you have access to Dante's Facebook page he has a video of his first college dunk. Wallace State doesn't do a very good job of updating their scores or stats. As of November 5th they were 2-1 and when you click on stats nothing happens.
Duke football has hit hard times and I think when you look at Duke the first thing I see is how were they winning? To me they were winning because of coaching but coaching has a hard time over coming poor quarterback play and the last few games Duke has not had much good play. How many other teams have the same problem.
State and Carolina will close out their football season Saturday in Kenan and I have looked back a long ways trying to see if this game has ever been the last game of the season for either before? I don't think they have ever played past thanksgiving ever. The News and Observer had a article in their Saturday paper whether Carolina should pass on the Bowl games this year considering that the NCAA is back investigating the latest findings.
Seems like it has been forever but get ready to record the Price Is Right Monday. Back in September the 3rd. Pat and I were at a Taping and it will be shown Monday. We might get 15 seconds of face time whenever the cameras were rolling. Whenever they show from the stage the audience we are on the second row on the left side. I'm on the end of the row. Hope our 15 seconds of fame doesn't get preempted from some type of national emergency and CBS cuts away.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Hard Night For The Locals
I felt in my picks this week that this was simply not a very good match up for most of our local teams and picked five of six to lose and only Tarboro to win. I came very close to being right which in this case I didn't want to happen but it has.
Rocky Mount needed to stop Reggie Gallaspy the N C State recruit and it they couldn't needed to keep pace by not letting South Guilford stop them. Tonight Rocky Mount has fumble twice inside the red zone and another time the ball has been lost by fumble and Southern Guilford has had their way. Reggie Gallaspy has played like a Division one recruit and Rocky Mount tumbles in Greensboro Southern Guilford 36- Rocky Mount 18. It was 36-12 at the half so when the Gryphons held on to the ball it was a ball game.
Looks like the Tarboro Vikings are back. Last week they put 61 on the board in an easy clock runner. It took longer to run the clock but Louisburg just could not hang with the Vikings as they have put up more than 60 for the second week in a row. Tarboro Torches Louisburg 63-15.
Eastern Wayne has paid a visit to Southern Nash and is on the way home heading to the third round as they beat Southern Nash 24-17. The Firebirds fumble on the goal line once and EW had a scoop six on a fumble.
North Edgecombe traveled to Chocowinity to take on Southside and these two teams thought they were playing basketball I think. Final Southside 56- North Edgecombe 40. The Warriors are the first Edgecombe County team to fall out of the playoffs.
As it turns out the only game I missed tonight was the SouthWest Edgecombe victory in Jacksonville. The Cougars live to play on Thanksgiving Friday with a 36-12 victory over Northside.
Fike has bitten the losing dust along with everyone else in the Big East. It was a game for a quarter and a half then it was all North Guilford. Final North Guilford 58 Fike 28
Cardinal Gibbons has petitioned the NCHSAA requesting a move next year to one of the 4-A leagues in Raleigh. I guess they figure that if they don't the rank and file in the NCHSAA will throw them out of the public school playoffs. Don't feel to sorry for Cardinal Gibbons they are the third largest 3-A school in the state following Chapel Hill second and Southern Durham first.
Rocky Mount needed to stop Reggie Gallaspy the N C State recruit and it they couldn't needed to keep pace by not letting South Guilford stop them. Tonight Rocky Mount has fumble twice inside the red zone and another time the ball has been lost by fumble and Southern Guilford has had their way. Reggie Gallaspy has played like a Division one recruit and Rocky Mount tumbles in Greensboro Southern Guilford 36- Rocky Mount 18. It was 36-12 at the half so when the Gryphons held on to the ball it was a ball game.
Looks like the Tarboro Vikings are back. Last week they put 61 on the board in an easy clock runner. It took longer to run the clock but Louisburg just could not hang with the Vikings as they have put up more than 60 for the second week in a row. Tarboro Torches Louisburg 63-15.
Eastern Wayne has paid a visit to Southern Nash and is on the way home heading to the third round as they beat Southern Nash 24-17. The Firebirds fumble on the goal line once and EW had a scoop six on a fumble.
North Edgecombe traveled to Chocowinity to take on Southside and these two teams thought they were playing basketball I think. Final Southside 56- North Edgecombe 40. The Warriors are the first Edgecombe County team to fall out of the playoffs.
As it turns out the only game I missed tonight was the SouthWest Edgecombe victory in Jacksonville. The Cougars live to play on Thanksgiving Friday with a 36-12 victory over Northside.
Fike has bitten the losing dust along with everyone else in the Big East. It was a game for a quarter and a half then it was all North Guilford. Final North Guilford 58 Fike 28
Cardinal Gibbons has petitioned the NCHSAA requesting a move next year to one of the 4-A leagues in Raleigh. I guess they figure that if they don't the rank and file in the NCHSAA will throw them out of the public school playoffs. Don't feel to sorry for Cardinal Gibbons they are the third largest 3-A school in the state following Chapel Hill second and Southern Durham first.
Florida State Just Might Go Unbeaten Now Until Playoffs.
Had a 4-3 week last week in my college picks and thought for a while that picking Miami was a solid pick. Doesn't seem until the playoffs there is anybody left that can handle the Noles. BC is up next. So far this college football season 79-28 on the pronosdication.
Has Florida State played a conference game on the road this year? Seems every week they are home and BC gets a crack at the Florida State winning streak this weekend. The Noles need to kill somebody from the opening kickoff and it is either BC or next week against Florida. It is about time the Seminoles rolled 42-20.
Wake Forest is home to Virginia Tech who has just as hard a time scoring as Wake does. Winner of this game will have to scramble to score 20. Tech 23-Wake Forest 13.
Georgia State at Clemson: The Tigers are hurting all over the place both in the won-loss column and players on the field. Should have enough horses to win this one. Clemson 38- Georgia State 18
Syracuse at Pitt; Should be a high scoring game for the winner and I expect that to be Pitt 41-27.
Louisville heads to Notre Dame. Ever since the loss to Florida state the Irish had fell on hard times. The Cardinals just might take this one. Louisville 33 ND28.
Here is an interesting game. Miami at Virginia. The big question here is will Miami be flat after falling to FSU? Virginia is good at home. Miami survives 35-31
Tulane Green Wave head to Greenville to meet the Pirates and if there is one team that needs a win it is ECU. Speculation three weeks ago was they were going to play on new years day but now seem destined for a bowl on the Gulf Coast, what a bummer. Pirates need to rock somebody. ECU 45 Tulane 24.
Have been to warm Mytrle Beach Thursday as Campbell played for the first time since Morgan has been at CU in the Big South Volleyball Tournament this year at Coastal Carolina. Loss for the third time this year to a really good Radford team. Now that the season is over I calculated that CU a Volleyball had traveled 5,400 miles this year and the Doughtie's went 4900 miles watching the Lady Camels. What kept it so close was we drove round trip from Rocky Mount to Campbell every home weekend. Got only one more year to go. It sure has been fun so far.
Has Florida State played a conference game on the road this year? Seems every week they are home and BC gets a crack at the Florida State winning streak this weekend. The Noles need to kill somebody from the opening kickoff and it is either BC or next week against Florida. It is about time the Seminoles rolled 42-20.
Wake Forest is home to Virginia Tech who has just as hard a time scoring as Wake does. Winner of this game will have to scramble to score 20. Tech 23-Wake Forest 13.
Georgia State at Clemson: The Tigers are hurting all over the place both in the won-loss column and players on the field. Should have enough horses to win this one. Clemson 38- Georgia State 18
Syracuse at Pitt; Should be a high scoring game for the winner and I expect that to be Pitt 41-27.
Louisville heads to Notre Dame. Ever since the loss to Florida state the Irish had fell on hard times. The Cardinals just might take this one. Louisville 33 ND28.
Here is an interesting game. Miami at Virginia. The big question here is will Miami be flat after falling to FSU? Virginia is good at home. Miami survives 35-31
Tulane Green Wave head to Greenville to meet the Pirates and if there is one team that needs a win it is ECU. Speculation three weeks ago was they were going to play on new years day but now seem destined for a bowl on the Gulf Coast, what a bummer. Pirates need to rock somebody. ECU 45 Tulane 24.
Have been to warm Mytrle Beach Thursday as Campbell played for the first time since Morgan has been at CU in the Big South Volleyball Tournament this year at Coastal Carolina. Loss for the third time this year to a really good Radford team. Now that the season is over I calculated that CU a Volleyball had traveled 5,400 miles this year and the Doughtie's went 4900 miles watching the Lady Camels. What kept it so close was we drove round trip from Rocky Mount to Campbell every home weekend. Got only one more year to go. It sure has been fun so far.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Pace Picks Up In Second Round
Ok, we have gotten rid of all the teams that should not have made the playoffs and we head on to the second round. Six teams from our area are still alive and there is a real good chance five of the six finish football this week if they don't play great football on Friday night. Have had two weeks in a row of great guessing going 13-1 in high school games and was 6-1 last week. Stand on the year at 77-21
The only team playing this Friday carrying a favorite label is Tarboro in the 1-AA bracket. They are conference champs and are the three seed going up against Louisburg a second place squad in their league and are sixth. Louisburg has scored 48 or more points in five straight games so Chris Lee has them humming on offense. When you consider the teams played in the non conference play Jeff Craddock has his Vikings right where he wants them. Just maybe around the state other folks are looking past Tarboro because they haven't beaten everybody his year. The Vikings play another Thanksgiving Friday 34-27 over Louisburg.
North Edgecombe is the five seed and must travel to the four seed Southside. Both teams are 9-3 and this game is a tossup and when ever any game is a tossup you have better pick the home team. North Edgecombe will have to play at a superior level to win this one on the road. Southside 26 North Edgecombe 18.
The 2-AA bracket has two other teams with 9-3 records as SouthWest Edgecombe travels to Jacksonville to play Northside. Northside has won seven straight games and here we go with another game that if I was laying odds Northside is about a three and a half point favorite. Once again a road game in a close one take the home team. Northside 34 SWE 27
Fike host Northern Guilford and both teams are 11-1. Both have one loss and both were second in their conference. Fike's lone loss was a shootout with Southern Nash 42-35 while Northern lost in a shootout 32-28 to unbeaten Eastern Alamance. I think Fike had a better team last year that the way this squad turned out even though they lost only once. Northern Guilford in a tossup game takes this one and I am going against in a tossup picking the home team.
Southern Nash and Eastern Wayne meet in Stanhope. EW 9-2 and Southern 9-3. Here is how I look at this one. Rose crushed Rocky Mount in non conference play and Eastern Wayne beat Rose by 40. EW two losses are to New Bern and who beats New Bern and D H Conley 4-A school on the road. Eastern Wayne wins at Firebird country 35-26.
Rocky Mount's second round game is about 30 miles further down I-85 over last week's game. They face the top 3-A tem in the east bracket. Rocky Mount proved last week they are capable. Southern has score at least 35 in every game this year. Rocky Mount will have to slow them down to stay in this one. If you look back I have gotten Rocky Mount's game wrong more than any other team this year. Gryphon fans shout because there is hope I'm picking Southern 35-28.
If these predictions hold true only Tarboro will be left next week. Need all our locals teams to pick it up and keep this area alive in every level of the playoffs. Pulling for all of our teams!!!!!
There is a small matter of a football game tonight in Durham as Carolina travels Duke. Duke lost last week and still clings to first in the division. Carolina needs one of their last two games to get to six wins. Duke has the best coaching staff in the ACC. The amount of points that Carolina gives up you wonder about their coaching this far into the Fedora era at Carolina.. Carolina can put points on the board but Duke has shown they can when they need to. I think Carolina will out score Duke 44-30.
The only team playing this Friday carrying a favorite label is Tarboro in the 1-AA bracket. They are conference champs and are the three seed going up against Louisburg a second place squad in their league and are sixth. Louisburg has scored 48 or more points in five straight games so Chris Lee has them humming on offense. When you consider the teams played in the non conference play Jeff Craddock has his Vikings right where he wants them. Just maybe around the state other folks are looking past Tarboro because they haven't beaten everybody his year. The Vikings play another Thanksgiving Friday 34-27 over Louisburg.
