Prospects For Friday Victories

Nash County will send five teams to the playoffs Friday night and a loss for any of the five ends football season.  We need to take a look at the prospects of any of the five playing week two.

Southern Lee 8-3 4-2 @ Rocky Mount 9-2 4-1:  Southern Lee finished tied for third but lost the tie breaker after Terry Sanford beat them last week.  Truly a passing team averaging 190 yards per game through the air.  They run it for only 85 yards per game.  Despite big number passing they have failed to complete half but those completed have averaged 15.8 per catch.

They have scored 323 points for an 29.4 points per game giving up 166 or 15 per in a pass happy league.  They have 33 sacks on the year with 12 picks while recovering 8 fumbles.

Rocky Mount second in the Big East and their two losses have come to teams with a combined 22-0 record.  The Gryphons average 267 yards rushing or 6.1 yards per carry.  They add another 84 yards passing.  The Gryphons average 34 points per contest while yielding 15.5.  So far this year Rocky Mount has fumbled 12 times and thrown 8 picks.

If you remember last year's playoffs first three games for Rocky Mount against pass happy teams.  Pass happy teams practice passing and their defense doesn't get pounded by the run.  Rocky Mount must pound the football and breakdown the pass effective Southern Lee.  Rocky Mount  must hold on to the ball in order to win and limit the big pass plays.

Nash Central 7-4 3-2 @ Eastern Alamance 9-2 6-2:  EA averages 239 yards per game rushing or 6.3 yards per attempt.  They add another 136 passing or 12.8 per reception.  They score 36.5 per game and begrudge 14 points on defense.

Nash Central runs the ball for 211 yards per game while adding through the air another 141.  Their pace of putting points on the board is 28.5 while allowing 21.5.  The  Bulldogs have had 23 turnovers on the year 11 fumbles and 12 interceptions.  They can't have any in this one.

Nash Central must put points on the board and the defense must get some stops to give the themselves any chance.  I guarantee you Eastern Alamance remembers the licking they got from Rocky Mount because they didn't respect the Gryphons.  You had better bet the coaches are pounding and into the EA players that Nash Central is capable of winning if they are not ready.

There is no need to feed you the stats of the Northern Nash  5-6 1-4 @ Southern Nash 11-0 6-0.  Let's talk facts.  28-11.  Take away two defensive touchdowns and the score 14-11.    Northern is more than capable of holding the Firebird offense and if the Firebirds think just because they got a home game this go around against the Knights this will be easy pickings.

I relate this game just like Eastern Alamance and Rocky Mount last year.  The team thinking about next week got plucked big time and if the Firebirds sleep walk in this one the season and undefeated team ends quick.

Rocky Mount Prep 3-8 @ Northside Pinetown 8-3:  RMP had not fared well against any team this season that you could classify as a good team.  It started with Kipp Pride. Who at the time thought they would finish 6-4.  It will be hard for the Jags to keep this one close.

Playoff time is for winners.  The teams that dig down when the end is in sight and finds away to play another day.  Let's go play some football.