Gryphons/Bulldogs Both 2-1

The Gryphons by moving their game with Hertford County to September 1st will not have another home game until October 21st when they host the third conference game of the year against Fike.  That is a stretch of 50 days from one home game to the next.  There is a chance if there is a early frost  that the grass on the football field could be turning brown by then.

There are many signs pointing to the potential of the 2016 Gryphon football team.  The top two quarterbacks Mckenzy Wright and Shabios Lynch both have shown capability of tossing the football deep down field.  Getting time to throw deep is still the big question mark.  You can see that already both qb's have started rolling out instead of standing in the pocket.

Sherrod Greene made his first appearance at middle linebacker wearing a wrap over his broken hand. Having had plenty of running he is In shape as far as lung capacity but he now must get as they say in football shape taking all the bumps and bruises that go with football.

All three games played so far the Gryphons have been begrudging teams running the football against them.  Where teams have made hay is through the air. The days of three yards and a cloud of dust has been replaced by the short passing game of two step drop by the quarterback and throw two to five yards beyond the line which is hard to stop.  Trying to blitze only works when the quarterback is seven steps in the pocket.  I think the only defense for this type of passing is use outside linebacker in flats and slant pass areas.  The days when teams give up only six points per game running the football are over.  Any team that can hold another to 14-17 points has had a rather good game.

There is really one trend that I like.  Both against Middle Creek and against Hertford County the Gryphons  pounded the football in the fourth quarter and had long touchdown drives.  This year's team is loaded with  backs who love to deliver hits on the tackler just like last year and and by the fourth quarter the offense has worn the other teams defense down.

I am so glad to see that the Bulldogs  of Nash Central have shown signs that better days are right around the corner.  Yes you can say their impressive win over North Johnston is against a 1A school but you have to realize this.  They have not even been close to winning these games in the last five years.

Chris Lee is getting pride to return to a program that has been about as low as you could get.  The past there were issues on the field coaching decisions during games that cost several wins.  I can remember two losses against Hunt that prevented potential conference titles because of running only four or five plays in the last two minutes of games because of taking too much time deciding the next play.

Players can see those failures as well as fans in the stands.  Players lose confidence in coaches and if anyone doesn't believe in the ultimate goal they will never reach their potential.  Lee has brought back the ability to see the goal and how to get there.  In other words his team is buying what he is selling and it shows.

Brian Goodwin got his second call to Washington over the weekend.  Last night in the bottom of the ninth on Sunday night ESPN Baseball Godwin first at bat since his return a pitch hitter he lashes a double past the 1st base bag to get his fifth major league hit.