Long John Weather Tonight

People talk about global warming an  I believe in it but not because of a hole in the atmosphere but because today 6 billion people at 98.6 degrees each is the big problem.  Growing up in Ahoskie we always played Williamston the ninth game of the season so it was either the last Friday night in October or the first Friday night in November.  Whenever we played at Williamston it was always freezing.  Most said it was the wind blowing off the Roanoke River.  What ever the reason that game you had better have your long johns on.

The weather forecast for today and tonight is 43 for a high today and by dawn Saturday 23 degrees.  I would suspect by the time the sun goes down in will be in the 30's  and maybe freezing by the end of the game.  In the old days I wore two pair of socks, two pair of pants and as many coats and sweat shirts that I could get on.  Sounds like old times tonight.

Both Tarboro and  Rocky Mount have rather lengthy trips to Teachey and Havelock.  Both need to bring their A games in order to advance to next week's State Championship weekends.  This is the time of year it only seems fair that to advance you need to play your best.  All four teams Wallace Rose Hill and Havelock along Tarboro and Rocky Mount are playing at championship caliber level.

I think in order for the Vikings to win they will need to pass some in order to open up the run.  High school football in the recent future has become a passing world.  Teams that pass 15-20 times a game generally are not physical teams because the pass makes you a more passive team because blockers are backing up in protection over power driving foward.


When Rocky Mount played West Craven in 2008 West Craven passed a lot.  There is a big difference between the Gryphon football teams of 2007/08 that made the Regionsl finals.  Those two years speed was the the primary Gryphon strength.  The 15/16 Gryphons have as much speed as 07/08 but I believe the recent Gryphons have a lot more power.  Power and speed will out do the other team with speed only as the night wears on.

Looking at last year during the playoffs Rocky Mount trailed in four of the five playoff games but beat down every team as the game wore on.  Look at this year they wore down Southern Lee trailing by two touchdowns in the third quarter.  Against Southern Nash they had no answer for Sherrod Green who they did not see as a running back in the first meeting in fact he spent time in the sidelines in the first meeting with an ailing shoulder.  Last week from the opening play Southern Guilford was no match for Rocky Mount speed or power.  All of this power stuff will go right out the window with a couple of lost fumbles.

Tonight the Gryphons will be taking on a team that can run or pass.  If there is one area the Gryphons have yielded the most yardage it has been through the air.  Havelock could hurt the Gryphons big time if they don't get a pass rush.  We will need to shut down the run so the pass is the big worry.  If we don't stop the run it will open up the pass.

The Coastal Conference I would call a passing league which brings on the question has Havelock seen a team with the speed and power like the Gryphons.  If they haven't the Gryphons can win.  Need to get there early because Havelock officials are expecting a huge crowd.  The stadium is similar to Gryphon Stadium so 4-5 thousand people can be seated.

Those who can't get off in time to get to the game or don't want to sit in the cold the game will be on the radio tonight on 103.7. Hope you can be there. Be loud, be proud and dress warmly. It will seem like old times.