Gryphons Rebound

Smithfield Selma @ Northern Nash moved to Monday 7pm
Bunn @ Nash Central Monday 6:30

Kipp Pride @ North Edgecombe Monday
Rocky Mount Prep @ Word of God Postponed

There were a couple of questions that the Rocky Mount Gryphons needed to answer early in this game with Hoke County.  Did the Gryphons still have concussion like symptoms after the crushing loss to Rose? Would the Gryphons take the 0-5 Bucks seriously?

The answer was no lingering effects from the Rose game and yes the Gryphons were ready to play.  What they ran into was the third best team that they have played to this point in the season and the Gryphons shut out the Bucks in the second half for a 35-14 victory.

Rocky Mount took the opening kickoff and promptly Moved  down the field aided by a long pass to get the ball deep in Hoke County Territory. Terrell Forbes off left tackle scored from two yards out to give Rocky Mount a 6-0 lead at the 9:40 mark in the first quarter.

The Bucks fumbled the kickoff and found themselves at the one yard line. A procedure penalty backed the ball to the three inch line but the Bucks kept the ball for 14 plays until they were stopped at the fifty.  They ate up almost all of the quarter.

Rocky Mount quickly moved the ball to the eight yard line and scored on the first play of the second quarter on a quarterback sneak by Forest Bell to give the Gryphons a 14-0 lead after Nick Bynum rolled in for the two point conversion.

Looking for the pass Hoke sprung tailback Jacob Rushing for a 54 yard jaunt and with the two point conversion the score at the 10:17 mark in the half to make the score 14-8.  B J Sanders scored from three yards out on the Gryphons third drive of the game with 49 seconds in the half.  The extra point made it 21-8 but Rushing broke another biggie and Hoke scored with 18 seconds in the half on 12 yard pass from quarterback Kevin Thorpe to wide receiver Andre Pegues.  They missed the two pointer to cut the lead to 21-14.  Despite only 18 seconds the Gryphons ended the half deep in Hope County territory.

Hoke opened the third quarter having to punt the ball.  The Gryphon offense scored on every procession in the third quarter twice so with an offense that punched  out yardage whenever they needed it.  BJ Sanders scamper 22 yards to give the boys in blue a 28-14 lead.

Another punt by Hoke gave the Gryphon first team offense one more try and they scored with 59 second left in the third on a three yard run by Angelo Collins.  The defense once again put a stop on a
Hoke drive and Jason Battle turn the game over to the second team and many snaps were waiting for the clock to get to five seconds to snap the ball.

Hoke County having trouble stopping  the run were at the mercy of Forest  Bell as he  hit four of five in the game passing for near 100 yards.   Gryphons get a week off and head to conference play standing at 4-2.  Gryphons 35 Hoke County 14.