North Edgecombe is the five seed and must travel to the four seed Southside. Both teams are 9-3 and this game is a tossup and when ever any game is a tossup you have better pick the home team. North Edgecombe will have to play at a superior level to win this one on the road. Southside 26 North Edgecombe 18.
The 2-AA bracket has two other teams with 9-3 records as SouthWest Edgecombe travels to Jacksonville to play Northside. Northside has won seven straight games and here we go with another game that if I was laying odds Northside is about a three and a half point favorite. Once again a road game in a close one take the home team. Northside 34 SWE 27
Fike host Northern Guilford and both teams are 11-1. Both have one loss and both were second in their conference. Fike's lone loss was a shootout with Southern Nash 42-35 while Northern lost in a shootout 32-28 to unbeaten Eastern Alamance. I think Fike had a better team last year that the way this squad turned out even though they lost only once. Northern Guilford in a tossup game takes this one and I am going against in a tossup picking the home team.
Southern Nash and Eastern Wayne meet in Stanhope. EW 9-2 and Southern 9-3. Here is how I look at this one. Rose crushed Rocky Mount in non conference play and Eastern Wayne beat Rose by 40. EW two losses are to New Bern and who beats New Bern and D H Conley 4-A school on the road. Eastern Wayne wins at Firebird country 35-26.
Rocky Mount's second round game is about 30 miles further down I-85 over last week's game. They face the top 3-A tem in the east bracket. Rocky Mount proved last week they are capable. Southern has score at least 35 in every game this year. Rocky Mount will have to slow them down to stay in this one. If you look back I have gotten Rocky Mount's game wrong more than any other team this year. Gryphon fans shout because there is hope I'm picking Southern 35-28.
If these predictions hold true only Tarboro will be left next week. Need all our locals teams to pick it up and keep this area alive in every level of the playoffs. Pulling for all of our teams!!!!!
There is a small matter of a football game tonight in Durham as Carolina travels Duke. Duke lost last week and still clings to first in the division. Carolina needs one of their last two games to get to six wins. Duke has the best coaching staff in the ACC. The amount of points that Carolina gives up you wonder about their coaching this far into the Fedora era at Carolina.. Carolina can put points on the board but Duke has shown they can when they need to. I think Carolina will out score Duke 44-30.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Many Upsets Spoil NFL Week
Had a good week on the NFL picks in the games that were tossup games. Terrible on the highly favored team winning. Went 7-7 on the week running my total to 99-60. I'm like a gambler that is behind I need to bet more to catch up so here we go this week.
Thursday night Chiefs @ Raiders: I doubt the Raiders go 0-16 and now that the season is beginning to disappear if they are going to win one it needs to be soon. Perfect game for upset. Chiefs now tied for first with Broncs in AFC West and on the road on Thursday. Not a good recipe for the favorite. I think Raiders defense is decent they just can't score.. After all that setup talk I'll take the Chiefs 23-14.
Browns at Falcons: ok, finally happened as the Browns fell off the wagon. Falcons are now in position to win NFC South. I think they can. Falcons 27- Browns 21.
Titans at Eagles: Eagles got drubbed last week but not this one but it will be close. Eagles 27- Titans 17.
Lions at Patriots: Where did the Pats become so good. Still don't see them winning Super Bowl but got to give them credit. They have beaten all the leaders in AFC divisions. Lions lose in Boston 34-24.
Packers at Vikes: Does it seem to you like the Packers are winning just a little bit too easy right now. Ride the horse that brung you as long as it last. Packers 38 Vikes 21.
Jags at Colts. Indy can score points but against other good teams give up tooo many. No problem this week Indy 37- Jacksonville 16.
Bengals at Texans: Might be game of the week, I think home team prevails and J J Watts is held scoreless Houston 24 Cincinnati 20.
Jets at Bills: Jets don't have to worry about and o fer season so they can lose this one. Bills 24 Jets 16.
Bucs at the Bears: This is a game of which team for each one of these teams show up. The Bucs can beat anybody and lose to the nobodies. Jay Cutler you never know about him. I'll take DA Bears 27-23.
Cardinals at Seahawks: If Seahawks make the playoffs they have to win this game.. This one could go down to the last play. Hawks 20- Arizona 17.
Rams at Chargers: I told you last week the Rams were going to be good next year and they thump Denver but that was home. Chargers need this one because they have the toughest schedules won/loss percentage in their remaining four games. Chargers 23- Rams 17.
Dolphins at Broncos: Are the Broncs hurt as bad as they played Sunday if they are the Fish could get them. I think Denver's loss from a perfect storm in St Louis. Denver 30 Miami 21.
Skins at 49's: Skins started playing the blame game which can only lead to more losses. 9'ers still in playoff hunt. SF 28 Skins 20
Cowboys at Giants: In this series this is the game the Giants win. Cowboys have been pretty proud of themselves and Eli was awful last week. Giants 23- Boys 21
Ravens at Saints on Monday Night football: I keep expecting for the Saints to start streaking but I don't think it happens this year. Raven D keeps them in playoff hunt. A loss and Saints might still be in first.
Thursday night Chiefs @ Raiders: I doubt the Raiders go 0-16 and now that the season is beginning to disappear if they are going to win one it needs to be soon. Perfect game for upset. Chiefs now tied for first with Broncs in AFC West and on the road on Thursday. Not a good recipe for the favorite. I think Raiders defense is decent they just can't score.. After all that setup talk I'll take the Chiefs 23-14.
Browns at Falcons: ok, finally happened as the Browns fell off the wagon. Falcons are now in position to win NFC South. I think they can. Falcons 27- Browns 21.
Titans at Eagles: Eagles got drubbed last week but not this one but it will be close. Eagles 27- Titans 17.
Lions at Patriots: Where did the Pats become so good. Still don't see them winning Super Bowl but got to give them credit. They have beaten all the leaders in AFC divisions. Lions lose in Boston 34-24.
Packers at Vikes: Does it seem to you like the Packers are winning just a little bit too easy right now. Ride the horse that brung you as long as it last. Packers 38 Vikes 21.
Jags at Colts. Indy can score points but against other good teams give up tooo many. No problem this week Indy 37- Jacksonville 16.
Bengals at Texans: Might be game of the week, I think home team prevails and J J Watts is held scoreless Houston 24 Cincinnati 20.
Jets at Bills: Jets don't have to worry about and o fer season so they can lose this one. Bills 24 Jets 16.
Bucs at the Bears: This is a game of which team for each one of these teams show up. The Bucs can beat anybody and lose to the nobodies. Jay Cutler you never know about him. I'll take DA Bears 27-23.
Cardinals at Seahawks: If Seahawks make the playoffs they have to win this game.. This one could go down to the last play. Hawks 20- Arizona 17.
Rams at Chargers: I told you last week the Rams were going to be good next year and they thump Denver but that was home. Chargers need this one because they have the toughest schedules won/loss percentage in their remaining four games. Chargers 23- Rams 17.
Dolphins at Broncos: Are the Broncs hurt as bad as they played Sunday if they are the Fish could get them. I think Denver's loss from a perfect storm in St Louis. Denver 30 Miami 21.
Skins at 49's: Skins started playing the blame game which can only lead to more losses. 9'ers still in playoff hunt. SF 28 Skins 20
Cowboys at Giants: In this series this is the game the Giants win. Cowboys have been pretty proud of themselves and Eli was awful last week. Giants 23- Boys 21
Ravens at Saints on Monday Night football: I keep expecting for the Saints to start streaking but I don't think it happens this year. Raven D keeps them in playoff hunt. A loss and Saints might still be in first.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Is Todd Gurley's College Career Over?
Saturday during the Georgia-Auburn football game Todd Gurley started around left end and during a cut his knee buckled and Georgia has announce that his season is over after tearing his ACL. Gurley a junior and to say the least this has been a rough year for Gurley who over five weeks ago was the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy until the NCAA sat him down for collecting about three thousand dollars for signing his name.
The former Tarboro Viking more than likely will go in the NFL draft as a junior but this injury may pull him down as one of the top picks in the draft. The question will Todd return to play college football now?
Former Northern Nash basketball player Alexus Hill began her division one basketball playing career coming off the bench for Gardner Webb Saturday and scored 10 points which was the third leading scorer for Webb. Unfortunately GW was in Bloomington Indiana playing IU and got rolled 114-58. Hill played 25 minutes. That is really good news playing so many minutes early as Alexus must really be making an impression with their coaches.
Two games into her college basketball career Carmen Richardson has score 12 points in Queens College first two basketball games. The former Gryphon had hoped to be teammates with former Gryphon Tia Hudgins but Hudgins basketball career is over from health issues keeping her off the court.
Tashaun Mabry the former Gryphon now a senior at Tarleton State is averaging 13.5 points per game after two games in Texas. Mabry was the MVP of the 2010 Gryphon State Championship team. Spent three year in Junior College and one year had to sit out after a knee injury. His last two seasons have been at Tarleton.
Cardinal Gibbons won the men's soccer state championship on Saturday which gives them every state championship in every sport played in the fall except football. They lost in the first round getting knocked out last week. There are just too many advantages that a private school has that allows them to dominate sports. It is simply unfair that they are not limited on the area that kids have to come from in order to play sports for them.
High school basketball season gets under way in the area Wednesday as Rocky Mount host Rose and SouthWest Edgecombe visits Nash Central. Thursday Northern swings into action as Henry Drake will coach his first varsity game as Northern host East Wake.
N C State's win on Saturday against Wake Forest makes them Bowl eligible. They join Duke who lost for the second time all year but are already over the six win plateau. Carolina will be trying Thursday or two Saturdays from now to get win number six. They play Duke at Duke Thursday and State in Chapel Hill Thanksgiving Saturday to get their sixth win or more.
The former Tarboro Viking more than likely will go in the NFL draft as a junior but this injury may pull him down as one of the top picks in the draft. The question will Todd return to play college football now?
Former Northern Nash basketball player Alexus Hill began her division one basketball playing career coming off the bench for Gardner Webb Saturday and scored 10 points which was the third leading scorer for Webb. Unfortunately GW was in Bloomington Indiana playing IU and got rolled 114-58. Hill played 25 minutes. That is really good news playing so many minutes early as Alexus must really be making an impression with their coaches.
Two games into her college basketball career Carmen Richardson has score 12 points in Queens College first two basketball games. The former Gryphon had hoped to be teammates with former Gryphon Tia Hudgins but Hudgins basketball career is over from health issues keeping her off the court.
Tashaun Mabry the former Gryphon now a senior at Tarleton State is averaging 13.5 points per game after two games in Texas. Mabry was the MVP of the 2010 Gryphon State Championship team. Spent three year in Junior College and one year had to sit out after a knee injury. His last two seasons have been at Tarleton.
Cardinal Gibbons won the men's soccer state championship on Saturday which gives them every state championship in every sport played in the fall except football. They lost in the first round getting knocked out last week. There are just too many advantages that a private school has that allows them to dominate sports. It is simply unfair that they are not limited on the area that kids have to come from in order to play sports for them.
High school basketball season gets under way in the area Wednesday as Rocky Mount host Rose and SouthWest Edgecombe visits Nash Central. Thursday Northern swings into action as Henry Drake will coach his first varsity game as Northern host East Wake.
N C State's win on Saturday against Wake Forest makes them Bowl eligible. They join Duke who lost for the second time all year but are already over the six win plateau. Carolina will be trying Thursday or two Saturdays from now to get win number six. They play Duke at Duke Thursday and State in Chapel Hill Thanksgiving Saturday to get their sixth win or more.
Monday, November 17, 2014
Plenty Of Locals Still In Round Two
Started out the State Playoffs with eight teams from the Wilson, Edgecombe and Nash County and the only one that lost to an outsider was RM Prep who nobody in their right mind thought they would win any way. Hunt lost to another conference member so this area really came on strong in the opening round of the playoffs. Week two there is good news as no local will have to play another local but the quality of the competition picks up every where.
North Edgecombe will be on the road as a number five seed at the number four Southside. They did play two common teams this season as North Edgecombe beat Riverside Martin 24-14 while Southside lost 22-34. They both beat South Creek, NE 46-20 and SS 56-34. Southside averages 37.5 points per game while NE 34.5. Both teams give up around 20 per game. This game is a toss up but North Edgecombe is on the road.
