Been Here Before

Last word about the Southern Nash Rocky Mount game.  I felt that during the regular season match up with the schedule being moved around because of the hurricane that it being senior night but most of all the family situation going on with coach Brian Foster's family and coach Foster not being on the sidelines the Firebirds had everything to play for with an undefeated season riding, a first place in the conference and yet Rocky Mount had pretty much controlled the game until the two roughing the passer penalties. Update on Foster family.  Understand both wife Kim and son Zack did make the game Friday but have much rehab still in front of them.  We need to all pray for their full recoveries which may take at least another six months if not more.

I have no dispute at all with the penalties as both were bone head plays totally unneeded and it gave the  Firebirds new life and any team as good as the Firebirds didn't need much help anyway but the Gryphons beat themselves.

Here we are in a second round game and now the Firebirds are the hunted, the team favored to win the game.  Coach Foster's family no longer in intensive care and out of the Wilmington hospital.  All of the things helping the Firebirds the first time were not there in this match up.  I thought Rocky  Mount had something to prove in this match up.

The one thing that I saw was the on the field change made by Rocky Mount after giving up three scores in one quarter to Southern Lee in the first round and falling behind by 14 in the third quarter.  The Gryphons quit being a the going through the motions team and started playing ball the way they are capable.  I thought I could see even in the first Southern Nash game a take for granted play that even only up 10-7 they thought they had the game.  Up 7-0 to Southern Lee and now down 14 the Gryphons finally woke up to the fact they had to work to win.  It carried over into the Second round Firebird matchup.

Rocky Mount's last lost in the playoffs was a second round defeat in 2014 to Southern Guilford at SG.  That thing that had been a bug-a-boo this season fumbles, they had two in the first half in 2014.  The Storm also had a special running back in Reggie Gallespy who now plays at NC State.  The final score was 36-18.

Who's Up Next

Yesterday I Mentioned that the 28 points the Gryphons scored on Southern Nash was the most scored on the Firebirds all year.  Looking at Middle Creek the Gryphons scored 25 on the 4A school which stands at 13-0 on the season and have not given up more than 14 points in any other game.

There is one big problem any running team has whenever they get behind by more than a touchdown.  The Firebirds first score of the second half took almost eight minutes of the clock.  The next two trips by Rocky Mount produced field goals and each drive lasted over four minutes.  Running teams cannot afford to get behind more than one score.  Just too much time comes off when they grind it down the field.

So far this year the Gryphons have not shown that if they are trailing in the fourth quarter and the running game is not working they have the ability to move the length of the field.  If you recall the state championship game last year the Gryphons only rushed for 120 yards the entire game and needed a passing game to stay in the game.

This week the Gryphons head down that I-85 corridor which during this century has been a familiar territory have played in Mebane, Gibbonsonville, and now back to South Greensboro in the playoffs They will be playing a coach who had a heartache against the Gryphons just last season as the head coach Earl Bates was the coach of Eden Morehead who the Gryphons beat on the last play of the game in the third round.  Either Bates saw the well running dry in Eden or it shows you how great a coach he is as Eden Morehead did not win a game this season.   They scored only 88 points while giving up 488.

Let't look at what the Gryphons face In the Storm on Friday.  They are 11-2 on the season with 10 wins in a row. They have scored 340 points which is a 26.4 points per game.  They have allowed only 148 points or just a little over 11 per game.

They average 211 yards rushing per game and their leading rushing attempt guy only carries the ball 10 times per game. They play a lot of running backs combining for their 2534 yards rushing on the season.  They average 5.9 yards per attempt.  Throwing they have completed 51-102 for 670 yards or 55 yards a game.

The Gryphons come into game 14 averaging 280 yards per game rushing.  The passing game has added 68 per game. BJ Sanders went over 1000 yards rushing on the season against the Firebirds.  He missed the first conference game because of illness and then the week off for the hurricane it seemed as if he had lost his speed.  It definitely looks as his speed is back in the two playoff games. DeAngelo  Collins has rushed for 850 and another 650 from Charlie Williams.

The Gryphons are scoring at a 32 points per game pace on 402 points.  They have allowed 221 points on the season but 78 came against Middle Creek 37 and Rose 41.  They did hold Rose under their season average of 46.  The other 11 games they are yielding 13 per contest.

We are to the point in the season where every win from here on out will have to be earned.  The 5-7, 6-6 teams are now wrestling and playing basketball.  This is a tough travel game due to the fact in order to be there on time you have to fight the Raleigh traffic and catch parts of the Greensboro jams in order to get to Southern Guilford.

I will not be able to be in attendance Friday night and help coach the Gryphons to victory from the stands.  Will be behind the mic at the Roger Taylor Invitational at North Carolina Wesleyan.  Same thing happened last year against East Alamance.  The Gryphons did rather well without me  in that one.  Expect the same type results from the Gryphons in Greensboro in order to return to coaching in Vanceboro or Havelock with all the other Rocky Mount fans/coaches who sit in the stands.

