If you were not there you missed the best game played at Rocky Mount since the Eastern Final loss to West Craven 22-19 In 2008 but this game was better than that because this game came down to who had the ball last. Rocky Mount only had seven possessions in the game and they scored five times. Morehead had a 78 yard kickoff return and they recover a pooch kick after Rocky Mount failed to catch.
Morehead had 8 processions and Rocky Mount stopped them twice on an opening drive interception and held them to a field goal on another and one more fourth quarter stop which was good enough to win the third round playoff game and advance to the Eastern Finals for the first time since 2008 with a 35-31 come from behind win.
The Panthers took the opening kickoff and use a short passing game and moved down the field and kept the clock moving until they threw the ball for the first time down field got picked off By Gryphon Detrell Revis. Rocky Mount wasted little time marching down the field and got a 31 yard rumble from Nick Bynum an a pat from Chase Miller and the led 7-0 with 4:06 to play in the first quarter.
The lead was short lived as Judakiss Jumper fielded the kickoff and proceeded to run 78 yards untouched for the tying TD. The Gryphons got timely completions but the main bulk of yardage once again came from the running backs and the Gryphons regained the lead at 11:35 of the second quarter on a ten yard touchdown. The Gryphons got sneaky and out of the extra point set threw a two point conversion making it 15-7.
It was Moreheads ball and here they go throwing many passes to their backs and quarterback Will Dabbs running from the shotgun moved down the field and scored on a eight yard pass Dabbs to broadnax making it 15-13. The Gryphon two pointer force the Panthers to try one which the Gryphons snuffed out.
The first time the Panthers stopped the Gryphons was the Gryphons 3rd drive of the half and punted. The Panthers took advantage scoring with 25 seconds on a Daunte King one yard plunge and a two pointer to give Morehead a 21-15 half time lead.
The second half pooch kick was recovered by Morehead and they didn't take long before they scored on a Will Dabbs sneak and with 8:19 left in the third quarter the Gryphons found themselves down 15-28.
It took less than two minutes for the Gryphons to pound the football for a touchdown when Nick Bynum from 22 yards out and the Miller extra point cut the lead to 28-22 with 7:08 in the third. From this point on either the Gryphons slow down the Panthers or this season is over and they did just enough.
Using a controlled passing game the Gryphons stop Morehead to a field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter so they were killing the clock at 11:45 to play in the game it is now 31-22. By this point in the game Rocky Mount was pounding the football at will and scored with 9:15 to play on a 29 yard run from Tyrell Forbes but the extra point hit the right bar and the score is 31-28
The Panthers once again moved the ball down the field and face 4th six at the a Rocky Mount 13 had to go for a touchdown because a field goal would be one point short if the Gryphons scored another touchdown. The Gryphons got their best pass rush of the game forcing a quick pass and an incompletions.
Four minutes the Gryphons rammed it down the field and scored with 44 seconds left but a wide receiver was in motion taking away the touchdown. Trying to be as dramatic as possible the Gryphons waited until four seconds to play and Nick Bynum scored standing up to send the Gryphons back to Eastern Alamance a 26-20 overtime winner over Southern Guilford.
The Gryphon stands were three quarters full and there was maybe 25 more people that could have found a seat on the Morehead side. The crowd was great and they got their money's worth.
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3 comments:
I have been following the Gryphons for 45 years. Iam a legacy....half lion (BTW)..half Bird (RMSH). I was a Tri-Athlete. I have played in two high school championships so I know what it takes to get there, and the toughness that's needed. These young men have that "Old School Toughness". They want a Ring and they will fight ferouciously for that chance to get one. Darkside
I watched RMT - Middle Creek game and I knew after that game that RMT could go deep into the playoffs. RMT led MC by 10 midway through the 4th and and should have beaten the Mustangs. RMT's two losses were to MC and Greenville Rose which are much larger schools and playing for Eastern Regional Championships in their respective divisions. Friday night's game and Eden Morehead reminded me a lot of Western Alamance and West Craven. This had the makings of a high scoring and intense ball game. It lived up to it. It was a great atmosphere especially with Eden filling it's stands and the Eden band playing non-stop. Eden fans and players were very dejected at the end of the game. In the parking lot they were talking in awe of RMT's #44 Greene. RMT fans know how they felt after Western Alamance and West Craven had done the same thing to BW Holt and RMt teams in past years. For once it was great being on the winning side. People who chose not to attend last night's game missed a great one .... one for the ages! By the way ... where was the RMT band??????
Sure hope a large and vocal crowd follows team to Eastern Alamance. Team deserves the support.
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