We have reached the halfway point in the 2016 high school football season and for those fans that pull for the Blue and Gold of Rocky Mount this season to some extent is following a path much like the 2015 season which lead to the Gryphons winning their first football title in 43 years.
For just a moment let us look back and see how being good or even very good is not good enough. Just ask Eastern Alamance from last year what being good ended for them. The Gryphons started by trouncing Southern Granville last season and make it a little worse this year with a shutout. Middle Creek still remains undefeated but the Gryphons scored 25 points on the Mustangs an in their other five games have given up only 31 other points.
The scores were not as impressive as last year in the Hertford County and Edenton games. Sherrod Greene suited up for the first time this season and got about a quarter on the field in the HC game. The Gryphons hit the road for the first time to Edenton and for the first time against a team they should beat the Gryphons put themselves in a jam and trailed in the third quarter. Just maybe the first sign this Gryphon team was beginning to get it together was they controlled the last 18 minutes of the game and that is the only L on the Aces Ledger.
A complete turn a round with a 40 point loss to Rose at Home last year and a 66 point outburst and holding Rose to 41. Ok after seeing the Conley score maybe scoring 66 on Rose is not much of a deal this season but holding them to 41 might be a great defensive effort. Hoke County was completely stifled by the Gryphon defense.
How close did they come to not winning the conference last season. They trailed in four of five conference games. It did not hurt a bit that the two biggest conference games last year were at home. Remember the biggest lucky break of the playoffs was the Rams of Havelock losing in the second round and the Gryphons getting their third straight home game. They needed that third home game cause it took the last play of the game to beat Eden Morehead a team that we were able to see was worthy in beating Havelock.
How close did the Gryphons come to finishing second in the State Championship game. It took a third and 15 scramble by Forest Bell in the fourth quarter to keep a drive alive. It took a 38 yard extra point from Chase Miller to get the game to overtime. It took a defensive hit on third down in overtime from Sherrod Green after the South Point quarterback broke around end at the five yard line to set up a extra point field goal that South Point Missed.
So despite how great the Gryphons look at this point three conference games are on the road. What at this point the biggest of them all will be at Southern Nash. So far this season the six Gryphon foes to date have a combined 20-14 record. Take away the Gryphons 5-1 record they are 19-9 against everyone else. The five conference games this season as we look down the road everyone in the conference is 20-9.
If the Gryphons are to repeat as conference champions this season it would seem this year's road is tougher because more are on the road and there does not seem to be a automatic win anywhere.
Congrats to Sherrod Green as the awards keep rolling in for the Gryphon Linebacker. Not only has he committed to the Gamecocks of South Carolina but yesterday he was picked to play in the 2016 Shrine Bowl game on the North Carolina team that takes on South Carolina the next weekend after State Championship weekend.
If you go on the NCHSAA website you will see an article about sportsmanship featuring Rocky Mount High and their JV soccer goalie Lucas Martinez. Nice read about an injury that occurred to a C B Aycock player during a recent soccer game at Rocky Mount concerning the actions of Martinez and the medical staff at RMHS. Well worth your time. NCHSAA.org
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