Rocky Mount Survives Northern Scare

Before school ended Friday the Rocky Mount football team was rocked with the news that a JV football teammate Lavontae Brown who wore number 9  was gunned down on the streets of Rocky Mount.

Once arriving at Northern a little later than normal because the football lights at Northern would not come on until about 6:45 the Gryphons ran into maybe the best defense they faced all year. Northern went toe to toe with the Gryphons until a punt blocked by Northern and a recovery of the block in the enzone gave Northern a 6-0 half time lead.  Northern tried to fake Rocky Mount out on a reverse on a fake extra point but the Gryphons held.

The second play of the third quarter the Gryphons got a 56 yard touch down run from B J Sanders but the missed the extra point when kicker Chase  Miller slipped just about time he made contact with the ball and we had a 6-6 ball game.

It took until 11:16 of the fourth quarter before Nick Bynum scored for the Gryphons from 14 yards out and their first lead of the night at 13-6.  Just two minutes later after a botched punt gave the Gryphons the ball on the six yard line and Sherrod Green score to up the lead to 20-6.

Rocky Mount was on cruise control until a fumble gave Northern the ball at the Gryphon  46 and Knights Quarterback Christian Daniels found Raymond Bullock on a 23 yard pass with 3:25 to play.  The Knights defense stopped Rocky Mount and forced a punt and with just over two minutes to go put everyone on their feet.  Almost sacked Daniels ran 38 yards to give the home crowd hope but four incomplete passes and Rocky Mount goes unbeaten in the Big East and now wait for the bracket announcement around three pm Saturday afternoon.

Rocky Mount Academy lost at Parrott Academy 44-14 in the first round of the eight man playoffs
Other eight man scores. St David's 64 Cary Christian 24
Northeast Academy 58 Community Christian 22
Southampton 50 Lawrence Academy  0
Hunt 52 Fike 20
Tarboro 60 North Edgecombe 14
Southern Nash 56 Nash Central 19
SouthWest Edgecombe 42- Beddingfield 21
Northampton 42 Rocky Mount Prep 21

Duke-Carolina A Meaningful Football Game

Had a 5-2 record last week on the college football picks to run my record for the year to 63-21. The head line game this week happens in Chapel Hill.  It's Duke-Carolina and it is not basketball.

Duke 6-2- 3-1@ North Carolina 7-1-4-0:  North Carolina has won seven in a row since the opening game lost to South Carolina.  Their defense is so improved that with the schedule left they could go 11-1.  During the Fedora era the offense has never been an issue.  Duke under Coach Cut has gone from a team that can't win a game in a year to three straight years they are going bowling.

 I don't believe Duke is as good this year as last.  They have struggled on offense while the defense has kept them in every game.  Carolina defense will keep the Devils  in check.  I doubt Duke's D can hold Carolina down enough to win this one.  Carolina 34 Duke 16

USF 4-4- 2-2 @ ECU 4-5 2-3:  Pirates have fallen on hard times the last few weeks. This one will be close but Pirates get to 500.  ECU 30- USF 21

Virginia 3-5- 2-2@ Miami 5-4- 2-2:  I kind of would like to see Miami give their victory over Duke back so since they will not I hope UVA wins but I ain't that crazy.  Miami 27-Virginia 17

North Carolina Wesleyan 3-5@ Lagrange 2-5:  How bout those Battling Bishops.  They have become and offensive juggernaut.  They head to Southern Georgia this weekend and will come back home with a V.  NCW 38 Lagrange 32

Notre Dame 7-1 @ Pitt 6-2-4-1:  Pitt has always played the The Irish tough.  Just don't think the Panthers are quite good enough. ND 27 Pitt 24

NC State 5-3-1-3 @ Boston Colege 3-5-0-6:  The Pack has to win this game.  They started this year with a boat load of Running backs but they are hurting there right now.  Pack will survive somehow or other.  31-17

Syracuse 3-5-1-3 @ Louisville 4-4-3-2:  I think Louisville gets on a roll.  Cards 35 Syracuse 22

Florida St 6-1-5-1-@ Clemson 8-0-5-0:  These two are the best two in the ACC but for the first time maybe ever Clemson is the best team.  They are really good players on both side of the ball.  This just plain and simple is not a typical Florida St team.  They don't seem to have the fire as other teams have had in the past.  Clemson 38 FSU 28.

First Loss Ends Season

This past weekend at the singles and doubles championship the Rocky Mount Gryphons two Lady Gryphons doubles teams watched the doubles team from Union Pines win the state championship. Wednesday the entire Union Pines team showed up in the early afternoon to the Gryphon Tennis courts and before dark Union Pines gives Rocky Mount their first loss on the season 5-1.  Senior Chandler Brice playing her final high school match was the only winner of a point for the Lady Gryphons.  The Gryphon season ends with a 14-1 record.

