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.