48 Is Enough

High school basketball season is underway in most quarters but at this point the high school playoffs have over shadowed the beginning of the season.  There is one game played so far that over shadows football talk for just a moment.

The Lady Firebirds of Southern Nash have not won a basketball game since the end of January of 2013.  There have been times when they struggled to even score in a quarter and getting 20 in a game has been a big offensive output.  Jordan Bass in his second year endured through a winless season as a rookie coach.

The Lady Birds opened the season playing Bunn and their 48 game losing streak is over after they beat Bunn.  31-29,  Their chance to make it two wins in a row could happen Tuesday when they have a trip to Corinth Holders.

Rocky Mount's 28 points Friday night was the most that Southern Nash football team  gave up all year.  They gave up 18 to Nash Central which had been the highest all season.

What a difference a week makes.  After six fumbles losing four last week against Southern Lee the Gryphons did not put it on the ground against the unbeaten Firebirds.  When the Gryphons hold on to the ball they are really good but when they put it on the ground multiple times average at best.

Last year had to miss the East Alamance Eastern Finals game having PA duty for NC Wesleyan.  Friday and Saturday at Wesleyan is the Roger Taylor Invitational and I'm stuck in Rocky Mount again.  The Gryphons need to play as well on 1-85 as they did last year.

Three teams remain alive from the Twin Counties.  This week Rocky Mount 11-2 is on the road to Southern Guilford.  The other bracket is West Craven 13-0  hosting Havelock 12-1 from the same conference.
Tarboro 11-2 travels to East Carteret  12-0 unbeaten while the other bracket has Lakewood hosting Wallace Rose Hill.  North Edgecombe hits the road playing Plymouth.  Win or lose there will be no more high school football played in the twin counties this year.

If you were in Chapel Hill Friday during the State Carolina football game you might have heard the loudest cheer of the day was the Carolina Basketball team making an appearance at the football stadium having just arrived back from Hawaii  after winning the Maui Classic with three convincing wins.


I realize the football team had a bad start Friday against the Pack and the crowd had little to cheer about as the basketball team made their appearance.  It only proves that basketball is still king on campus and most Carolina fans could care less if Fedora leaves Chapel Hill to go any where else.

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.

An End To College Football Season

Last week went 7-2 to send my  tepid football guessing record 83-31.  Only thing left after this week is playoffs and bowl games.

It is funny the N C State fans bemoaned the fact that this season's non conference slate was harder no patsies in the first four.  A surprising victory over Notre Dames sent Wolfpack fans into hysteria  only to find out the Fighting Irish is having their worse year in 20 years. Last chance to be bowl eligible  if they can get to 6-6.  Please let's end six and five win teams going to bowls. 

Friday High Noon  N C State 5-6 @ North Carolina 8-3:  I thought the Pack had a chance against the Heels this season but it has turned out that the best quarterback they have is reckless with the ball.  Tar Heels 41 Pack 17

ECU 3-8 @ Temple 8-3:  After their home victory over N C State the season has been up hill all the way for the Pirates.  It will end in an avalanche in Philadelphia.  Temple 35 ECU 24

Miami 7-4 @ Duke 4-7:  Coach Cut has proven beyond a doubt he is a great sidelines coach.  This is team probably should have only won one game.  Miami 38 Duke 24

Florida 8-2 @ Florida State 8-3:  Both teams are good but not great taking plenty of luster off this game.  Noles win 30-27

Georgia Tech 7-4 @ Georgia 7-4:  Another game that I know Georgia fans are disappointed at the records.  The hedges too much for the rambling wreck 27-24

South Carolina 6-5 @ Clemson 10-1:  A must win for the Tigers if they are to make final four.  You hear this every once in a while they are the best one loss team but I think it is on the other foot this time Clemson is the worse one loss team either the luckiest.  Clemson 35 South Carolina 24

Boston College 5-6 @ Wake Forest 6-5:  I think you could switch uniforms as both these teams are an image of themselves.  I have a feeling the Eagles get to 6-6 26-24

Virginia 2-9 @ Virginia Tech 8-3:  An ACC Championship game awaits the Hokies with a win.  I think Cavs will be glad to end this season.  Tech 28  Whoo's  16

Kentucky 6-5 @ Louisville 9-2:  A major bowl game awaits  the Cardinals with a victory while Kentucky will get a shot at any bowl game they can Louisville 45 Kentucky 28

Notre Dame 4-7 @ Southern Cal 8-3:  I bet the Irish give them a run for their money only to lose in a close one. USC 27 Notre Dame 24.

Friday After Thanksgiving Football

It is not often that the Twin Counties still have four teams alive the Friday after Thanksgiving but thanks to Hurricane Matthew we will this year.  That extra week of the regular season has seen to that.

Northside Pinetown 8-4 @ North Edgecombe 10-1:  Coming in to this season Keith Parisher had averaged only four wins a year as the Warriors head football coach.  He has ten this year.  Sounds like coach of the year talk.  Don't let the 8-4 Panther record deceive you.  They have played three common foes.