Louisburg at Tarboro: This marks the return of former JV coach at Rocky Mount Chris Lee back to the area. Louisburg the number nine seed visits Tarboro the three seed. Louisburg 8-4 and Tarboro 9-3. Each team played RM Prep and both were big winners Louisburg 49-0 and Tarboro 57-6. Louisburg scores at a 41 points per game clip while the Vikings 35. Tarboro is five points better on defense 15-20. Tarboro is the favorite in this one.
Southwest Edgecombe the number 6 seed in the 2-AA hits the road taking on Northside of Jacksonville the three seed. Both are 9-3 and both played one like opponent North Brunswick. SWE winning 35-13 and Northside winning 21-13. The Cougars score 35 every Friday while Northside 27.5. The Cougars give up more 18 to 16.5 for the Jacksonville team. This one is a toss-up but the Cougars are on the road.
Northern Guilford 7th seed comes to Wilson to take on the 2nd seed Fike. Both are 11-1. NG lone loss was 32-28 to Eastern Alamance who is still undefeated. Fike's lone loss was a 42-35 defeat to Southern Nash. They have not play any common foes. NG score 43 a clip while Fike 35. Fike gives up 16 while NG 12. This game is a toss up only because it is at Wilson. If they were playing at NG then NG would be favored.
Eastern Wayne 9-2 and a number five seed visits Southern Nash 9-3 and the four seed. Nothing to compare as they have played no like teams. EW scores 38 a game while S Nash is 26 which is the worse offense from our area still alive. Defensively the Firebirds give up 19.5 per game while Eastern Wayne has been tighter 15. Eastern Wayne a slight favorite.
The top seed in 3-A east Southern Guilford 12-0 host the Gryphons of Rocky Mount the ninth seed and that is the highest seeded local team still alive and stand at 8-4. Southern Scores 43 every time out while the Gryphons 32. It is awash on the defensive side both about 15. Gryphons will be at least a touchdown underdog but that didn't matter last week did it.
North Edgecombe will be on the road as a number five seed at the number four Southside. They did play two common teams this season as North Edgecombe beat Riverside Martin 24-14 while Southside lost 22-34. They both beat South Creek, NE 46-20 and SS 56-34. Southside averages 37.5 points per game while NE 34.5. Both teams give up around 20 per game. This game is a toss up but North Edgecombe is on the road.
Louisburg at Tarboro: This marks the return of former JV coach at Rocky Mount Chris Lee back to the area. Louisburg the number nine seed visits Tarboro the three seed. Louisburg 8-4 and Tarboro 9-3. Each team played RM Prep and both were big winners Louisburg 49-0 and Tarboro 57-6. Louisburg scores at a 41 points per game clip while the Vikings 35. Tarboro is five points better on defense 15-20. Tarboro is the favorite in this one.
Southwest Edgecombe the number 6 seed in the 2-AA hits the road taking on Northside of Jacksonville the three seed. Both are 9-3 and both played one like opponent North Brunswick. SWE winning 35-13 and Northside winning 21-13. The Cougars score 35 every Friday while Northside 27.5. The Cougars give up more 18 to 16.5 for the Jacksonville team. This one is a toss-up but the Cougars are on the road.
Northern Guilford 7th seed comes to Wilson to take on the 2nd seed Fike. Both are 11-1. NG lone loss was 32-28 to Eastern Alamance who is still undefeated. Fike's lone loss was a 42-35 defeat to Southern Nash. They have not play any common foes. NG score 43 a clip while Fike 35. Fike gives up 16 while NG 12. This game is a toss up only because it is at Wilson. If they were playing at NG then NG would be favored.
Eastern Wayne 9-2 and a number five seed visits Southern Nash 9-3 and the four seed. Nothing to compare as they have played no like teams. EW scores 38 a game while S Nash is 26 which is the worse offense from our area still alive. Defensively the Firebirds give up 19.5 per game while Eastern Wayne has been tighter 15. Eastern Wayne a slight favorite.
The top seed in 3-A east Southern Guilford 12-0 host the Gryphons of Rocky Mount the ninth seed and that is the highest seeded local team still alive and stand at 8-4. Southern Scores 43 every time out while the Gryphons 32. It is awash on the defensive side both about 15. Gryphons will be at least a touchdown underdog but that didn't matter last week did it.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Get Off My Back Monkey
Jason Battle weights 50 pounds less than he did when he took the field Friday night carrying his Gryphons to Elon and Western Alamance High School. Battle's first year as coach of the Gryphons they laid an egg in an opening round home loss to Jacksonville and last year even though not favored were dominated by Orange losing 31-3.
The Gryphons were not favored Friday but steller defense holding WA on a fourth down from the 50 with less than a foot to go and taking the ball down the field for the winning score. No longer does Jason Battle have to ride that monkey around on his shoulders. If you look at Battle's first three years you might say that this is the first win for the Gryphons over a team that was deemed better than them.
If there was one coaching point that if I was Battle I would be preaching on Monday is look what we can do when we keep our mouth shut. I have many people who give me information and I heard Friday night from a ref who has done a couple of Rocky Mount games this year and I can tell you he said Rocky Mount is the talkingest team by far of all the games he has done this year. You can bet other refs have heard from others and before they step on the field they are watching. No major issues against Western Alamance and what comes from it but a great Gryphon comeback win.
Up next for the Gryphons is the top seed in the east Southern Guilford. 12-0. I know Battle and his coaches are already looking at Southern Guilford but if I was a player I would celebrate until practice on Monday after their effort against the WA Warriors.
Another Monkey removed from the Gryphons was the stigma of having lost to WA three times since 2005 in the State playoffs. 2005 the Warriors came into Rocky Mount for the eastern Finals when the Gryphon only loss of the year had been a very respectable 35-20 loss to Rose. When everyone went home after the game there was no doubt that WA was the best team winning 30-10.
2006 in the third round WA gave up the lead very late in the game 37-34 only to score with seconds remaining to beat the Gryphons 41-37 and breaking the Gryphons hearts. The following year another thrilling tussle at Western Alamance as WA lead 43-36 with the Gryphons driving with less than a minute to go and WA picked of a pass which became a pick six 50-36 win.
2005,2006,2007 the Gryphons were 12-2, 10-4 and 14-1 a record of 36-7 during that span but 0-3 against Western Alamance. The Gryphons preformed an Exorism on Friday night. Jason Battle has won a playoff game and the Gryphon Nation finally beat that demon Western Alamance.
The Gryphons were not favored Friday but steller defense holding WA on a fourth down from the 50 with less than a foot to go and taking the ball down the field for the winning score. No longer does Jason Battle have to ride that monkey around on his shoulders. If you look at Battle's first three years you might say that this is the first win for the Gryphons over a team that was deemed better than them.
If there was one coaching point that if I was Battle I would be preaching on Monday is look what we can do when we keep our mouth shut. I have many people who give me information and I heard Friday night from a ref who has done a couple of Rocky Mount games this year and I can tell you he said Rocky Mount is the talkingest team by far of all the games he has done this year. You can bet other refs have heard from others and before they step on the field they are watching. No major issues against Western Alamance and what comes from it but a great Gryphon comeback win.
Up next for the Gryphons is the top seed in the east Southern Guilford. 12-0. I know Battle and his coaches are already looking at Southern Guilford but if I was a player I would celebrate until practice on Monday after their effort against the WA Warriors.
Another Monkey removed from the Gryphons was the stigma of having lost to WA three times since 2005 in the State playoffs. 2005 the Warriors came into Rocky Mount for the eastern Finals when the Gryphon only loss of the year had been a very respectable 35-20 loss to Rose. When everyone went home after the game there was no doubt that WA was the best team winning 30-10.
2006 in the third round WA gave up the lead very late in the game 37-34 only to score with seconds remaining to beat the Gryphons 41-37 and breaking the Gryphons hearts. The following year another thrilling tussle at Western Alamance as WA lead 43-36 with the Gryphons driving with less than a minute to go and WA picked of a pass which became a pick six 50-36 win.
2005,2006,2007 the Gryphons were 12-2, 10-4 and 14-1 a record of 36-7 during that span but 0-3 against Western Alamance. The Gryphons preformed an Exorism on Friday night. Jason Battle has won a playoff game and the Gryphon Nation finally beat that demon Western Alamance.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Perfect Season
Rocky Mount Academy has completed their first undefeated season beating Parrott Academy to win the NC eight man football title for the second season in a row. Cold weather didn't hinder the crowd as over two thousand came to Bishop Stadium. RMA lead 26-14 at the half and a sloppy third quarter of penalties to RMA and fumbles marred Parrott. Both teams scored once in the fourth quarter as The Eagles finish the season 12-0 after a 33-20 win over Parrott.
The real upset of the night almost happened in Stanhope as Burlington Williams came close to knocking off the top seed in the Big East. Down 14-7 just before the half Firebirds were driving on the two yard line when an intercepted pass was returned 98 yards for a pick six and a 21-7 Williams lead. The second half saw the Firebirds fight back but every time they scored Williams did just enough to stay ahead Burlington Williams lead 28-20 in the fourth quarter. Southern Nash would not be denied as they score twice late to beat Burlington Williams 35-28.
Tonight Rocky Mount has gone to a place where they have been twice in the last ten years only to lose deep in the high school playoffs. Rashawn Harris scored on a 16 yard run to tie game in the second quarter but the Gryphons scored twice in the fourth quarter after Western Alamance had taken a 14-7 lead on runs by Nick Bynum and his last score came with 2:41 to go. Gryphons win 21-14
Tonight we can give you at least one reason why there is too many teams in the high school playoffs. Tarboro played host to Hobbton and they are a traditional power most years but not this year. By halftime the clock was already running at Tarboro as they had forged a 49 to 0 lead. Need I say more the Vikings win 61-0.
The game nobody wanted to play this week Hunt gave Fike all they wanted in this opening round playoff game but in the end Fike holds off their arch rival Hunt 21-16
Back in August when Rocky Mount had their football jamboree one of the teams that looked good was SE Halifax. Didn't really pay all that much attention to them but tonight as expected having lost only once on the season SE crushes RM Prep 54-8. The Prepsters have made more progress this year but were no match for SE Halifax.
There was a time in the second quarter when SouthWest Edgecombe and North Brunswick were 14-13 SWE. A second half dominated by the Cougars SWE advances with a 35-13 win.
North Edgecombe demonstrated that they are a real contender in the 1-A playoffs as they shut out Kestrel Heights 47-0 so between Tarboro and North Edgecombe they win 108-0 tonight.
All local teams from the Big East and the Twin Counties all win with the exception of Hunt who lost to Fike.
The real upset of the night almost happened in Stanhope as Burlington Williams came close to knocking off the top seed in the Big East. Down 14-7 just before the half Firebirds were driving on the two yard line when an intercepted pass was returned 98 yards for a pick six and a 21-7 Williams lead. The second half saw the Firebirds fight back but every time they scored Williams did just enough to stay ahead Burlington Williams lead 28-20 in the fourth quarter. Southern Nash would not be denied as they score twice late to beat Burlington Williams 35-28.
Tonight Rocky Mount has gone to a place where they have been twice in the last ten years only to lose deep in the high school playoffs. Rashawn Harris scored on a 16 yard run to tie game in the second quarter but the Gryphons scored twice in the fourth quarter after Western Alamance had taken a 14-7 lead on runs by Nick Bynum and his last score came with 2:41 to go. Gryphons win 21-14
Tonight we can give you at least one reason why there is too many teams in the high school playoffs. Tarboro played host to Hobbton and they are a traditional power most years but not this year. By halftime the clock was already running at Tarboro as they had forged a 49 to 0 lead. Need I say more the Vikings win 61-0.
The game nobody wanted to play this week Hunt gave Fike all they wanted in this opening round playoff game but in the end Fike holds off their arch rival Hunt 21-16
Back in August when Rocky Mount had their football jamboree one of the teams that looked good was SE Halifax. Didn't really pay all that much attention to them but tonight as expected having lost only once on the season SE crushes RM Prep 54-8. The Prepsters have made more progress this year but were no match for SE Halifax.
There was a time in the second quarter when SouthWest Edgecombe and North Brunswick were 14-13 SWE. A second half dominated by the Cougars SWE advances with a 35-13 win.
North Edgecombe demonstrated that they are a real contender in the 1-A playoffs as they shut out Kestrel Heights 47-0 so between Tarboro and North Edgecombe they win 108-0 tonight.
