Friday, December 16, 2016

Time For The Pick

So far during the high school playoffs yours truly picked every game in which a Big East team played in the playoffs and all teams in Nash and Edgecombe County.  The final pick is the most important one of the year and through last weekend's games I'm 14-1.  The lone miss was the SouthWest Edgecombe first playoff weekend loss. Now for the big one..

 This season South Point has scored 576 points or 38.6 per game.  They have allowed 133 points or 8.8 points per game.  The last nine games all wins they have given up 27 points or 3 points per game. They have thrown three shutouts in four playoff games and five  on the season.  Remember an opening play kick off return last year the Gryphons scored only two touchdowns against the Red Raiders last year.  Sure does seem to me their defense is better than last season.

The Gryphons have scored 485 points or 32.3 while giving up 274 or 18.25.  Take away the 41 against Rose  and 37 to Middle Creek the Gryphons  have allowed  196 or 14.8.  This games has every indication of two touchdowns could win this game.

Their Quarterback Scottie Lee and back Jake Alexander  will touch the ball 80 percent of the time.   Neither of the two backs that carried the load for them last year are back.  We had trouble with the quarterback taking off and running from the pocket and remember 32 was a straight ahead runner who stayed low to the ground. The quarterback runs like the Havelock QB so the defensive challenge is much like last week.

Assuming we have trouble running the ball like last year then our ace in the hole has to be Detrell Revis.  The defensive MVP of this game  last year has been an offensive juggernaut for the Gryphons every time he touches the ball.  One catch for 99 yards and a touchdown.  Eight interceptions including one he took to the house.  Three rushes for 108 yards which is 36 yards per carry.. Seven kickoff returns for 223 or 31.9 per return and nine punt returns for 167 or 18.6 per return.  Leave off his interceptions because there is no reliable stat there he has touched the ball Rushing, receiving, Kick off and punt returns 20 times for 597 yards.  That is an unreal  stat of 29.85 yards every time he touches it.  Throw him screen passes, run reverses but get him the ball if we are stagnant.

How can this game be any closer than the game last year that went overtime.  You know this century the Gryphons are 1-0 in baseball championship games.  Basketball 2-0 and football so far 1-0.  There will be a loss somewhere this century if we keep getting into state championship games the way the Gryphons have the last eight years  five times and it very well could be Saturday.

I do have to ask this question.  How can you pick against a team that is 30 seconds from being eliminated and don't even have the ball 99 yards from a score and don't get a turnover but win with tenacious defense and a extra quick offense.  This Gryphon team  plays their best when the chips are down and  somehow win.

Win or lose Saturday you need to meet the team at the Gym whenever they return.  This senior class has given the Gryphon Nation a state championship and on the cusp of a second and a record of 27-4.   Show them Saturday night how much you love them.  Gryphons 17 South Point 14

Go Gryphons 

5 comments:

Unknown said...

"NEVER UNDER ESTIMATE THE STRENGTH OR POWER OF THE DARKSIDE"!!!!! FOUR QUARTERS !!!!!

Gryphon 86 said...

20-17 Rocky Mount. This one could potentially come down to another final FG by RMT in regulation or OT. I like that RMT has been tested in the play-offs and has more "playmakers". I have to think Coach Battle will pull out all the stops and play his best playmakers on offense and defense as needed. There is no reason to hold anything back at this point. I think RMT's defense will be the fastest and hardest hitting SP has faced all season. SP will try and grind it out and keep RMT's playmakers on offense off the field. SP runs the FB dive and QB keeper 80% of the time. Focus on that and shut SP down. RMT players know SP will be motivated after beating SP last season so I anticipate the Gryphons to exceed SP's intensity. Go Grypohons!

Unknown said...

All we need to do is play our as usual game. ..the worst thing he can do is charge a lot of stuff. We learned that lesson last year in the Greenville Rose game. Run what got you hear!!!!

Unknown said...

We have a championship Coach and Team. I sure he knows what he is doing....Go ! Gryphons !

Hakim Sabah Abdullah said...

Correct spelling is "here".