Showdown Number Two Is Near

When you look at the season the Firebirds of Southern Nash have had 12-0 it is all the more remarkable when you think of everything that has happen to them along the way.  Their coach missing two weeks while taking care of a wife and son almost killed in a head on collision with a truck.  One of those two missed weeks was against the Gryphons and it was for the conference crown and they prevailed.

The Firebirds will be playing their seventh straight conference game.  Their last four games have been  Rocky Mount, Nash Central, Northern Nash, Northern Nash and now Rocky Mount again.   They have score at least 21 in all four and not giving up more that 18 in any of the four.  Hard to find any team that has played their biggest rivals four straight times and about to be five.

The Big East is down to two teams and it was expected to be this way and after Friday only one will stand.  The third round for the winner will be the Southern Guilford 10-2/South Johnston winner 6-6. If the Firebirds play the first Friday in December they will be at home.  If Rocky Mount wins they would travel to Southern Guilford should they win and that school is east of I-85 toward High Point.  If South Johnston wins they come to Rocky Mount.

Got a real shock entering the stadium Friday night only to learn there was three minutes until kickoff of what everyone on the chain crew  and I think most fans thought was a 7:30 kickoff.  If you go to the NCHSAA playoff bracket all games are scheduled for 7:30.  Why the Big East changed to 7 this year for I have no idea but I bet when the count up ticket sales they lost big starting at 7 all year.  I remember when kickoff was 8pm and that got changed in the late 70's to 7:30.  Please go back to 7:30 next year.

Regardless of the outcome this Friday the Rocky Mount Gryphons have had two superlative years right now at 24-4.  From what I saw coming up on the JV's winning ten will be tough next year.  I heard it again more than once since Friday night why isn't  Detrell Revis used more on offense.  He reminds me of Stephan Virgil.  Every time he touches the ball seems like magic happens.

All Nash Central Bulldog fans can be proud to hold their head high as they have a football team again.  They finished 7-5 and didn't get embarrassed in any game.  Many they scared the day lights out of a few winners.

Northern Nash finished 5-7 but they played better than a 5-7 record especially on defense.  Just one more score in all those losses might have been an 9-3 season.

Tarboro is headed to Stem Friday night to play Granville Central.  They have not been tested this year in any game when playing someone else in 1-A

North Edgecombe will get a test hosting Northside Pinetown.  The Warriors have the best team they have had probably since Raymond Cobb left.

SouthWest Edgecombe was leading until  the fumble bug struck which ended a comeback year in which four games into the season there were doubts they would win one.  Yet, they won the conference.

Rocky Mount Prep continues to grow in football with three wins. They were respectable in most games except the big boys.