All local teams from the Big East and the Twin Counties all win with the exception of Hunt who lost to Fike.
Finally Feels like Football Weather
Several teams from around the area start high school playoffs tonight while RMA tries to wrap up another state title in eight man. The college scene has NC Wesleyan wrapping up their season as well as the other area colleges hitting the ten games played mark. Went 4-1 last week to run my guess record for the year in college games to 75-25.
Huntingdon Al at N C Wesleyan: This should be an excellent game to finish up the season with. Huntingdon is second while Wesleyan is middle of the pack. This has been a fairly good season for the Battling Bishops and could get topped off if they can spring an upset. Home field will help but Huntingdon wins 34-28
The Big one in the ACC has Florida State traveling to Miami. Let's face it FSU played a couple of strong teams early but nobody the last six weeks or so. The folks with the playoff vote have been dropping the Noles every week due to their lack luster play. The Canes will be the team to knock Florida State off the ACC perch. Miami 38- FSU 35
Clemson and Georgia Tech: Should FSU go undefeated the winner of this game will be in competition with Duke for the Orange Bowl game. Clemson has been hurt by injuries but somehow or other during this period in football where the quarterback passing is king Georgia Tech keeps on running the wishbone and winning 9 games every year. I'll take Tech 36-33
Virginia Tech after beating Ohio State hasn't done much since. Duke just keeps on winning and I think they win again this week in a low scoring game. Duke 24 VA Tech 17
Pitt at North Carolina: I hope the score board has new light bulbs because the points will be flying. Hope a week off for the Tar Heels helps the defense. Pitt 52- Carolina 42
Wake at N C State: Wake has a good defense which will probably hold the Pack scoring down. A win and the Pack will have enough wins to be Bowl Eligible. Pack 31- Wake 17
Time to vent: Now that everyone plays 12 football games please change the bowl eligibility to seven wins. No team 6-6 has earned a special trip to a bowl game.
The state 1-A playoffs in the east have eight teams that range from 1-8, 2-6, 2-9, 2-8, 3-8, 3-7, 3-7 4-7. What are they doing in the playoffs. If their is not enough quality teams cut 1-A back to a four game playoff PLEASE.
Huntingdon Al at N C Wesleyan: This should be an excellent game to finish up the season with. Huntingdon is second while Wesleyan is middle of the pack. This has been a fairly good season for the Battling Bishops and could get topped off if they can spring an upset. Home field will help but Huntingdon wins 34-28
The Big one in the ACC has Florida State traveling to Miami. Let's face it FSU played a couple of strong teams early but nobody the last six weeks or so. The folks with the playoff vote have been dropping the Noles every week due to their lack luster play. The Canes will be the team to knock Florida State off the ACC perch. Miami 38- FSU 35
Clemson and Georgia Tech: Should FSU go undefeated the winner of this game will be in competition with Duke for the Orange Bowl game. Clemson has been hurt by injuries but somehow or other during this period in football where the quarterback passing is king Georgia Tech keeps on running the wishbone and winning 9 games every year. I'll take Tech 36-33
Virginia Tech after beating Ohio State hasn't done much since. Duke just keeps on winning and I think they win again this week in a low scoring game. Duke 24 VA Tech 17
Pitt at North Carolina: I hope the score board has new light bulbs because the points will be flying. Hope a week off for the Tar Heels helps the defense. Pitt 52- Carolina 42
Wake at N C State: Wake has a good defense which will probably hold the Pack scoring down. A win and the Pack will have enough wins to be Bowl Eligible. Pack 31- Wake 17
Time to vent: Now that everyone plays 12 football games please change the bowl eligibility to seven wins. No team 6-6 has earned a special trip to a bowl game.
The state 1-A playoffs in the east have eight teams that range from 1-8, 2-6, 2-9, 2-8, 3-8, 3-7, 3-7 4-7. What are they doing in the playoffs. If their is not enough quality teams cut 1-A back to a four game playoff PLEASE.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Eagles Go For Two Straight
The Rocky Mount Academy Eagles go after their second straight NC eight man football title Friday and in the process go after their first ever undefeated season in Eagle History. Arendell Parrott Academy a team they have already beaten by 18 earlier this year in Kinston stands in RMA's way for their second straight title.
This will not be an easy game by any means. If the Eagles are not ready from the get go in this one Parrott could easily pull the upset. Expect a large crowd again this year as there is no Rocky Mount school at home this weekend so many will be out in force like last year supporting the Eagles and the newly named Bishops Stadium.. Eagles will get the job done 54-34.
Rocky Mount Prep the #15 seed in 1-A travels to SE Halifax who holds down the #2 seed and have already dispose of the Jags once this year 58-8. Might not be as bad as earlier but a loss for Prep. SEH 49 RMP 16
North Edgecombe has demonstrated this year that they are very capable of going deep into the 1-A playoffs and since Tarboro is 1-AA they very well might. # 12 seed Kestrel Heights out of Durham will take on the #5 seed Warriors and North Edgecombe will advance 33-12
Tarboro the # three seed in 1-AA host Hobbton who in most years is near the top of the bracket not the bottom. Hobbton is a 14 seed having won but twice and I see no way they get number three. The Vikings win going away 38-13
SouthWest Edgecombe has proven to be well tested as they have played four other area teams in the Twin Counties who are seeded high in their playoff bracket. Cougars are a 6 seed hosting the #11 North Brunswick. By night's end the Cougars will play another Friday. 44-21
In the why do we have to do this game Hunt #15 travels to Fike #2. Hunt lost by 30 at home to Fike last week but we switch sites this week and the score will not be as bad but Fike still wins. 35-20
Southern Nash the Big East champs and a four seed host #13 Burlington Williams. The trick for the Firebirds and hold on to the ball and they can beat almost anybody. Put it on the ground two or three times they may finish up on Friday. Firebirds advance 28-14.
The Rocky Mount Gryphons a nine seed has to hit the road to eight seed Western Alamance a place where it is easy for Gryphons to find having played a 3rd and 4th round playoff games there in last seven years. 7-4 and just maybe could have been 9-2 with less talk on the field. This game just might be another great one between these two programs. It would be something if this Gryphon team could beat WA after two far superior teams couldn't. Western Alamance 27 Rocky Mount 17.
Had a 7-0 week last week in picking the final week of the high school season. As we head to the playoffs now stand at 71-20.
This will not be an easy game by any means. If the Eagles are not ready from the get go in this one Parrott could easily pull the upset. Expect a large crowd again this year as there is no Rocky Mount school at home this weekend so many will be out in force like last year supporting the Eagles and the newly named Bishops Stadium.. Eagles will get the job done 54-34.
Rocky Mount Prep the #15 seed in 1-A travels to SE Halifax who holds down the #2 seed and have already dispose of the Jags once this year 58-8. Might not be as bad as earlier but a loss for Prep. SEH 49 RMP 16
North Edgecombe has demonstrated this year that they are very capable of going deep into the 1-A playoffs and since Tarboro is 1-AA they very well might. # 12 seed Kestrel Heights out of Durham will take on the #5 seed Warriors and North Edgecombe will advance 33-12
Tarboro the # three seed in 1-AA host Hobbton who in most years is near the top of the bracket not the bottom. Hobbton is a 14 seed having won but twice and I see no way they get number three. The Vikings win going away 38-13
SouthWest Edgecombe has proven to be well tested as they have played four other area teams in the Twin Counties who are seeded high in their playoff bracket. Cougars are a 6 seed hosting the #11 North Brunswick. By night's end the Cougars will play another Friday. 44-21
In the why do we have to do this game Hunt #15 travels to Fike #2. Hunt lost by 30 at home to Fike last week but we switch sites this week and the score will not be as bad but Fike still wins. 35-20
Southern Nash the Big East champs and a four seed host #13 Burlington Williams. The trick for the Firebirds and hold on to the ball and they can beat almost anybody. Put it on the ground two or three times they may finish up on Friday. Firebirds advance 28-14.
The Rocky Mount Gryphons a nine seed has to hit the road to eight seed Western Alamance a place where it is easy for Gryphons to find having played a 3rd and 4th round playoff games there in last seven years. 7-4 and just maybe could have been 9-2 with less talk on the field. This game just might be another great one between these two programs. It would be something if this Gryphon team could beat WA after two far superior teams couldn't. Western Alamance 27 Rocky Mount 17.
Had a 7-0 week last week in picking the final week of the high school season. As we head to the playoffs now stand at 71-20.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Extra Work Pays Off
That private closed door meeting I had with myself plus all those extra wind sprints got me back on the right track in the NFL football picks. Considering how lousy I have been the last two weeks a very decent 9-4 on the week pushing my record to 92-53. The NFL is getting down to the point now where every win or loss could knock a team out of the playoffs or put them squarely in it.
Got one right off the bat with playoff implications. Buffalo at Miami. Miami beat down of San Diego has them squarely in the hunt and so are the Bills. I like the fish in this one by the tuna of 26-17.
Minnesota at Chicago: Can the Bears be as bad as they have played the last two weeks. It is about time for Jay Cutler to play like Superman because the last two weeks he has been super bad. I'll take Chicago but just bearly. 26-24.
Houston and Cleveland: The Browns are first in their division. Houston needs this one, bout time for Cleveland to lay an egg. Not this week Browns 23- Texans 17.
Atlanta at Carolina; The loser can kiss this season good bye I don't care if New Orleans doesn't win but 8 games this year. I like Cam at home and only because they are home. 24-21
Cincinnati at New Orleans: Everyone expects the Saints to take off and win about five in a row. The Bengals are another one of those great one week and sorry the next. Sounds like the Saints too. Brees is good enough in this one 31-21
Tampa Bay at Washington: One of the dud games of the week. Neither team going anywhere when the season is over except home. Skins win another one. 31-24
Denver at St Louis: The Broncs had better not sleep on this one. St Louis is one of those teams you had better look out for next year. Peyton throws some more TD's Denver 35-21
San Fran at the G-men. Looks like the 9er's beginning to put a little something together while the Giants still have Peyton's little brother and that's enough for me 49's 30 Giants 17
Seahawks at KC: This game has playoffs wrote all over it. Both need it and one will lose. I'll take Chiefs 27-23.
Oakland at San Diego: Winless Raiders against the got to have a win Chargers River returns to over a hundred QB rating Chargers 31 Oakland 20.
Detroit at Phoenix: Cardinals lose their starting qb but that has nothing to do with defense. Cards 24-21
Philadephia at Green Bay: May be the frozen Tundra this week and right now who can go against the double check man.. GB 38- Philly30
New England at Indianapolis: Another AFC position game. Somehow Indy wins a shootout 38-35.
Steelers at Titans: I still think Steelers are too old on defense. Might be a 17-16 type game and Nashville might win.
Got one right off the bat with playoff implications. Buffalo at Miami. Miami beat down of San Diego has them squarely in the hunt and so are the Bills. I like the fish in this one by the tuna of 26-17.
Minnesota at Chicago: Can the Bears be as bad as they have played the last two weeks. It is about time for Jay Cutler to play like Superman because the last two weeks he has been super bad. I'll take Chicago but just bearly. 26-24.
Houston and Cleveland: The Browns are first in their division. Houston needs this one, bout time for Cleveland to lay an egg. Not this week Browns 23- Texans 17.
Atlanta at Carolina; The loser can kiss this season good bye I don't care if New Orleans doesn't win but 8 games this year. I like Cam at home and only because they are home. 24-21
Cincinnati at New Orleans: Everyone expects the Saints to take off and win about five in a row. The Bengals are another one of those great one week and sorry the next. Sounds like the Saints too. Brees is good enough in this one 31-21
Tampa Bay at Washington: One of the dud games of the week. Neither team going anywhere when the season is over except home. Skins win another one. 31-24
Denver at St Louis: The Broncs had better not sleep on this one. St Louis is one of those teams you had better look out for next year. Peyton throws some more TD's Denver 35-21
San Fran at the G-men. Looks like the 9er's beginning to put a little something together while the Giants still have Peyton's little brother and that's enough for me 49's 30 Giants 17
Seahawks at KC: This game has playoffs wrote all over it. Both need it and one will lose. I'll take Chiefs 27-23.
