Still Lot's to Play For

Rocky Mount was jolted by Southern Nash  with their first conference  loss in two years.  The loss drops the Gryphons back into a tie with the tie breaker in their hands against Nash Central.  They need to win out to protect second place and with  it at least one home game in the playoffs.

This year only the league champs will be seeded and then every other team will be seeded by record.  If the Gryphons win their final two games their play off record will be set at 9-1.  That kind of record could get as high as 7th or 8th maybe and if it is that high a possible two home games if they win their opener.  Just one loss could throw them down to a 17 seed an a road game right off the bat.

So the Gryphons have plenty to play for.  Remember last year expecting to hit the road in round three got a third home game because of an upset.  This new seeding process should eliminate any 2-8 team making the playoffs so all the conference champs will not be 50 point favorites like some  first round games have ended.  It also will provide those middle seed first round games to be tougher too.

Those that need a silver lining the Gryphons  have one.  Take away the two roughing the passer penalties in the fourth quarter and I doubt the Firebirds score in the fourth quarter.  That would have left Rocky Mount shutting out Southern the last 41 minutes.  

The biggest bug-a-boo all year and maybe last year is pass coverage.  Southern only tried five passes but hit two biggies.  Without those two passes the Gryphon defense did a great job.  You still have to remember the Firebirds controlled the clock by making several fourth down plays not giving the Gryphons the ball.  Southern proved that the best defense is not letting the other side have the ball.  Limited as they were the offense for Rocky Mount did ok for the most part until the three and out with seven minutes to go.

I would not want  to look on the playoff bracket come November 12th and see the name Nash Central in my column.  The Bulldogs are getting better every game especially on defense.   You know why I think they are improving so much.  There is no longer heads hung when Bulldogs players tell people they play for Nash Central.

They have obtained a pride wearing that burgundy and silver.  There is no reason in the world Chris Lee is not coach of the year bringing the Bulldogs back from obscurity.  They can really cause a mess in the league Friday night when they play Southern Nash especially if the Firebirds have a let down after their big victory over Rocky Mount.