12-1

Before we begin talking about this game it is a shame the top two teams from any conference have to meet in the second round.  Especially when the combined record of the two going into the game is 22-2.  I maybe could see it if the second place team was 6-6.

They expected 3,500 hundred and I think they got it as both stands were full on the Southern side on the hill by the entrance has several hundred and the Gryphon side had four and five deep from about the 20 yard line towards the concession stand in the field house.

The Firebirds took the opening kickoff and did what they did the first time these two met going 71 yards in seven plays and took the lead after a five yard run up the middle by Kendrick Bell.  The Gryphon first series was a first down and punt but starting on the Firebird second pocession the Gryphons defense took over for rest of the half.

The Gryphon offense took over too as they went on a 86 yard drive capped off by two yard punch up the middle by Deangelo Collins and after the Chase Miller the Gryphons led 7-6 because the Firebirds missed their PAT and the time stood at 3:40 of the first.

The very next drive the Gryphons scored on one play as B J Sanders ran straight up the middle  60 yards and  at 49 seconds before the end of the first it was 14-6. The Gryphons  had a surprise in store for Southern Nash as Sherrod Green came in and ran at full back for the first time this year.  He started preseason with a broke hand and did not see middle linebacker play until the fourth game and then toward the end of the season he has been bother by a shoulder injury.  The Firebirds found out nothing is wrong with him now his first three carries total 42 yards and that led to a DeAngelo
Collins 22 yard jaunt with only .54 seconds in the half.

The Gryphons did nothing with their first try of the third quarter and Southern took more than seven minutes off the clock and cut the lead to 21-14 when Kendrick Bell saw the end zone from ten yards out. Bell added a two point conversion.  Once again the Gryphon went to number 44 as they march close enough to the goal line to get a 28 yard field goal an extend the lead to 24-14.

An interception by Detrelle Revis set up another scoring drive that ended in Chase Miller belting his second field goal from 22 yards out and the lead is 27-14 with 3:40 to go.  Southern Nash wasn't undefeated for no reason as they scored in just over two minutes getting the last 36 on the arm of Toonice Hampton to Nadir Thompsom and with 1:25 to go the Firebirds are an onside kick from having a shot but the Gryphons recover the onside kick and three  neil  downs sends the Gryphons to round three with a 27-21 victory over Southern Nash.

 Rocky Mount rushed 51 times for 325 yards led by BJ Sanders 20 176 also Sherrod Green 8 carries 87 and DeAngelo Collins 11-64. The Gryphons  completed only one pass in three tries losing three yards.  Bam Knight led the Firebird 13-77, Nadir Thompson 3-55 and Kendrick Brll 14-50.  Their totals 43 - 196 and passing 4-11 for 66.

For the Firebirds a perfect season ends at 12-1 while Rocky Mount advances to Southern Guilford who was a second round winner over South Johnston 29-7.

Big Night for Edgecombe County as Tarboro made the NCHSAA look like fools having to travel to a 6-6 team winning 61-0

North Edgecombe lives to play another week besting Northside Pinetown 16-14.