Oakland at San Diego: Winless Raiders against the got to have a win Chargers River returns to over a hundred QB rating Chargers 31 Oakland 20.
Detroit at Phoenix: Cardinals lose their starting qb but that has nothing to do with defense. Cards 24-21
Philadephia at Green Bay: May be the frozen Tundra this week and right now who can go against the double check man.. GB 38- Philly30
New England at Indianapolis: Another AFC position game. Somehow Indy wins a shootout 38-35.
Steelers at Titans: I still think Steelers are too old on defense. Might be a 17-16 type game and Nashville might win.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Hendricks Tops National In All Purpose Yards
You may have wondered what happened to the Big East player of the year in football in 2011 Jalen Hendricks of Nash Central. Jalen is a member of the Livingstone football team located in Salisbury NC. Livingstone is a member of the CIAA and that puts them smack in the middle of Division II football.
If you go to NCAA.org and look under the stats you will find that Jalen is fourth in the nation in pass receiving yards getting 118.9 yards per game. There is one other stat that will impress you about Hendricks is he leads the nation in D2 in all purpose yards. That's receiving, rushing, punt returns, kickoff returns any thing that helps your team move forward. So far this year Jalen is averaging 210.33 yard per game which leads all of D2.
Todd Gurley is out of the penalty box and is ready to rejoin his team mates at Georgia this weekend. He has missed four games for taking three thousand dollars in cash for signing his name to Georgia gear. Up until his suspension Gurley was the leader in the race for the Heisman Trophy but his bench time has knocked him out of the running.
Barry Nethercutt of Rocky Mount has been named the Big East coach of the year after his team lost only two matches all season in women's tennis.
All schools at some time or other lose students because of death or illness and Rocky Mount High is one of the latest. My senior year in high school our class lost four members in an auto crash six days before our graduation. If you live life long enough we all have to go through life losing a loved one or in this case a class mate and teammate.
The Rocky Mount girls basketball team has the biggest adjustment to make with the loss Tiara Hinton. She was not only one of the taller players but with this upcoming team would have been one of the better players. Hinton was not the only basketball player in the car as another Lady Gryphon and two boy players were there as well as one of the boys driving. None of us know at anytime that we might be that person who hits some one and injury or death may be caused. I pray for the Hinton family as they begin life with a hole in their heart for Tiara. We must also remember that those left behind have to carry the burden of responsibility and he needs our prayers too.
If you go to NCAA.org and look under the stats you will find that Jalen is fourth in the nation in pass receiving yards getting 118.9 yards per game. There is one other stat that will impress you about Hendricks is he leads the nation in D2 in all purpose yards. That's receiving, rushing, punt returns, kickoff returns any thing that helps your team move forward. So far this year Jalen is averaging 210.33 yard per game which leads all of D2.
Todd Gurley is out of the penalty box and is ready to rejoin his team mates at Georgia this weekend. He has missed four games for taking three thousand dollars in cash for signing his name to Georgia gear. Up until his suspension Gurley was the leader in the race for the Heisman Trophy but his bench time has knocked him out of the running.
Barry Nethercutt of Rocky Mount has been named the Big East coach of the year after his team lost only two matches all season in women's tennis.
All schools at some time or other lose students because of death or illness and Rocky Mount High is one of the latest. My senior year in high school our class lost four members in an auto crash six days before our graduation. If you live life long enough we all have to go through life losing a loved one or in this case a class mate and teammate.
The Rocky Mount girls basketball team has the biggest adjustment to make with the loss Tiara Hinton. She was not only one of the taller players but with this upcoming team would have been one of the better players. Hinton was not the only basketball player in the car as another Lady Gryphon and two boy players were there as well as one of the boys driving. None of us know at anytime that we might be that person who hits some one and injury or death may be caused. I pray for the Hinton family as they begin life with a hole in their heart for Tiara. We must also remember that those left behind have to carry the burden of responsibility and he needs our prayers too.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Why Only Football
Can anyone tell me why football is the only sport played in the North Carolina public education that there are eight state champions? Don't tell me it is because football generates so much money that more games are more money. Basketball the other great money generator only has four champions and if you wanted to make more money with more games surely since you can play two and three basketball games per week basketball would be the best sport to play more games.
Fike gets a home playoff game in the first game of the state playoffs and as the number two seed in the east they play the number 15 seed Hunt. Not only a cross county rival but also a Big East partner with Fike. So the state association will tell you they have this formula and they let the chips fall where they land. How much more time would it take the state to browse through the brackets and where two teams from the same conference go head to head in the first round make an adjustment?
Why it only took me to look at the number one seed in the 3-A east to find the number one team Southern Durham facing off with conference foe Cardinal Gibbons the number 16 seed. Wasn't there anybody in Chapel Hill looking and saying why don't we flip flop the 15th and 16th seeds. Send Hunt to Southern Durham and Cardinal Gibbons to Wilson. There are many conference games being played this Friday in the first round. The State association is not doing a service to it's members with such idiotic seedings. This past election many old timers were thrown out of office. Might be time for the NCHSAA schools do something to wake up the sleeping parties in Chapel Hill.
Past years the playoff brackets are hardly ever official until 5 to 6 pm. They were official at 12:40pm. Guess the folks at the high school athletic association had to get to Kenan Stadium for the Carolina kickoff. Oh no, Carolina didn't play Saturday. How long would it take to scan the brackets and everywhere there are conference against same conference make a switch. That will probably take to at least 1pm.
The gorilla on the back of Jason Battle is he has had three very good years since becoming the head coach at Rocky Mount. His regular season record is 23-8. That gorilla is he is 0-2 in the playoffs. There can be no complaint from Rocky Mount about a 9th place seeding. They head to Western Alamance the 8th seed who carries a 9-2 record. The Gryphons will not be favored in this one. Should they somehow pull an upset then they are set to possibly play the number one seed in 3-A the undefeated team Southern Guilford. No easy road at all for the Gryphons.
All teams from the Big East are out of the soccer playoffs. Hunt lost in the fourth round to Cardinal Gibbons 2-1. CB now plays Jacksonville another eastern team that has been a thorn in the side of the Big East in the past.
Fike gets a home playoff game in the first game of the state playoffs and as the number two seed in the east they play the number 15 seed Hunt. Not only a cross county rival but also a Big East partner with Fike. So the state association will tell you they have this formula and they let the chips fall where they land. How much more time would it take the state to browse through the brackets and where two teams from the same conference go head to head in the first round make an adjustment?
Why it only took me to look at the number one seed in the 3-A east to find the number one team Southern Durham facing off with conference foe Cardinal Gibbons the number 16 seed. Wasn't there anybody in Chapel Hill looking and saying why don't we flip flop the 15th and 16th seeds. Send Hunt to Southern Durham and Cardinal Gibbons to Wilson. There are many conference games being played this Friday in the first round. The State association is not doing a service to it's members with such idiotic seedings. This past election many old timers were thrown out of office. Might be time for the NCHSAA schools do something to wake up the sleeping parties in Chapel Hill.
Past years the playoff brackets are hardly ever official until 5 to 6 pm. They were official at 12:40pm. Guess the folks at the high school athletic association had to get to Kenan Stadium for the Carolina kickoff. Oh no, Carolina didn't play Saturday. How long would it take to scan the brackets and everywhere there are conference against same conference make a switch. That will probably take to at least 1pm.
The gorilla on the back of Jason Battle is he has had three very good years since becoming the head coach at Rocky Mount. His regular season record is 23-8. That gorilla is he is 0-2 in the playoffs. There can be no complaint from Rocky Mount about a 9th place seeding. They head to Western Alamance the 8th seed who carries a 9-2 record. The Gryphons will not be favored in this one. Should they somehow pull an upset then they are set to possibly play the number one seed in 3-A the undefeated team Southern Guilford. No easy road at all for the Gryphons.
All teams from the Big East are out of the soccer playoffs. Hunt lost in the fourth round to Cardinal Gibbons 2-1. CB now plays Jacksonville another eastern team that has been a thorn in the side of the Big East in the past.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Life In College Athletics
Now in her junior year at Campbell University daughter Morgan headed off to Campbell to be the manager of the volleyball team three years ago. All athletic teams that play in the fall arrive in early August to begin practice before seasons begin late August or early September.
One of the first girls that Morgan met on the team was a girl named Jessica Groen pronounced grown from Las Cruces New Mexico. Jess had transferred from N C State who had a new coach and like all new coaches they have styles they want to play and Jess didn't fit the new style. Morgan and Jess are both new to the Creek.
If there was ever a Mutt and Jeff this is it. Jess stands at six feet two while Morgan on a good day is a foot shorter. Over the next two years Jess is one of Campbell's best players. After Morgan's freshman year and The Camels fail to win a conference game a new coach is brought in Greg Goral. Greg is a teacher not a fusser and his first year Campbell wins four conference games. His recruits over his first two years you can tell are better but little old Campbell has a hard sell to get the six feet four and more girls to come to the country. Volleyball is all about power at the net both be able to block shots or deliver a kill that the other team has to get out of the way of.
Senior year for Jess and the Camels starts with a weekend trip to California and Maryland and with all the new players bidding for playing time Jess finds that she is not having a senior year like her first two in Buies Creek and coach by conference time has decided to play the younger players and Jess finds the court hard to get on. Women's college volleyball you don't sit on the bench but stand in the corner until your time to go in. As conference wore on Jess hardly took off her warm up jacket.
This can be a terrifying experience for anyone their senior year after being one of the best players on the squad the last two. Every phase of our lives we come to cross roads in life. Didn't get the promotion you thought you should get. There is an old saying that life is 10% action and 90% reaction. Jess worked as hard as ever every day at practice. Her disappointment was only known by those close to her. She stayed a great team mate for others who now got on the court when she didn't.
This weekend was the last home stand of the season at Campbell and Saturday was senior day. Jess's family was there in force from New Mexico to Iowa because you see it's a long ways to see your children play every time out when they are two thousand miles away. Many games are lived streamed but most are only on game tracker. As luck would have it Jess gets into the lineup because an injury has occurred to the player in front of Jess now.
Jess now gets to play in front of her family and Friday played only average. Saturday Senior day the Camels are faced with playing the top team in the Big South Liberty who on the year is 22-7. The Camels fighting for the 8th spot need to win because they know UNC Asheville a game behind them and owning the tie breaker with Camel upset Winthrop. Her final game ever in Gore Arena Jessica Groen played at the level she had played in past seasons. She gets the winning ace to cap off one game victory and on the day had ten kills.
Over the last three seasons Pat and I have seen about 20 games each season and have traveled to California, Maryland and Kentucky as well as many conference games in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. We have grown to love Jess as all the girls on the team. We love her even more after what she has endured her senior season and her reaction to it. None of us know much about our futures and whether Jess heads back to New Mexico or calls Carolina home. I hope fifty years from now that Jess and Morgan are still great friends. I know they will be because Jess during her trying season has stayed the Jess we all know through thick and thin. They are the type people you want to be friends with for the rest of your life.
One of the first girls that Morgan met on the team was a girl named Jessica Groen pronounced grown from Las Cruces New Mexico. Jess had transferred from N C State who had a new coach and like all new coaches they have styles they want to play and Jess didn't fit the new style. Morgan and Jess are both new to the Creek.
If there was ever a Mutt and Jeff this is it. Jess stands at six feet two while Morgan on a good day is a foot shorter. Over the next two years Jess is one of Campbell's best players. After Morgan's freshman year and The Camels fail to win a conference game a new coach is brought in Greg Goral. Greg is a teacher not a fusser and his first year Campbell wins four conference games. His recruits over his first two years you can tell are better but little old Campbell has a hard sell to get the six feet four and more girls to come to the country. Volleyball is all about power at the net both be able to block shots or deliver a kill that the other team has to get out of the way of.
Senior year for Jess and the Camels starts with a weekend trip to California and Maryland and with all the new players bidding for playing time Jess finds that she is not having a senior year like her first two in Buies Creek and coach by conference time has decided to play the younger players and Jess finds the court hard to get on. Women's college volleyball you don't sit on the bench but stand in the corner until your time to go in. As conference wore on Jess hardly took off her warm up jacket.
