Been Here Before

Last word about the Southern Nash Rocky Mount game.  I felt that during the regular season match up with the schedule being moved around because of the hurricane that it being senior night but most of all the family situation going on with coach Brian Foster's family and coach Foster not being on the sidelines the Firebirds had everything to play for with an undefeated season riding, a first place in the conference and yet Rocky Mount had pretty much controlled the game until the two roughing the passer penalties. Update on Foster family.  Understand both wife Kim and son Zack did make the game Friday but have much rehab still in front of them.  We need to all pray for their full recoveries which may take at least another six months if not more.

I have no dispute at all with the penalties as both were bone head plays totally unneeded and it gave the  Firebirds new life and any team as good as the Firebirds didn't need much help anyway but the Gryphons beat themselves.

Here we are in a second round game and now the Firebirds are the hunted, the team favored to win the game.  Coach Foster's family no longer in intensive care and out of the Wilmington hospital.  All of the things helping the Firebirds the first time were not there in this match up.  I thought Rocky  Mount had something to prove in this match up.

The one thing that I saw was the on the field change made by Rocky Mount after giving up three scores in one quarter to Southern Lee in the first round and falling behind by 14 in the third quarter.  The Gryphons quit being a the going through the motions team and started playing ball the way they are capable.  I thought I could see even in the first Southern Nash game a take for granted play that even only up 10-7 they thought they had the game.  Up 7-0 to Southern Lee and now down 14 the Gryphons finally woke up to the fact they had to work to win.  It carried over into the Second round Firebird matchup.

Rocky Mount's last lost in the playoffs was a second round defeat in 2014 to Southern Guilford at SG.  That thing that had been a bug-a-boo this season fumbles, they had two in the first half in 2014.  The Storm also had a special running back in Reggie Gallespy who now plays at NC State.  The final score was 36-18.