One of the reason teams play almost half their schedule is they are trying to formulate a pattern of how to win football games. Now that everyone is in to conference play any trend that has lasted seven weeks into a season is no longer a trend but is the way that team is going to be for the rest of the year.
The 2016 version of the Rocky Mount Gryphons seems to be just as talented as last year's state championship squad but the trend this year is not graphing out to be playing late November or Early December.
This team is putting the ball in the other teams hands too much. If you are deep in the other teams side of the field you are taking away points from yourself and giving the other team energy to push on. Friday night's case was a 99 yard interception the Gryphon lost seven points which could have given them 27 on the night and only seven for Nash Central a much different game.
Nash Central is a much improved team but the Gryphon defense did their job in holding them to seven points. Just the first half alone the worse field position the Bulldogs started was their own 39. Twice in the fourth quarter they started on the Rocky Mount side of the field and their last chance they were on the Gryphon 24 and the defense backed them up.
Now as defending state champions everyone is going to give them their best shot. If you think by just showing up the other side is quivering in their boots you are mistaken. Is this year's squad satisfied as being the defending champs over trying to be the two time defending champs?
The luck factor: This year's team has had injuries and illness that last year did not have as much off. Last year an injury someone stepped up and they didn't miss a beat. The quality depth is not there this season like last. Here we are in the second week of conference play still playing two quarterbacks which tends to keep the offense without a person to be the leader.
This 2016 Gryphon team still has plenty of time to get everything together. Remember this, it was about this time last year before we even started thinking about a playoff run. I think this team's mentality is for the spectacular instead of the down to earth grind it out play. I think for the most part the Gryphons have been their own worse enemy. Get back to fundamental football. Winning makes you forget about what almost beat you. There are teams ahead that if you give them a break by not scoring when you should they will not wait to give you a chance later.
If this Gryphon team even thinks they are capable of state championship first of all they had better starting worrying about the conference title. The lower you are in the brackets the tougher the climb to the top once the playoffs roll in. This team has shown at times they are capable. They have to show more. If they don't the basketball team will have a full roster much sooner than last year.
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Not sure what was going with RMT playing the back-up QB so much against Nash Central. What I have seen of the starting QB he has been fine .... in fact just as good if not better than last year's QB. Don't mess with something that is working. RMT looked great against Hoke except for the fumbles. Also, RMT needs to get the starting RM back who is their bread and butter on offense. He is their big play-maker. The defense has been great the last two games. RMT has got to stop fumbling so much. The last two games turnovers have been their nemesis.
By the way the officials at Nash Central were inept. They need a lot more training before they do another game.
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