This can be a terrifying experience for anyone their senior year after being one of the best players on the squad the last two. Every phase of our lives we come to cross roads in life. Didn't get the promotion you thought you should get. There is an old saying that life is 10% action and 90% reaction. Jess worked as hard as ever every day at practice. Her disappointment was only known by those close to her. She stayed a great team mate for others who now got on the court when she didn't.
This weekend was the last home stand of the season at Campbell and Saturday was senior day. Jess's family was there in force from New Mexico to Iowa because you see it's a long ways to see your children play every time out when they are two thousand miles away. Many games are lived streamed but most are only on game tracker. As luck would have it Jess gets into the lineup because an injury has occurred to the player in front of Jess now.
Jess now gets to play in front of her family and Friday played only average. Saturday Senior day the Camels are faced with playing the top team in the Big South Liberty who on the year is 22-7. The Camels fighting for the 8th spot need to win because they know UNC Asheville a game behind them and owning the tie breaker with Camel upset Winthrop. Her final game ever in Gore Arena Jessica Groen played at the level she had played in past seasons. She gets the winning ace to cap off one game victory and on the day had ten kills.
Over the last three seasons Pat and I have seen about 20 games each season and have traveled to California, Maryland and Kentucky as well as many conference games in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. We have grown to love Jess as all the girls on the team. We love her even more after what she has endured her senior season and her reaction to it. None of us know much about our futures and whether Jess heads back to New Mexico or calls Carolina home. I hope fifty years from now that Jess and Morgan are still great friends. I know they will be because Jess during her trying season has stayed the Jess we all know through thick and thin. They are the type people you want to be friends with for the rest of your life.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Football Playoffs 2014
Sitting down and trying to figure out a bracket for eight different divisions is not an easy job. They have now all types of formulas and the system works rather well. There is one slight problem that is an easy fix only if someone would look. There is no reason on earth that two teams from the same conference should have to play each other in the opening round. It has happened again to the Big East but there are several other instances where conference foes face off in the opening round.
Fike the #2 seed in the 3AA East is set to play Hunt the #15 seed in the opening playoff game next Friday. When ever a situation like this pops up why can't they either move Hunt to a #16 seed or up one and drop someone else from another conference to the 15 slot. Seems simple to me but that requires someone to make an executive decision which it seems no one in Chapel Hill is willing to make. It is not fair to either school to be put in this situation so early in the playoffs. If both played someone else first and met in the second round I think both wouldn't mind that happening but this is not a fair shake for any teams playing other conference members in the opening round. I think this is another example of too many teams in the playoffs.
Rocky Mount has drawn a # 9 seed in the 3A and they will meet a team they have met many times in the last 10 years Western Alamance. WA is 9-2 while the Gryphons are 7-4. Another tough first game for the Big East number three Gryphons. Second year in a row the Gryphons hit the road in the opening round.
Southern Nash is in 3-A and are seeded 4th and will play home against the 13th seed Burlington Williams. Should SN win as a four seed they will get another home game on the 21st.
The 2-AA finds SouthWest Edgecombe hosting as a six seed against North Brunswick 6-5 and a 12th seed.
Edgecombe County will send all three of their public high schools to the playoffs as Tarboro is a three seed in the 1-AA and host Hobbton who is 2-9
North Edgecombe is in the 1-A will is the fifth seed hosting Kestrel Heights 3-7. They are a Prep school from Durham with over a thousand students so how North Edgecombe gets them who knows.
Rocky Mount Prep sporting a 2-9 record is in and they will travel to SE Halifax at 10-1.
Northern Nash as the Big east is out at 5-6 even though there are other 3-A teams 5-6 in the playoffs.
Need to go to the front page of the NCHSAA.org website there is an article on Nash-Rocky Mount athletic Director Angie Miller. She is a member of the Board of director of the NCHSAA.
Fike the #2 seed in the 3AA East is set to play Hunt the #15 seed in the opening playoff game next Friday. When ever a situation like this pops up why can't they either move Hunt to a #16 seed or up one and drop someone else from another conference to the 15 slot. Seems simple to me but that requires someone to make an executive decision which it seems no one in Chapel Hill is willing to make. It is not fair to either school to be put in this situation so early in the playoffs. If both played someone else first and met in the second round I think both wouldn't mind that happening but this is not a fair shake for any teams playing other conference members in the opening round. I think this is another example of too many teams in the playoffs.
Rocky Mount has drawn a # 9 seed in the 3A and they will meet a team they have met many times in the last 10 years Western Alamance. WA is 9-2 while the Gryphons are 7-4. Another tough first game for the Big East number three Gryphons. Second year in a row the Gryphons hit the road in the opening round.
Southern Nash is in 3-A and are seeded 4th and will play home against the 13th seed Burlington Williams. Should SN win as a four seed they will get another home game on the 21st.
The 2-AA finds SouthWest Edgecombe hosting as a six seed against North Brunswick 6-5 and a 12th seed.
Edgecombe County will send all three of their public high schools to the playoffs as Tarboro is a three seed in the 1-AA and host Hobbton who is 2-9
North Edgecombe is in the 1-A will is the fifth seed hosting Kestrel Heights 3-7. They are a Prep school from Durham with over a thousand students so how North Edgecombe gets them who knows.
Rocky Mount Prep sporting a 2-9 record is in and they will travel to SE Halifax at 10-1.
Northern Nash as the Big east is out at 5-6 even though there are other 3-A teams 5-6 in the playoffs.
Need to go to the front page of the NCHSAA.org website there is an article on Nash-Rocky Mount athletic Director Angie Miller. She is a member of the Board of director of the NCHSAA.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Firebirds Get First, Gryphons Grab Third
How much mixed emotions can there be for Fike High School. They beat their arch Rival Hunt tonight by a whopping 51-21. They can be satisfied that they prevented their top rival any chance of taking home first place with the plastering they laid on Hunt. They also walk off the field knowing that a 4-1 record is tied at the top with Southern Nash only the Firebirds win the top seed for the 42-35 lost administered by Southern Nash to Fike in the opening week of conference play. Hunt finishes in fourth. It is the worse finish in their five years in the Big East in fact it is the first time they haven't won first.
Southern earned the top spot in the Big East with a did just enough victory over Nash Central 25-6. For the Bulldogs it is the second year in a row they have failed to win even one time. Every type of communications known to man has been speculating on the future of the football coach at Nash Central. It is known that the future for Brian Foster and his Firebirds is a home game next week in the playoffs.
At Rocky Mount both teams played let me give you an easy score in the first quarter but by the second quarter the Gryphon speed has taken control and the Gryphons win over arch rival Northern Nash 38-12. The Hunt loss and the Gryphon win propels the Gryphons to third.
The second round of the 8 man football playoffs is over and the top two seeds will square off for the title here in Rocky Mount next week. Rocky Mount Academy rolled over St Davids 60-30 while Arendell Parrott thumped Southampton Academy 74-42. The eight man football championship game I hear will be at Bishop Stadium just like last year when Parrott comes to RMA. RMA is now 11-0 while Parrott's only lost was to RMA.
Tarboro had little trouble with North Edgecombe 48-0. Looks like the Vikings are set for their annual run for another state title. Thursday SouthWest Edgecombe took second place in their conference with a 54-12 win over Beddingfield.
Finally tonight it was senior night at Rocky Mount and the senior football players were introduced before the game and during the halftime all other fall sports seniors were introduced. Yes when it was time to introduce the Senior volleyball players and parents there was a banner and the parents of Tiara Hinton were introduced her parents were behind that banner. Can you imagine what it took for them to walk from midfield when their heard her named called as a senior volleyball player. As they walked they receive a standing ovation from the nearly full Rocky Mount side. A very touching moment.
Southern earned the top spot in the Big East with a did just enough victory over Nash Central 25-6. For the Bulldogs it is the second year in a row they have failed to win even one time. Every type of communications known to man has been speculating on the future of the football coach at Nash Central. It is known that the future for Brian Foster and his Firebirds is a home game next week in the playoffs.
At Rocky Mount both teams played let me give you an easy score in the first quarter but by the second quarter the Gryphon speed has taken control and the Gryphons win over arch rival Northern Nash 38-12. The Hunt loss and the Gryphon win propels the Gryphons to third.
The second round of the 8 man football playoffs is over and the top two seeds will square off for the title here in Rocky Mount next week. Rocky Mount Academy rolled over St Davids 60-30 while Arendell Parrott thumped Southampton Academy 74-42. The eight man football championship game I hear will be at Bishop Stadium just like last year when Parrott comes to RMA. RMA is now 11-0 while Parrott's only lost was to RMA.
Tarboro had little trouble with North Edgecombe 48-0. Looks like the Vikings are set for their annual run for another state title. Thursday SouthWest Edgecombe took second place in their conference with a 54-12 win over Beddingfield.
Finally tonight it was senior night at Rocky Mount and the senior football players were introduced before the game and during the halftime all other fall sports seniors were introduced. Yes when it was time to introduce the Senior volleyball players and parents there was a banner and the parents of Tiara Hinton were introduced her parents were behind that banner. Can you imagine what it took for them to walk from midfield when their heard her named called as a senior volleyball player. As they walked they receive a standing ovation from the nearly full Rocky Mount side. A very touching moment.
ECU Tries To Rebound
The Pirates sure would love to have last week's dumpster fire back but find themselves on the road going up against just maybe the best team they have played besides South Carolina. A second week in a row road trip stops in Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati where they meet the Bearcats sporting a 5-3 record. The Pirates must get out of the funk they have been in for over a month. This is one of those games the Pirates need to prove they learned a lesson. Cats beat Pirates 26-23
Last week had a decent week going 6-1 on the college picks running my record to 71-24 on the season. One played game Thursday so only five games to pick. NC Wesleyan travels to Greensboro to meet the 2-6 Pride. Battling Bishops losers of two in a row get back on the winning ways 32-24
Louisville at Boston College. Both teams are 6-3. Louisville is 4-3 in ACC while BC is 3-2. I like the home team in this one. BC 28 Louisville 24.
Duke at Syracuse. You wonder how Duke keeps winning but they do. The Devils will win again as from what I see This could be a blowout. Duke 40 Cuse 21
Virginia at Florida St. Virginia started out very good this season but have faded down the stretch. Florida State needs to blow somebody out. Virginia offense is fair so FSU defense might look good this week cause I doubt The Cavs can keep up on Offense. FSU 38 UVA 17
Georgia Tech at N C State. This is a game the Pack could win. Tech presents a different offense to everyone they play and one week to practice is hard to prepare. State will need to score a bunch. A bowl bid will have to wait another week. GT 38. Pack 31
Hunt beat Southern Lee 4-3 on Wednesday and now moves on to the 4th round of the state soccer playoffs and who do they draw in round 4? Cardinal Gibbons. They meet on Saturday.
Will be part of the TV crew tonight when the Gryphons host the Knights in the final regular season football game. Northern with five wins and Rocky Mount with six should already be in playoffs regardless of the number of conference wins. The closer you are to the bottom of the standings the higher seed either will play next week. The loser tonight will not get an easy game in the opening playoff games next week. This should be a dandy game.
Last week had a decent week going 6-1 on the college picks running my record to 71-24 on the season. One played game Thursday so only five games to pick. NC Wesleyan travels to Greensboro to meet the 2-6 Pride. Battling Bishops losers of two in a row get back on the winning ways 32-24
Louisville at Boston College. Both teams are 6-3. Louisville is 4-3 in ACC while BC is 3-2. I like the home team in this one. BC 28 Louisville 24.
Duke at Syracuse. You wonder how Duke keeps winning but they do. The Devils will win again as from what I see This could be a blowout. Duke 40 Cuse 21
Virginia at Florida St. Virginia started out very good this season but have faded down the stretch. Florida State needs to blow somebody out. Virginia offense is fair so FSU defense might look good this week cause I doubt The Cavs can keep up on Offense. FSU 38 UVA 17
Georgia Tech at N C State. This is a game the Pack could win. Tech presents a different offense to everyone they play and one week to practice is hard to prepare. State will need to score a bunch. A bowl bid will have to wait another week. GT 38. Pack 31
Hunt beat Southern Lee 4-3 on Wednesday and now moves on to the 4th round of the state soccer playoffs and who do they draw in round 4? Cardinal Gibbons. They meet on Saturday.
