Never Give Up

Under three minutes to go in the game down 17-10 and after a failed fourth down and eight produced only four yards those unfaithful fans that don't believe in the Gryphons  started heading to the exit for the long drive home.  The far side line Ram fans started heading out joyous of their fifth trip to the state finals in six years.  It could get no worse the Rams have a fourth Down at the Gryphon one yard line with 30 seconds to go another score puts the game out of reach.

The Gryphons in fact held on four straight downs inside the five yard line to give a staggering offense  25 seconds and one more chance.  Enter number 31 Detrelle Revis who's only offensive play of the night will stand as maybe the greatest play in Gryphons history. Split out as the flanker on the left side Revis streaked straight up the field and caught the defender standing at the 10 yard line flat footed and Shabios Lynch toss was on target to a wide open Revis who out ran the entire Havelock secondary 99 yards to cut the lead to one with 18.5 seconds.

Enter number 41 Chase Miller listening to the Havelock fans cheer block that kicked egged the Ram Fans to get louder and smacked the tying points on the board.  Three passing plays put Havelock into position to try to win on a 41 yard field goal.  The kick started out straight and true but was ten yards short but many Havelock fans and players went wild thinking they had made it but  overtime.

Havelock took three plays to score while the Gryphons use a sweep left by DeAngelo Collins to tie. The second overtime series both teams kicked field goals to tie at 27 after double overtime.  The Rams scored in three plays but the snap on the 34th point was low and the kick sailed wide left.  Sherrod Green who took  a helmet to the knee missed about most of the fourth quarter but his only carry of over time was his longest run of the night as he scores on the first play and ties the game.

Enter Chase Miller who already on this night is the MVP at that point two field goals,  three extra points and several punts which keep the Rams bottled up plus his kickoffs which none were returned out past the 25.  The kick is right down the middle and the Gryphons are headed to Winston Salem next Saturday to have a rematch with South Point.

The Havelock defense bottled up the Gryphon Rushing attack holding the Gryphons to 66 yards rushing.  Lynch was 3-5 for 113 yards .  Havelock put the whole load on quarterback Corey Cooper rushing 24 times 71 yards while rest of team had 47 yards.  Cooper was 8-15 for 102 yards.

The Gryphons got a 27 yard field goal at the 5:27 mark of the first quarter to start the scoring. Havelock scored their first points came at 11:53 of the second quarter Corey Cooper scored from two yards out to give the Rams a 7-3 lead.  The Gryphons took the lead back at 2:32 of the half when Shyheim Battle picked off a Cooper pass and returned it to the house to give the Gryphons a10-7 halftime lead.

A Rocky Mount 3 and out started a Ram drive that produced the tying field at 4: 51 in the third.  A Havelock punt rolled dead  at the Gryphon one foot line and on the second play running an option Lynch was hit behind the line and Destin Flyod scooped up the ball to give Havelock the lead with five minutes to play.

There are fans who left early have no idea who won the game but the Gryphons pull a Houdini and live to play another State Championship 34-33 over Havelock.