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.

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.