South Creek Northside won 24-7 while the Warriors 22-16.  Riverside the Panthers lost 61-14 while North Edgecombe won 74-56. Rocky Mount Prep Pinetown beat last week in the playoffs 61-12 while in conference play the warriors were winners 54-8.  Two of the three  games show this as a close game while the Riverside game tilts this matchup the Warriors way.  NE 33 Northside 27

Can someone please explain to me why a 6-6 team that didn't even go undefeated in their conference is seeded higher than Tarboro and the Vikings go on the road to Stem.  Tarboro 10-2 @ Granville Central 6-6:  This games has all the makings of a second round clobbering for the Vikings.

Tarboro averages 287 yards a game rushing an another 25 passing.  GC averages 130 yards rushing and 67 passing.  Maybe that explains why they don't score much.  The Vikings had better not be thinking about Wallace Rose Hill next week as a possible third round game or that could lead to fumbles and a poor offensive performance.  See no way Granville Central can keep this close.  Tarboro 38 Granville Central 6.

Rocky Mount 10-2 @ Southern Nash 12-0:  This is for the Big East championship.  This is the way the ACC basketball tournament use to be winner only moves on. Oh, I forgot this is a second round playoff game.  Rocky Mount hoofs out 267 yards rushing a game while the Firebirds 300.  Rocky Mount gets another 84 through the air while the Firebirds 50.  That works out to 351-350.  Even Steven.

The Firebirds had a great opening drive for a touchdown the first time around but  the Gryphons put the clamps on the Birds until a 3rd and 15 incomplete pass roughing the passer call gave new life and the Big Mo to win the game. 

I saw in the last 20 minutes against Southern Lee the Gryphon football team that played the first six games like a great football team.  Rocky Mount played at Southern like that first 28 minute team the other night and yet carried a 10-7 lead into the fourth quarter.

Which Gryphon team shows up?  I'm betting that last 20 minute team and with it a victory for the Gryphons at Southern a place that has not been friendly the last ten years.  Rocky Mount 21 Southern Nash 14.  I have checked with Southern Nash officials and it is a 7:30 kickoff.  Repeating 7:30

Today is a religious holiday whether you think so or not.  The Pilgrims were so thankful for surviving their first year in the new world that they celebrated life in the new world.  We should be thankful for the life we have  and I hope you can enjoy it with family today and let's get back to football tomorrow.

Turkey Day Football Tripleheader

Went 9-5 last week to run my record to 105 -53 on the season.  All the bye weeks are out of the way and we are down to the stretch.  It all starts with a  Tripleheader. Thanksgiving is a day of thanks, family, food and football.

Vikings @ Lions:  It is probably the most important Turkey game in Detroit in 30 years.  Lions win a much needed game 27-24

Washington @ Dallas:  The NFL are games that need wins more.  Dallas has best D in NFL and Washington one of best surprises of season.  The Skins need this one more and teams cruising have lapses.  Skins 30 Boys 27

Pittsburgh @ Indy:  Luck probably out and that means no offense for them.  Steelers will score enough.  Steelers 27 Colts 17

Arizona @ Atlanta:  Cards no where near the team of last two years while Falcons a real contender in NFC South. Falcons 30 Cards 24

Bengals @ Ravens:  Cincy a big disappointment while Ravens are hanging in playoff picture.  Ravens 24 Cats 23

Jacksonville at Buffalo:  Jags are improved but who can see it with only two wins.  Bills are up and down.  Bills survive 26-23

Tennessee @ Chicago:  Titans still alive for playoffs while bears looking for new coach and quarterback.  Titans 26 Bears 17

Giants @ Cleveland:  I am picking the Browns  again this week.  Giants are the perfect team to lose when they shouldn't   Cleveland 30 New York 23

San Diego @ Houston:  The Chargers for the third year in a row with more injuries than anybody else    playing Houston a contender.  Texans 35 Chargers 31

SF @ Miami:  How can anybody pull for a team that has a protester who dishonors his  country and then find out he is not registered to vote.  A true leader.  Miami 27 9'ers 19



Rams @ Saints:  Rams can't score 20 and the Saints  can.  Saints 30 Rams 17

Seattle @ Tampa:  Hawks look Super Bowl bound while Bucs are still playoff possible.  Hawks 23 Bucs 21

New England @ Jets:  The Pats are best team in the elite division.  Every team when they play New England wilt.  New England 35 Jets 21

Carolina @ Oakland:  Raiders look like Super Bowl possibilities while  Panthers are the losers of last year's Super Bowl.  Oakland 23 Panthers 17

KC @ Denver:  Low scoring and loser is in jeopardy of falling out of playoff contention.  19-17 KC

Green Bay @ Philadelphia:  Packers  can't stop anybody and Philly  struggling.  Might be highest scoring game of weekend.  Philly 38 Packers 35