The final week of the high school football season is upon us and in the Two Rivers and the Big East the champions are already known.  The Eastern Plains is another story.  Last week went 7-1 to boost my overall picks to 65-14.  We will start out with the only game that has an impact on the a conference championship.

Beddingfield 6-4 4-0 @ SouthWest Edgecombe 9-1 3-1:  If Beddingfield wins they are the Eastern Plains champions.  A lost and a possible three way tie including Washington who lost to Beddingfield but beat SWE.  The Cougars have rolled since their lone loss.  This by far hardest game to pick this week.  The Bruins losses are to no light weights.  Bruins 26 SWE 22

Rocky Mount Prep 1-7 @ Northampton 5-5:  this might be a fairly close game Northampton 26 Prep 14.

Eight man playoffs begin and I don't understand why some teams played five conference games and others played  10.

RMA  7-3 @ Arendell Parrott 9-1:  They started the season and it was the first game for Terrell Hudgins as the new head coach at RMA.  I am sure ten games in Hudgins feels he can call a better game now over then. I am sure he can but Parrott will win.  38-26
Other  Eight man picks:

Cary Christian 3-7 @ St David's 10-0. St Davids plays Parrott -RMA winner next week. St Davids 65-0
Lawrence Academy 4-6 @ Southampton Academy 8-2.   SA 38-13
Community Christian 6-4 @ Northeast Academy: NE won last week at CC 52-40.  This one is in Lasker NE 54 Community Christian 36

Tarboro 9-1 @ North Edgecombe 5-4:  The Warriors have lost 3 in a row.  It comes down to how much Tarboro wants 48-6 Vikes

Rocky Mount 8-2 @ Northern Nash 3-7:  Perfect game for Northern.  Rocky Mount fat and happy and Northern still has playoff implications.  28-7 Gryphons.

Nash Central 1-9 @ Southern Nash 7-3:  The Firebirds need to forget the Rocky Mount game.  If they do 48-6 Firebirds.

Hunt 7-3 @ Fike 6-4:  I think Hunt has been the most steady team of these two.   Hunt 28 Fike 24

Halfway In The NFL

Maybe today? Rocky Mount's girls tennis team washed out in the third round of the state duel tennis championship on Tuesday.  The schedule calls for the Eastern Finals today so a victory today and a match tomorrow.

Now the NFL: Had the type week expect to have every week but it hasn't happened.  Went 12-2 to shoot my picks up to 69-50

Thursday football features the battle of Ohio.  Cleveland 2-6@ Cincinnati 7-0:  The Browns seem to play just good enough to lose.  Cincy showed they might be on a different level last week.  Bengals 27 Browns 20

Packers 6-1 @ Panthers 7-0:  Aaron Rogers hasn't play very well against good defenses.  Panthers I believe qualify for a good defense.  Packers last two games have given up 500 yards to Chargers and Broncos.  I find it hard to believe I'm picking the Panthers. 26-23.

Titans 1-6@ Saints 4-4:  You noticed Saints are on a roll. Saints 42- 17

Dolphins 3-4@ Bills: 3-4: Looks to me fish are on the way up while Bill Cody has been over rated because of their coach.  Miami 27 Bills 20

Redskins 3-4@Patroits 7-0. Do you remember the last time these two played.  Brady ahead by 50 passed from one the yard line to win by 50plus.  This year the Redskins get revenge they only lose by 30 45-14

Rams 3-4 @ Vikings 5-2:  This might be best game of the weekend as Todd Gurley meets the master Adrian Peterson. I think Rams defense can help them win this game 30-27

Jags 2-5 @ Jets 4-3: Jets-Jets-Jets 23-17

Giants 4-4 @ Bucs 3-4:  Anybody noticed but Bucs have  a good D.  Bucs kick butt 24-23

Falcons 6-2 @ 49's2-6: Falcons have a better record that what they truly are.  9'ers will win 27-23

Bronco's 7-0 @ Colts 3-5. 14 points for the Colts will not be enough.  Denver 31-14.

Eagles 3-4 @ Cowboys 2-5:  Boys need this one to stay close.  Eagles win 31-17

Raiders 4-3 @ Steelers 4-4:  One of the things I hate about the NFL is when a player passes and gets ok to play like Big Ben did  he is out of shape and needed a week or two to get in playing.  He played like he had never been on the field before.  Doubt he will be good enough again this week against one of the rising teams in NFL Oakland. Raiders 26 Pitt 20.

Monday night football has a reunion of two good friends Philip Rivers and  Jay Cutler.  Chicago 2-5@ Chargers 2-6.  Rivers may throw for 500 yards. 26-20 a Chargers.

