Not This Year

Team to arrive at Gym about 4:45

It will be a game where the South Point Red Raiders will say their defense came to play state championship football.  Today Rocky Mount crosses the fifty yard line only twice while the Red Raider offense  felt the soil under their feet to start a drive twice.  Field position, a Gryphon fumble, interception  and three field goals made by the kid that wore  the goat tag for a year ago Thomas Lempereur leads South Point to a 16-7 victory over Rocky Mount denying the Gryphons back to back titles.

The game for the Gryphons was like they were treading in mud all games as the best field position they had  all day was their own forty after a Detrell Revis interception return.  South Point started on the Rocky Mount side all but twice which tells you how great the Gryphon D played giving up only one touchdown and that occurred after a Gryphon Fumble at their own 24 eventually turn into a 7 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Scottie Lee  to Ray Grier which bumped the score to 13-7.

Rocky Mount's offense only moved the ball once all game and it came  on their only drive of the game that started at their own 31 and with eight seconds to play in the half.   Shabios Lynch hit Shyheim Battle with a 25 yard score and Rocky Mount had a 7-3 halftime lead and had been completely dominated by field position and the Red Raider defense.

A very disappointing crowd of around 4,000 weathered the cold and even icy road conditions  as both side had about 2,000 people no where near the internet talk that South Point would fill one side of the stadium.

South Point had 199 yards rushing in the game all but about ten came on the Rocky Mount side of the field.  The only pass they completed was the seven yard td for a total of 206 yards.  Rocky Mount rushed for 27 yards once quarterback sacks were subtracted and passed for 91 for 118 total offense.  If there was ever a game in which a team defense bottled the other them up today was it as the Red Raiders who only allowed the Gryphons across the 50 twice.

Sherrod Green was named the Gryphons defensive player of the game while Shabios Lynch was the offensive performer.   Even in defeat the fans need to be at the gym to support this team on their arrival.  I will post as soon as there is a time set for their return.  I am sure they will stop on the way back to eat so as soon as they know arrival time I'll feed it to you.

Rocky Mount finishes 13-3 while South Point wins their 5th football title their first since 2009

The Go For Two In A Row

The Rocky Mount  Gryphons if they can be victorious today will repeat back to back state championships in football for the first time since 1962/63.  When you arrive at the stadium the Gryphons are the home team and will sit on the East stands. BBT Stadium holds 31,500 or about 15,000 on each sideline.

Some where around 7,500 fans made the trip last year in Chapel Hill on a Friday night. Many simply could not get off soon enough to get to the game so with this being a Saturday game even though it's 165 miles away there should be more in Winston this year.

I assume everyone knows how to get out on I-40 near the airport in Greensboro.  Stay on I-40 west where you can either take 1-40  or I 40 Business toward Winston Salem.  About 14 miles on either road you need to take US 52 toward Mount Airy.  If you take I 40 you will cross over I 40 business where you will join those that go Business I-40.  About four miles take Cherry Street turn right at bottom of the ramp off the exit.  The stadium is not that far the address is 411 Deacon Blvd.  Remember the Gryphons are in the East stands.

Many people from all over the world during those special weeks hit this blog in order to find out what's happening leading up to the big game.  That has happened again this year but it started back during the regular season game with Southern Nash and has continued right up to today.  My blog hits have tripled every day for six weeks now over a normal every day  Thank You all.

Both teams spent the night near Winston Salem.  The Gryphons left around 1pm and stopped in Greensboro and practiced at North Carolina A&T late Friday afternoon.  Not sure where they stayed but that sure beats getting up early and maybe worry with the weather to get to the stadium.

Those who are stuck home not making the trip to Winston and you are on Time Warner Cable you can go to channel 324 and the game will be live.  You can access  a live internet feed by going to NCHSAA.ORG and on the front page it says Don't miss a minute of action.  All the state championship games will be listed.  Click on the Rocky Mount game and it will appear at 11am. You may need to put the Time Warner App on your computer to view the game but it is free.

I will blog the results by 2pm if the game is over by then  GO GRYPHONS!!!!!!