Havelock High School is playing in the seventh Eastern Final in the last eight years. Rocky Mount is playing in their fourth in the last ten years. One state title resides in Rocky Mount while Havelock has won three titles since 2011. These kind of matchups don't happen that often. There is one good thing that this game is in Havelock. They have won 44 straight road games with not counting state championship games because of the neutral site.
This is truly what matchups in the playoffs are suppose to be and I will continue to plea for the state to drop one playoff game. Both of these teams finished second in their conference and both won the playoff rematch with the conference champions. If you go to the NCHSAA website ten football conferences are classified as 3-A. There are those that are in split 4A/3A or 3A/2A but only 17 conferences listing 3A. There are a total of 100 schools listed as 3A. 64 make the playoffs. There is no pride in making the playoffs. Let's cut the playoff field back to 32 when you know the top two from each full 3A conference makes it and in some cases only one from a split league get in. Let's drop one game and only invite the best overall record of all others to make a 32 team field.
Neither of these two teams had to worry if they were going to make the playoffs as Havelock comes in 13-1 while Rocky Mount 12-2. The only Ram loss was to West Craven 12-1. Rocky Mount two losses were to Middle Creek 14-0 and Southern Nash 12-1. It is of note the Edenton Aces who the Gryphons beat in Edenton are still alive in the 2A playoffs.
Havelock has scored 573 points in 14 games for a 40.92 points per game average. The Gryphons counter scoring 451 or 32.21. The Rams have rushed for 3087 yards on the season but Friday night only got 96 in the game and still scored 24 points. That 3087 works out to a 220 yards per game rushing. Rocky Mount have hit for 4026 or a 287 yards per game average rushing. The Rams add 192 (2896 yards passing to their repertoire while the Gryphons another 75 1132. Per game Havelock moves the ball on average 412 yards while the Gryphons 368.
The other side of the ball the Rams have been stingy giving up only 151 or 10.78 per game. The Gryphons counter attack on defense with a defense that has given up 251 or 17.92. A guessing man that I am the winner will struggle to get to 20 in this game.
These two have played one like opponent and that is Rose High. The Rams won 30-25 on September 9th at Rose while Rocky Mount won 66-41 on September 16th at Rose. What does it tell you about either of these teams? If I'm Rocky Mount I'm worried the Rams defense must be good holding Rose to 25. We thought we did a great job holding them to 41. If I'm Havelock I see a Gryphon team that can score.
This is a must see game because I can tell you Havelock respects the Gryphons if for no other reason we carry the state championship banner that Havelock wants back. The Gryphons are not heading like last year to a team already trying on ring sizes because they thought they were a shoo in for the state championship. This last decade Havelock has gotten back to being a football program like they were from the 60's on until they were put in 4A.. They have that walk that all of us see in Carolina and Duke basketball. They are a football program. They walk the walk and talk like champions. Why miss a game like this?
Injury Update: It was not a pleasant site to see a Gryphon lying motionless on the field of play looking as if it was a severe injury and even hauled to a local hospital during anytime in any ones life but especially on a sports field. Good news to report Rajah McGowen passed all the test at the hospital and has been cleared to play again Friday night. Thanks very much for the care he received on the field which helped make sure that Raj didn't have any further injuries.
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
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