Will be part of the TV crew tonight when the Gryphons host the Knights in the final regular season football game. Northern with five wins and Rocky Mount with six should already be in playoffs regardless of the number of conference wins. The closer you are to the bottom of the standings the higher seed either will play next week. The loser tonight will not get an easy game in the opening playoff games next week. This should be a dandy game.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Every Game Has Meaning
The only good thing I can think of when three or four teams from conferences make the playoffs is that we have come to the last game of the season and every game in our local area has seedings implications. There is only one team in our area already to pack up the uniforms after Friday while everyone else should have a game next week just they don't know who they will play or where. Had a good week going 6-1 in high school picks missing only the Gryphon's game at Southern. Now stand at 64-20 on the year.
SouthWest Edgecombe 7-3- 3-1 @ Beddingfield 4-6- 1-3 I think for Beddingfield their non conference schedule this year physically beat them down. They have not fared well in conference and might keep this close but the Cougars prevail 32-24.
Southern Nash 7-3 - 3-1 @ Nash Central 0-10 -0-4. There is a 50% chance that the Firebirds win they will be conference #1 seed and they will not let down this week knowing that. Birds 36- NC 7.
Fike 9-1 - 3-1 @ Hunt 6-4 - 3-1. For Hunt they can get top seed by winning. Fike if they win must hope for a Southern Nash loss. Should be enough motivation for Hunt. But, Hunt has trouble with teams with speed, Northeastern, Rocky Mount. Fike? 28-24 Fike
North Edgecombe 8-2 - 4-0 @ Tarboro 7-3 -4-0. In their wildest dreams this is what the Warriors play for. A chance to beat their bitterest rival for all the marbles. As far as I know this is the first time ever these two have ever met with the conference title on the line. Tarboro 26 North Edgecombe 14.
Rocky Mount Academy is one step away from a possible repeat of the State Title in 8 man football. They meet St Davids a team that scored 42 on them earlier this year. This one is in Rocky Mount however. Eagles 56 ST Davids 25.
Northern Nash 5-5 1-3 @ Rocky Mount 6-4 -2-2 Seedings is all this one is for. Both should be on the road next week but if Northern loses they would be a 5 seed and have to be one of those fill in teams to fill out the brackets and that means they get a real high seed next week. Guess what if they beat Rocky Mount then Rocky Mount falls to 5th and they are a fill in team too. Gryphons 21- Northern Nash 7.
This week since the State 8 man is next week I will finish with Southampton Va 8-2 @ Arendell Parrott Academy. Parrott has won already this year over the Virginia team. They will again but it is close 44-34.
I will be in the TV booth for the first time this year as Wes Bradshaw is taking a week off and Edward Green will be calling the play by play of the Northern/Rocky Mount game and I will join him at Rocky Mount.
There is a college game tonight on national TV in North Carolina. Clemson comes to Winston Salem to take on the Demon Deacons. The Deacs have no offense but their defense has been ok considering how much the offense has put the pressure on the defense. Clemson may go with their number two quarterback again. This game could be a good one if Wake scores a little bit. Tigers 26 Wake 13.
SouthWest Edgecombe 7-3- 3-1 @ Beddingfield 4-6- 1-3 I think for Beddingfield their non conference schedule this year physically beat them down. They have not fared well in conference and might keep this close but the Cougars prevail 32-24.
Southern Nash 7-3 - 3-1 @ Nash Central 0-10 -0-4. There is a 50% chance that the Firebirds win they will be conference #1 seed and they will not let down this week knowing that. Birds 36- NC 7.
Fike 9-1 - 3-1 @ Hunt 6-4 - 3-1. For Hunt they can get top seed by winning. Fike if they win must hope for a Southern Nash loss. Should be enough motivation for Hunt. But, Hunt has trouble with teams with speed, Northeastern, Rocky Mount. Fike? 28-24 Fike
North Edgecombe 8-2 - 4-0 @ Tarboro 7-3 -4-0. In their wildest dreams this is what the Warriors play for. A chance to beat their bitterest rival for all the marbles. As far as I know this is the first time ever these two have ever met with the conference title on the line. Tarboro 26 North Edgecombe 14.
Rocky Mount Academy is one step away from a possible repeat of the State Title in 8 man football. They meet St Davids a team that scored 42 on them earlier this year. This one is in Rocky Mount however. Eagles 56 ST Davids 25.
Northern Nash 5-5 1-3 @ Rocky Mount 6-4 -2-2 Seedings is all this one is for. Both should be on the road next week but if Northern loses they would be a 5 seed and have to be one of those fill in teams to fill out the brackets and that means they get a real high seed next week. Guess what if they beat Rocky Mount then Rocky Mount falls to 5th and they are a fill in team too. Gryphons 21- Northern Nash 7.
This week since the State 8 man is next week I will finish with Southampton Va 8-2 @ Arendell Parrott Academy. Parrott has won already this year over the Virginia team. They will again but it is close 44-34.
I will be in the TV booth for the first time this year as Wes Bradshaw is taking a week off and Edward Green will be calling the play by play of the Northern/Rocky Mount game and I will join him at Rocky Mount.
There is a college game tonight on national TV in North Carolina. Clemson comes to Winston Salem to take on the Demon Deacons. The Deacs have no offense but their defense has been ok considering how much the offense has put the pressure on the defense. Clemson may go with their number two quarterback again. This game could be a good one if Wake scores a little bit. Tigers 26 Wake 13.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
In A Slump
I have lost the zip on my fast ball. My field goals once I hit them toward the right don't come back. My foot speed is a step slow. In others words I am slumping right now and I hate to have to say this but last week during my NFL picks I was only 7-8. So I went back out on the practice field to go back to the basics an I am worse this week than last. A horrid 4-9. You may recall I picked the games also last week based on the sporting lines and thank goodness I did better a solid 5-8. Glad I don't bet on the games or Louie would be after me to collect.
I wish I had of known of Romo being out for Dallas last week but other than that one I stunk last week overall. I am down to 83-49 on the season and I'm in jeopardy of not making the playoffs. There is still time to recover but it is time to have a closed door meeting and straighten this season out.
Thursday night on the NFL scene the much improved Cleveland Browns travel to Cincinnati for the battle of Ohio. I got a feeling this is a good one but Bengals win at home 27-23.
Chiefs at Bills: playoff game here as both of these teams are in the hunt for the playoffs. I have liked what I have seen from KC all year and I think they go in to Buffalo and who knows may be snow on the ground but KC wins anyway 23-20
Dolphins at Lions. Here we go with another playoff game and after a week off Lions hold serve winning 27-21
Dallas at Jaxsonville by way of London. This is the third game this year in London. Look out the London Beef Eaters soon to be an NFL Team. Don't care who quarterbacks Dallas the boys win 24-16.
49'S at Saints. 9'ers are 4-4 and boy do they need this one. I think Saints beginning to play like the Saints 28-21 The Jazz win
Falcons at Bucs. Who are those guys calling themselves Falcons. Who knows whether the birds show up and Tampa has been in almost every game. Bucs 26- Atlanta 24
Titans at Ravens. Ravens had better be mad after sacking Big Ben on three straight plays late in the first quarter and then giving up forty something Ravens 30- Titans 17
Steelers at Jets. This is typical NFL game. Steelers look like Super Bowl bound last two weeks but the lowly Jets slip them. I forgot this is the Jets. Pitt 38 Jets 23
Bronco's at Oakland: This game will be closer than it should be because the Raiders play better at home. 34-24
Rams at Cardinals. Cardinals can just about clinch division if they bear Rams Card 27- Rams 24
Giants at Seattle. Should be no contest but it will be closer than it should be. Hawks 27 Eli 13.
Bears at Packers. The tundra just might be frozen. Take the Packers 34-20
Monday night football Carolina at Philadelphia. New quarterback in Philly and nobody new on defense for Carolina so that is enough for me to pick Philly. 30-16.
I need to go outside and run some more wind sprints to see if I can get out of this slump.
I wish I had of known of Romo being out for Dallas last week but other than that one I stunk last week overall. I am down to 83-49 on the season and I'm in jeopardy of not making the playoffs. There is still time to recover but it is time to have a closed door meeting and straighten this season out.
Thursday night on the NFL scene the much improved Cleveland Browns travel to Cincinnati for the battle of Ohio. I got a feeling this is a good one but Bengals win at home 27-23.
Chiefs at Bills: playoff game here as both of these teams are in the hunt for the playoffs. I have liked what I have seen from KC all year and I think they go in to Buffalo and who knows may be snow on the ground but KC wins anyway 23-20
Dolphins at Lions. Here we go with another playoff game and after a week off Lions hold serve winning 27-21
Dallas at Jaxsonville by way of London. This is the third game this year in London. Look out the London Beef Eaters soon to be an NFL Team. Don't care who quarterbacks Dallas the boys win 24-16.
49'S at Saints. 9'ers are 4-4 and boy do they need this one. I think Saints beginning to play like the Saints 28-21 The Jazz win
Falcons at Bucs. Who are those guys calling themselves Falcons. Who knows whether the birds show up and Tampa has been in almost every game. Bucs 26- Atlanta 24
Titans at Ravens. Ravens had better be mad after sacking Big Ben on three straight plays late in the first quarter and then giving up forty something Ravens 30- Titans 17
Steelers at Jets. This is typical NFL game. Steelers look like Super Bowl bound last two weeks but the lowly Jets slip them. I forgot this is the Jets. Pitt 38 Jets 23
Bronco's at Oakland: This game will be closer than it should be because the Raiders play better at home. 34-24
Rams at Cardinals. Cardinals can just about clinch division if they bear Rams Card 27- Rams 24
Giants at Seattle. Should be no contest but it will be closer than it should be. Hawks 27 Eli 13.
Bears at Packers. The tundra just might be frozen. Take the Packers 34-20
Monday night football Carolina at Philadelphia. New quarterback in Philly and nobody new on defense for Carolina so that is enough for me to pick Philly. 30-16.
I need to go outside and run some more wind sprints to see if I can get out of this slump.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
The Writing Is On The Wall
We have all heard the all saying that the writing was on the wall but we ignored the signs. Sometimes it could be our own health that our body tells us something is wrong but we ignore it until we find ourselves in the hospital. In the sports world the signs sometimes tell us that the way we are playing is heading for a loss but we ignored the signs until the signs show through.
ECU football started out this year with three high quality foes on their schedule that they had no problem getting up to play. ECU gave a great effort and for a while made top ten South Carolina glad that the game was over as the Pirates played well.
Then a trip to Blacksburg after Tech had just knocked off Ohio State and the Pirates played so well they came back home victorious. Those hated Heels came to town and the Pirates laid an embarrassment on the Heels that Pirate fans will talk about for ever. But what do the signs tell us now? Beating Virginia Tech and North Carolina was nothing special after all.
Then the Pirates go sailing into the top 25 and from that point on have not play a game against anybody special and since those teams were not that special the Pirates have assumed victory and up until Saturday have been able to win. The writing was on the wall if you keep playing this way much longer and you will go down to one of those nobodies. Temple is a good nobody but at home in the cold rain with nobody watching were good enough to beat the pants off ECU even though the score was only 20-10.
Another team that had better watch out for the writing on the wall is Florida State. Thus far they have beaten Clemson and way back in September when they beat the Tigers they have played no one to Clemson's level. Twice the Seminoles have trailed to N C State 21-0 and were down 21-0 at Louisville but managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat and hold on to their high ranking. The writing is on the wall for the Noles keep playing this way and down you go and with it the longest winning streak in college football which is now 20 something in a row.
The only team left that might give the Noles trouble is Miami. If they survive that then they will be in the ACC championship and if they survive that the four team playoff. The writing on the wall says if you fall behind to a superior team in the playoffs you will lose by 40. There will be no pulling one out of the hat against Oregon, Alabama Mississippi State they are too good to let you come back.
Finally the writing is on the wall for the Rocky Mount Gryphons. They have lost four times this year and they can lay claim that three losses can be pinned on unnecessary penalties. They can for sure say any chance we had of winning went out the door with penalties. Some are regrettable a face mask, holding. You know they can call holding on every play so they say. But it is the penalties after the penalties that are killing the Gryphons.
Northern Nash is the last home game of only four played in Rocky Mount this year. The best possible scenario for the Gryphons is third place and a road game against a number two seed or if they are lucky another three seed. A loss and they might draw a Havelock type if they fall to a fifth seed.
