Random Thoughts

A follow up from yesterday Hunt beat West Craven 3-0 last Thursday night.  That score still even this afternoon has not been posted on the playoff bracket.  This sets up a Big East Third round game as Fike will travel to Hunt.  The winner moves on to the fourth round where probably Jacksonville will be waiting.

Southern Nash lost five fumbles in their lost in the first round.  If you consider that three times per quarter is about the amount of times you will get the ball then the Firebirds never got to take advantage of 42% of their drives.

Nash Central has been talking it and now they have gotten it, a rematch with Hunt.  One of their biggest complaints was officiating.  It's playoff now and the officials are assigned by the State.  It's time to go out and prove your point.

Hunt Football and soccer teams are still both undefeated.  Hunt is the only school in the state that can say that.  West Brunswick did a good job Friday of holding on the the ball against Hunt.  They had four drives that they consumed clock against the Warriors and yet Hunt still won.

Cardinal Gibbons won four State titles yesterday and if this doesn't start a wave from the 3-A schools about Gibbons being allowed to play in the 3-A level even though they are a private school I don't know what ever will.

Cardinal Gibbons has a 1,250 students and looking on their website they offer 34 sports for their students. 500 strudents are involved with sports at their school.  They have students there that are provided  with funds to go the the school and of course that's where the public schools have a complaint.  I think everyone would love to know how many attend Cardinal Gibbons that is given some sort of free education and of that amount how many play sports.

Eleven In A Row

I don't care what sport it is winning eleven games in row is hard to do in checkers, baseball, basketball and especially when all eleven have come against quality competition.  Tonight distraught over the fact as being the two time defending state champions in 2-A football and playing on the road Tarboro served notice that it didn't matter where they play they will be a hard out on somebody in the 2-A playoffs

Todd Gurley scored four touchdowns and rushed for over two hundred yards  as Tarboro advances 34-26.  Tarboro dominated from the get go.  East Duplin scored 23 points in the 4th quarter to make it respectable.  Up next Unbeaten Northside of Jacksonville next Friday night in Jacksonville.

SouthWest Edgecombe for the second year in a row is knocked out of the opening round of the playoffs as their second try against Kinston turns out about like the first. Kinston advance 26-6 over the Cougars.

Cardinal Gibbons won about every championship available today, four as a matter of fact Volleyball, Tennis and both Cross Country  championships. Rocky Mount's Mason Holt was the top local runner finishing 34th with a time of 17:15.  Teammate Paul Lilley finished 47th at 17:26.  Big East Conference champion Neopolian Patel ran 63rd  and a time of 17:43..  Nash Central's Dillon Mason was 71st in a time of 17:48.

Fike Girls finished 11th and Nash Central 12th in the girls XC event.  Nash Central's Micheala Williams finished eighth in the state running a time of 19:43.  Neferti Conyers-Thigpen  from Rocky Mount ran 45th at a time of 20.54.  Other runners from the area making the top 100 were Lacie Pickarski of Northern Nash  76th in a time of 21.30.  Casey Warren of Nash Central was 86th at 21:48.

Fike has stunned another #1 seed in soccer.  Tonight they beat West Brunswick 4-0 to move on to round three.  They will play the winner of the Hunt-West Craven game played in Vanceboro Saturday night.

Tia Hudgins has been named the Player of the year in Volleyball for the Big East.  Any one who has watch Tia play for Rocky Mount knows she is the best in the Big East.  If you are interested in seeing the Big East all conference team in Girls Golf, Tennis and Volleyball go on to the Gryphon Grapevine.  Charles Alston has all of of that on his website.