Washed Out Try Again Tuesday Maybe Wednesday

The 3rd round of the 3-A duel girls tennis got washed out on Monday.  Weather forecast doesn't look to be much better for Tuesday.  If they are washed out Tuesday they of course will play Wednesday weather permitting.  If that happens and the Lady Gryphons win they would turn around play again Thursday in the eastern Finals. If they win that the duel state championship us Saturday.  It is a possibility that who ever plays in the duel state championship they just might play three straight days to win it all due to the weather.

The State Playoffs begin  on Wednesday in the boys soccer.  The Big East has all three of their teams that won more than they lost in conference play have made the tournament.  The Top seed in the Big East Hunt who lost but one game all year while winning 21 are the top seed in the east and they will play the last team in the eastern bracket West Brunswick.

Now as always there has to be some kind of Tom Foolery.  Southern Nash and Fike both finished 7-3 in the league which tied for second.  Southern Nash gets the number 14 seed and Fike gets the 19th seed which pairs them in the opening round.  Just seems to me one of those teams could be shifted just one seed to at least keep them from playing in the opening round.

Any time you are in a tournament and keep winning there is always a chance you will meet another conference member some where down the road.  This truly is unacceptable for  a conference member to play someone from your own conference in the first round especially when you tied with them in record.  This is a matter of those at the state level being lazy an accepting what ever the computer spits out.

Did you know Monday was the first day of high school winter sports practice.  Basketball can play their first game on November 16th.

Even though he sat out the first ten quarters of the NFL season Todd Gurley is fifth in rushing with 575 yards on 94 rushes.  Sunday he had his longest run for a touchdown going 71 yards If Gurley stays healthy he will be rookie of the year in the NFL. He trails Atlanta's Devonta Freeman by only 134 yards.  The top ten rushers in the league all are averaging between 4 to 4.7 yards per carry.  Todd is averaging 6.1 per tote

Gryphons Grew on the sidelines And And On The Field

When I was a high school disc jockey soon to be the greatest disc jockey alive in my mind there were many things that I had to learn.  I use to tape every game, every shift I worked as a jock and would go back an listen to each just like a coach looks at film.  I am embarrassed to listen to what I thought at the time was a super star disc jockey in the making.

Jason Battle has just won his first Big East football title and he too had to learn some things in order that this Gryphon team could grow to champions.  How many sideline penalties in his previous years has the coaching staff gotten which also led to penalties on the field.

This year I don't recall one on the coaches and only a couple by them on the team  and those weren't so called mouthing off personal fouls but late hit etc.  This entire team grew in maturity together.  Yes there are a couple of stud players on this team but for the most part this is a team loaded with gritty team players doing their job.

They have been battle tested.  A big lead melted to a touchdown against Hunt but a big fourth quarter.   Down 14 nothing in the first half to Fike only to win going away.  Then down to Southern mostly because of failure to hold on to the ball they dominate Southern Nash when they had too.  Last year with the heat on somebody was getting a penalty.

Jason Battle and his staff some changes made this year have seen this team respond to their better coaching.   High school football is 80 per cent coaching and this year's Gryphon team has responded with a championship with a chance for more.

This afternoon the Lady a Gryphon Tennis team plays at home at 4 pm in the 3rd round of the state 3A duels.

Northern Nash Wins East Regional Cross Country

Northern Nash was the favorite going into Saturday's Eastern Regional cross country championships on their home course at Red Oak Middle and there was no doubt that the Knights are the best in the East and have earned the right to run the the state championship next weekend.  They win the 3A Eastern  Regional Cross Country Championships.

Probably the only disappointment on the day is no Knight won the  indivual title but that was not needed when all five Knight runners finished in the top 22 runners led by senior Daniel Belton who ran the 3.1 miles in 16:06.  Seniors Stephen Whitehead 5th running 16:20 and Coleman Cherry 6th ran  a 16:25.  Two freshmen made sure the Knights brought home the biggest trophy  as ninth graders Jordan  Richardson  17:01 finished  17th and running fifth in 22nd was Tyric  Hill.

Hoping for and outside shot to make the state championship meet both Rocky Mount Girls and Northern go home disappointed as Rocky Mount ran 6th and Northern Nash 8th but you have to finish in top four teams to qualify for the state.

Another disappointed team  is Rocky Mount's Brenna Bryant-Chandler Brice who lost in the 3A doubles tennis championship semi finals to the Terry Sanford's Huda McGraw- Sophia McGraw. 6-2 - 6-1.  Bryant and Brice will be back in action Monday at 4pm  when they will be joined by the rest of their teammates in the third round of the 3A duels.  They will take on Union Pines from Cameron.

Hunt finished the Big East boys soccer season 10-0 and the regular season champions.  Fike and Southern Nash were 7-3 in conferences games finished tied for second.

Campbell won their first Big South Cross Country championship Saturday.  Former Gryphon Mason Holt a junior was named to the Big South All Academic team.