4th Quarter Grit

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.

Tarboro loses 21-14 to James Kenan
SouthWest Edgecombe romps 56-14 over Fairmont
Southside beat North Edgecombe 36-24

Final Week Regular Season College Football

Went 8-1 last week running college picks for year to 86-23.  Wish pro picks were like this.  Just about every game this week is a traditional rival game that means so much for which ever side you pull for. Just might keep a coach on the job by beating that one game that if you won only one game every year this has to be the one.

Miami 7-4 @ Pittsburgh 8-3:  A win by Pitt and they will have the surprise season over all others.  Nobody expected the Panthers to be this good.  Take away the Duke gift this year a complete disappointment for the Canes.  Pitt 30 Miami 24

Florida St 9-2 @ Florida 10-1:  Florida can still get into the playoffs.  FSU could fall out of a top tier bowl with a loss.  This would be a boost for ACC but Gators win.  27-23

Georgia 8-3 @ Georgia Tech 3-8:  Both coaches on the hot seat.  Could be fatal for Mark Reicht should Tech win, doubt it.  Georgia 36 GT 21

Clemson 11-0 @ South Carolina 3-8:  All Clemson needs is a win.  In order to be seeded number one Clemsom may need a slaughter for style points.  Close game Clemson will drop to three or four.  Clemson 35 South Carolina 10

Duke 6-5 @ Wake Forest 3-8:  I think with the offense Duke has just shows you how good  coach Cut
and his staff are.  Wake's rebuilding is at least another year away.  Wake's D will keep this a low scoring game.  Duke 24 Wake 14

BC 3-8 @ Syracuse 3-8:  Coaching change coming at the Cuse.  BC has been competitive in just about all games.  Will the Orange try to win one for the coach or or BC play as the better team. BC 23. Syracuse 17

Louisville 6-5 @ Kentucky 5-6:  The Ville is a perfect example of not having a quarterback can ruin a season.  Other than Alabama there is no other SEC football team the Wildcats would rather beat.   The Cards 34 Kentucky 26

Virginia Tech 5-6 @ Virginia 4-3:  Both these teams may have new coaches next year.  You know all Bowls and TV networks want a Gobbler win so  Beamer ball just might be in their bowl.  Gobblers win not have to wait to see if a team with losing record get in they win their 6th.  Tech 27 Thomas Jefferson 23.

North Carolina 11-0 @ North Carolina State 7-4:   This  just maybe the most important game ever for the Tar Heels.  They may be 14th in Bowl playoff but stranger  things have happened. Two more victories the Heels could make the playoffs but not if they lose in Raleigh.  The Pack's goal this year was nine wins which is Still possible.  I know this is going to stir Tar Heel Nation but State has played the top two teams in the ACC and after this game they will have played the top three in ACC Carolina none of top teams.   Pack 30 Carolina 26.