Gryphon Soccer Opens with Shutout

Matt Williams scored Rocky Mount's first goal just three minutes into this afternoons opening round of the State Playoffs and it looked as if they were on their way to an easy time against White Oak.

Almost immediately White Oak packed an extra man on the defensive end to clog up the Gryphons when they were on offense and it worked. Rocky Mount would not score again until 2.19 to play in the game when Matt Williams caught the Vikings napping and Williams gave Rocky Mount their cushion goal.

The defensive ploy by White Oak worked and it held Rocky Mount in check for most of the game but in doing so White Oak only had two shots all game in which Gryphon Goalie Drew Gorham had to make a play.

Rocky Mount 2 White Oak 0

The second round of the NCHSAA playoffs will be Saturday afternoon at home. The time is up in the air at this moment and whoever we play will be determined later tonight. It will either be West Brunswick who has a 10-11 record or C B Aycock who as the #2 seed from the Eastern Carolina conference owns a 16-6 record. Today's win is #20 for the Gryphons they have two losses and a tie on the season. Once I know I will let you know but my guess the time will either 1 or 2pm Saturday.

If you don't believe in the power of prayer I feel sorry for you. I reported on this blog in August that Lady Gryphon soccer goalie Holly Fryer underwent Cancer surgery just about a week before school started.

Yesterday Holly tried out for the basketball team. I understand she was able to go through all of the drills that coach Pam Gainey asked all the players to do. Still under going treatments Holly has decided that she will stick to soccer and what was a very big hole for a very good upcoming soccer team looks as if they will have their goalie back in net when soccer starts in spring.

Praise the Lord at the miracles that he can do.

Soccer Playoffs Starts Tuesday

I am not sure what is wrong with the NCHSAA website but as of late last night the brackets were not published for the soccer playoffs that start Tuesday. They had the same problem with volleyball they didn't show the brackets until Thursday before the tournament started on Saturday.

The Gryphons will host White Oak and as of 8.00am this morning coach Mike Gainey was trying to get an exemption from the NCHSAA to play on site at the school which would mean White Oak would have to travel during the school hours for the playoffs which the NCHSAA frowns on when the games can be played at night.

Soccer is really one of the big issues as to why RMHS needs a new high school in order that they can play at school under the lights instead of at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex. There is no home field advantage playing on a field you only play once a year.

The NCHSAA has granted Rocky mount an exeption and will play at home Tuesday afternoon at 4.30 pm at the school field. This is a big concession by the state to allow this to be played on campus. Go Gryphons!

The girls cross country team will be preparing today for a trip to Kernersville on Saturday as they will enjoy the experience of running in the state championships after qualifying 3rd in the regional this past Saturday.

Eastern North Carolina cross country is of course flat and the course in Kernersville is hilly so this will be an experience having to climb up several hills during their 3.1 mile run. This is one of the reasons the western teams do so well in cross country because they run hills all the time where any team from the east hardly ever does.

The boys cross country team from Nash Central will be one of the favorites this weekend and Will Bass has an excellent chance of winning the state title. Like the girls it will be interesting to see everyones times running in the hills. Dropping off 30 seconds to me might be normal for any runner who has never practiced hill running.

The Giants can end the World Series tonight after winning game four 4-0. There is no doubt that the old saying good pitching stops good hitting has held true so far. The Giants have won the pitching battle in three of the four games.

It's Time To Sit Farve

Here we are just a few hours before the decision is made. Will he play or will he sit? I don't see where there is any decision to be made, the man has broken bones in his foot or ankle and can hardly walk. If you don't sit him this week we will have to go through this thing again next week.

Brett Farve has played in a kazillion straight games the longest in NFL history. I certainly consider Jim Marshall's streak of 268 games as a much more historic record over a quarterback who may get hit five times in a game. Marshall played 60 plays each game for 268 straight games and butted heads with the tackle across the line from him on every one. To me that is the record of value.

Brett Farve wants to play because this is such an important games for the Vikings who sit 2-5 on the season. If they were 5-2 it would be important too. The reason among other things they sit 2-5 is the poor quarterback play he has given them.

Farve is ranked 30th out of 32 in quarterback ratings. He has only thrown 7 touchdown passes but has thrown to the wrong team 10 times.

Any team that uses the excuse the 30th out of 32 quarterbacks gives us the best chance to win had better get themselves a better backup quarterback or a better coach who needs to finally say. Sit down Brett.

Tavaris Jackson who is the backup in Minnesota was 8-8 as the starter in 2008. Are you going to tell me an 8-8 quarterback is not better than what you have now?

I think Brad Childress is down at the bottom of the list when you start talking about good coaches. He doesn't have the excuse that Wade Phillips has as he is just the guy on the field directing traffic while Jerry Jones thinks he is the coach.

I have grown very tire of all this Brett Farve talk this year and will be glad when it is over. He has become about as annoying as all the political adds on tv. Thank God that ends this week. When will the Brett Farve saga finally be over.