The writing is on the wall you continue with these unnecessary ones and once again you will go down in the first round. It would be a shame for that to happen to this team. This is a good football team when they stick to playing football they are that good. When they get to trying to act macho and run their mouth instead of the score board be their mouth referees hear all that junk as a game goes on and you are probably told many times to shut your mouth after plays are over but you keep on anyway. So when do the refs finally say enough is enough on the most important time in the game the Gryphons have been hit the hardest.
Yes the writing is on the wall. ECU ignored it and paid dearly Saturday. All they can do now is try to win out and hope for a good bowl game. It is on the wall for Florida State and there are teams left they need to be great if they plan on winning. Rocky Mount has already paid a dear price for their foolish actions.. Three losses but two of them keep them from first in the Big East. The good news for the Gryphons all is not loss if you buckle your chin strap and play football instead of who talks the best. The Gryphons could be the Big East team that makes it to the East Finals I think they could
but only if they step on the field to play football.
ECU football started out this year with three high quality foes on their schedule that they had no problem getting up to play. ECU gave a great effort and for a while made top ten South Carolina glad that the game was over as the Pirates played well.
Then a trip to Blacksburg after Tech had just knocked off Ohio State and the Pirates played so well they came back home victorious. Those hated Heels came to town and the Pirates laid an embarrassment on the Heels that Pirate fans will talk about for ever. But what do the signs tell us now? Beating Virginia Tech and North Carolina was nothing special after all.
Then the Pirates go sailing into the top 25 and from that point on have not play a game against anybody special and since those teams were not that special the Pirates have assumed victory and up until Saturday have been able to win. The writing was on the wall if you keep playing this way much longer and you will go down to one of those nobodies. Temple is a good nobody but at home in the cold rain with nobody watching were good enough to beat the pants off ECU even though the score was only 20-10.
Another team that had better watch out for the writing on the wall is Florida State. Thus far they have beaten Clemson and way back in September when they beat the Tigers they have played no one to Clemson's level. Twice the Seminoles have trailed to N C State 21-0 and were down 21-0 at Louisville but managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat and hold on to their high ranking. The writing is on the wall for the Noles keep playing this way and down you go and with it the longest winning streak in college football which is now 20 something in a row.
The only team left that might give the Noles trouble is Miami. If they survive that then they will be in the ACC championship and if they survive that the four team playoff. The writing on the wall says if you fall behind to a superior team in the playoffs you will lose by 40. There will be no pulling one out of the hat against Oregon, Alabama Mississippi State they are too good to let you come back.
Finally the writing is on the wall for the Rocky Mount Gryphons. They have lost four times this year and they can lay claim that three losses can be pinned on unnecessary penalties. They can for sure say any chance we had of winning went out the door with penalties. Some are regrettable a face mask, holding. You know they can call holding on every play so they say. But it is the penalties after the penalties that are killing the Gryphons.
Northern Nash is the last home game of only four played in Rocky Mount this year. The best possible scenario for the Gryphons is third place and a road game against a number two seed or if they are lucky another three seed. A loss and they might draw a Havelock type if they fall to a fifth seed.
The writing is on the wall you continue with these unnecessary ones and once again you will go down in the first round. It would be a shame for that to happen to this team. This is a good football team when they stick to playing football they are that good. When they get to trying to act macho and run their mouth instead of the score board be their mouth referees hear all that junk as a game goes on and you are probably told many times to shut your mouth after plays are over but you keep on anyway. So when do the refs finally say enough is enough on the most important time in the game the Gryphons have been hit the hardest.
Yes the writing is on the wall. ECU ignored it and paid dearly Saturday. All they can do now is try to win out and hope for a good bowl game. It is on the wall for Florida State and there are teams left they need to be great if they plan on winning. Rocky Mount has already paid a dear price for their foolish actions.. Three losses but two of them keep them from first in the Big East. The good news for the Gryphons all is not loss if you buckle your chin strap and play football instead of who talks the best. The Gryphons could be the Big East team that makes it to the East Finals I think they could
but only if they step on the field to play football.
Monday, November 3, 2014
When Is This Travesty Ending
Saturday was the annual Cardinal Gibbons state championship day. They won the team title in tennis, won both the boys and girls cross country titles and volleyball. Earlier in the week they won in golf. They didn't win in boys soccer and football because those titles were not up for grabs as of yet.
My main beef with a private school playing in the public arena is they are not bound by any territory like where they can call their school district. Rocky Mount, Northern and Nash Central are held that they must use player from their school district.
Any child from a Rocky Mount can attend Gibbons but if you live in Raleigh you can not play sports in Nash County. That to me is the only concern I have that which I think is too much of an advantage for any Private school or let's throw in prep schools in this equation too. Every team needs to have to play on level plains.
They have dominated the so called minor sports. There have been periods of time when schools like Independance dominated the 4-A football but they were average in other sports. Rocky Mount High school still 51 years since is the only team in North Carolina history to win four straight titles two in football a basketball title and baseball all in a row.
Yet Cardinal Gibbons has won six straight volleyball and too many others to think they have been lucky to have such good talent in just one sport but all sports. Cardinal Gibbons reminds me of UNC that they are in total denial that they do any thing wrong.
There is only one way to solve this problem and for the public schools to vote them out. When I say vote them out I'm not saying just Cardinal Gibbons but all Private and Prep schools. A few years ago more than half of the schools that voted, voted to oust the private schools but enough schools obstained from voting to not be enough to get them out. It's time for a change.
Hunt has won in the second round of the soccer playoffs and are still alive. They are the only Big East team.
You know we get so caught up in sports that we get put back in our place whenever we get a douse of life. The Gryphon nation lost Teira Hinton in an auto accident and during the Southern Nash Rocky Mount football game Southern head coach Brian Foster fell to the ground from an apparent blood pressure issue.
Our lives are more than wins and losses and it is unfortunate that it takes a hurricane like Floyd, or a death of a child for us to come together to remember that life is what we are put on this earth to live for. Then when a life is cut short especially one that many knew we come together for a period of time only to soon forget and we get back to wins and losses of life. Wins and losses are things that really don't matter in life.
My main beef with a private school playing in the public arena is they are not bound by any territory like where they can call their school district. Rocky Mount, Northern and Nash Central are held that they must use player from their school district.
Any child from a Rocky Mount can attend Gibbons but if you live in Raleigh you can not play sports in Nash County. That to me is the only concern I have that which I think is too much of an advantage for any Private school or let's throw in prep schools in this equation too. Every team needs to have to play on level plains.
They have dominated the so called minor sports. There have been periods of time when schools like Independance dominated the 4-A football but they were average in other sports. Rocky Mount High school still 51 years since is the only team in North Carolina history to win four straight titles two in football a basketball title and baseball all in a row.
Yet Cardinal Gibbons has won six straight volleyball and too many others to think they have been lucky to have such good talent in just one sport but all sports. Cardinal Gibbons reminds me of UNC that they are in total denial that they do any thing wrong.
There is only one way to solve this problem and for the public schools to vote them out. When I say vote them out I'm not saying just Cardinal Gibbons but all Private and Prep schools. A few years ago more than half of the schools that voted, voted to oust the private schools but enough schools obstained from voting to not be enough to get them out. It's time for a change.
Hunt has won in the second round of the soccer playoffs and are still alive. They are the only Big East team.
You know we get so caught up in sports that we get put back in our place whenever we get a douse of life. The Gryphon nation lost Teira Hinton in an auto accident and during the Southern Nash Rocky Mount football game Southern head coach Brian Foster fell to the ground from an apparent blood pressure issue.
Our lives are more than wins and losses and it is unfortunate that it takes a hurricane like Floyd, or a death of a child for us to come together to remember that life is what we are put on this earth to live for. Then when a life is cut short especially one that many knew we come together for a period of time only to soon forget and we get back to wins and losses of life. Wins and losses are things that really don't matter in life.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Northern Nash cross country team finished fifth in the state cross country championships today in Kernersville. The Knights had five runners to break the 18 minute barrier and their 6th runner ran an 18:11. The top five point scorers for Northern averaged 17:17 minutes on the 3.1 mile course. That's outstanding effort by the Knights.
The muddy water is clearer now as we head down to the final game of the high school football season. The game of the night will be at Hunt where 3-1 Fike travels to 3-1 Hunt. The winner could win the championship but all those Wilson County eyes will have one tilted toward Nash Central wanting to see the outcome from the Southern Nash- Nash Central game.
You know everyone will assume that Southern will win at Nash Central. The Firebirds need for their own sake to hold on to the football. If they do that they should win and be eyeing themselves the Fike-Hunt game in hopes that Fike wins. Should Southern stumble then the Fike- Hunt winner is conference champions out right.
If Southern wins and since Hunt beat them at Southern earlier then Southern gets the top seed and a co championship with Fike should Fike win. If Hunt wins and Southern wins then Hunt gets the top seed since they beat Southern 18-7 this season.
That clears up who can win the conference but Rocky Mount and Northern still have playoff seedings to gain. Should Rocky Mount beat Northern then they finish 3-2. If Hunt loses then Rocky Mount takes third. Both Fike and Southern get third over Rocky Mount. What matters whether you finish third or fourth. As a third seed you may travel to a second place conference team in the first round but as a four you will probably head to a conference champion in the first round.
Still in the Hunt for 4th spot is Northern and the team they could beat out is Rocky Mount. If both finish 2-3 then Northern is fourth and Rocky Mount fifth. Regardless of where you finish fourth or fifth there is always the chance that you will travel to the Big East top team in the opening round.
What kind of reward is it if Rocky Mount has to play Southern in the first round or Fike or even Hunt. They almost won all three of those games. Suppose Hunt host Northern in the first round. I hope that doesn't happen that we have to play each other at least until the second round.
Streaks heading towards Friday night. Nash Central could go 0 for the season for the second year in a row. Their losing streak stands at 23 now. They have scored 173 points in their 23 straight losses or 7.5 points per game Here is one that you should think about. Rocky Mount Academy with their opening round playoff win is 10-0 this season and have now won 14 in a row since they lost on October 18th 2013 at Southampton Academy 34-8. Since RMA lost 14 games ago they have scored 736 points which is 52.5 points per game during their winning streak.
The muddy water is clearer now as we head down to the final game of the high school football season. The game of the night will be at Hunt where 3-1 Fike travels to 3-1 Hunt. The winner could win the championship but all those Wilson County eyes will have one tilted toward Nash Central wanting to see the outcome from the Southern Nash- Nash Central game.
You know everyone will assume that Southern will win at Nash Central. The Firebirds need for their own sake to hold on to the football. If they do that they should win and be eyeing themselves the Fike-Hunt game in hopes that Fike wins. Should Southern stumble then the Fike- Hunt winner is conference champions out right.
If Southern wins and since Hunt beat them at Southern earlier then Southern gets the top seed and a co championship with Fike should Fike win. If Hunt wins and Southern wins then Hunt gets the top seed since they beat Southern 18-7 this season.
That clears up who can win the conference but Rocky Mount and Northern still have playoff seedings to gain. Should Rocky Mount beat Northern then they finish 3-2. If Hunt loses then Rocky Mount takes third. Both Fike and Southern get third over Rocky Mount. What matters whether you finish third or fourth. As a third seed you may travel to a second place conference team in the first round but as a four you will probably head to a conference champion in the first round.
Still in the Hunt for 4th spot is Northern and the team they could beat out is Rocky Mount. If both finish 2-3 then Northern is fourth and Rocky Mount fifth. Regardless of where you finish fourth or fifth there is always the chance that you will travel to the Big East top team in the opening round.
What kind of reward is it if Rocky Mount has to play Southern in the first round or Fike or even Hunt. They almost won all three of those games. Suppose Hunt host Northern in the first round. I hope that doesn't happen that we have to play each other at least until the second round.
Streaks heading towards Friday night. Nash Central could go 0 for the season for the second year in a row. Their losing streak stands at 23 now. They have scored 173 points in their 23 straight losses or 7.5 points per game Here is one that you should think about. Rocky Mount Academy with their opening round playoff win is 10-0 this season and have now won 14 in a row since they lost on October 18th 2013 at Southampton Academy 34-8. Since RMA lost 14 games ago they have scored 736 points which is 52.5 points per game during their winning streak.
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