During the last year and almost two year run that Rocky Mount has made in football there has only been one team that beat them in the fourth quarter. Last Season Middle Creek came back to win in the fourth and now you can add Southern Nash.
Rocky Mount found themselves down 7-0 at the half in a first half that was totally the Firdbirds. The Gryphons had only three plays in the first quarter for only one minute and five seconds. The Firebirds took the opening kickoff and methodically drove down the field taking almost seven minutes to score and lead on a six yard run by Kendrick Bell. After Rocky Mount three and out the Firebirds finished off the first quarter but the Gryphon defense began to get their licks end and finally just before the half drove down to the Firebird five where the Southern Nash D made the stop.
Rocky Mount came right out and drove the field to tie at 9:44 of the third on a Collins 21 yard run. The Firebirds played keep a way from the Gryphons going for several fourth down plays all night and the Gryphons got the ball back and Chase Miller nailed a 30 yard field goal with 11:15 of the fourth to take a 10-7 lead.
The Gryphons had Southern right where they wanted them but a third down incomplete pass the Gryphons roughed the quarterback giving Southern a first down only out to the Southern 35. Three plays later a spectacular catch on a third and 15 was two yards short of a first down but another roughing the quarterback not only had a 13 yard pickup but add 15 more. You can only give a good team some of their nine lives back so many times and Southern said that you Rocky Mount scoring on a 47 yard pass I think to Nadir Thompson In the far corner of the end zone with only 8:27 to go. Southern has the type numbers on their back you cannot see unless they have their back directly facing you. Right after the catch there were so many players celebrating the catch I had no way of telling who caught the ball.
Southern Defense did their job forcing a Gryphon punt around the seven minute mark. Southern would not let the Gryphons get the ball back and score With 1:05 to play to ice the game by Bell and a 21-10 lead. The Firebird D picked off a toss in the end zone to secure first place in the Big East.
Southern rush 45 times for 162 yards and another five passes for 87 yards. Rocky Mount ran 33 times for 103 yards and added 53 yards on eight passes. Southern runs 50 plays to Rocky Mount's 41 but it sure seemed as they had the ball twice as much as the The Gryphons.
Southern is now 9- 0 and in the drivers seat for first place in the Big East while Rocky Mount drops to 7-2.
Other action:
Nash Central 28 Hunt 0
Fike 19 Northern Nash 7
Southampton Va 48 RMA 13
Riverside 57 RM Prep 13
Tarboro 51 Northampton 0
North Johnston 34 SouthWest Edgecombe 20
North Edgecombe 22 South Creek 16
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The two pass rusher penalties against Rocky Mount was the difference maker. Those kept the winning touchdown drive alive in the fourth quarter. Southern speed on the outside on defense help bottleneck Rocky Mount outside runs. That is the Gryphons bread and butter. This game showed that Rocky Mount will have to be able to pass the ball some to open up defenses come State playoff time. Nash is not 11 point better team. Rocky Mount probably wins 8 out of 10 times but tonight Southern Nash did a better job of controlling clock and keeping possession out of Rocky Mount hands.
High School OT was going to stream live the game last night but wi fi signal strength poor at the school. I also could not get internet access at the school last night. In this day and age of technology .... terrible service.
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