Another College Saturday

I want to see a show of hands who picked Duke to be the best D-I football team in North Carolina?

Duke breaks its almost four-year strangle hold of ACC football futility with a 31-3 stomping of Virginia. They had lost 25 straight conference games until today.

What in the world has happened to Virginia?

Wake Forest, after an impressive game at Florida State last weekend, lays an egg against Navy.

That was the worse performance I have seen from the Deacs since Jim Grobe has been in Winston Salem.

Carolina gets a good win in Miami. It may have found the quarterback it needs in Cam Sexton.

Just eight days ago, ECU was looking at a BCS bowl game. Now, it's humbled at home by Houston.

N.C. State looked like Southern Wayne against the Gryphons in the first half. The best thing that happened to the Wolfpack was the down pouring of rain which gave most of the fans a reason to leave before half time.

I was flipping the dial for most of Saturday night as I watched Virginia Tech beat Nebraska at Lincoln. It is only the 38th time the Cornhuskers have lost at home in the last 292 home games.

Former Gryphon great Stephan Virgil blocked a punt through the end zone in the first half,and sealed the deal for the Hokies by causing a Cornhusker fumble on the last play of the game.

Who is the best team in the ACC - Virginia Tech or Duke?

At least for this week.

The Down East Viking Classic goes to Elizabeth City State 24-13 over St Augustine's. A huge crowd tailgated for most of the day at the RMAC on Saturday afternoon.

Alabama, Oklahoma and LSU took giant steps toward moving to the front of the pack in major college football.

Southern Cal, Florida and Georgia took giants steps backwards.

Watching the N.C. State-South Florida football game, I am sure there was not one advertisement in which you could not buy something in three easy payments of $19.95. What happened to a good old car dealer ad? You know the now is the best time to buy ads. Not a one on the game.

Finally, I would like to close tonight by telling everyone of a wonderful movie that is must see.

"FireProof" hit Rocky Mount Friday night and the family took it in Saturday afternoon. The movie is made by the same church that made "Facing the Giants."

If you believe in the Lord, this one is must see - especially if you are married.

It's after midnight, which means it is T-minus 12 days to NEW 6 Conference opener against Northern Nash.

Homecoming Blowout

I don't think anyone expected this game with Southern Wayne to be close, and it wasn't.

Rocky Mount scored on every possession in the first half, EXCEPT for the one time that we felt bad for the Saints and let them score on a fumble recovery, which still means there was a score on every Rocky Mount possession.

It looked like a scrimmage of the varsity against the JVs.

Baseball has the 10-run rule to end games. High school football has the 40-point mercy of not stopping the clock in the second half.

I don't know who benefits the most from the mercy rule - those that are losing in the game or those watching.

It took over and hour to play the first half and 30 minutes to play the second. The halftime of crowning a homecoming queen took longer than the second half did. Our post game show on radio lasted longer than the second half.

I don't know whose idea it was to put the J.H Rose blue No. 23 in the end zone to honor Jequan Waller, the Rose player who died last week. But that was classy.

I'm glad that WNCT Channel 9 actually filmed the Gryphons standing in the end zone before they came on the field behind the number.

It made me proud to support the Gryphons the way they supported the Rose High team and the Waller family.

If you are a junior or less and play football at Rocky Mount, you have never lost a game on the field in the regular season.

I honestly think if we came out and threw 40 times in a game, we would still win by the scores we are winning by. Our passing game is really good. Our running game ain't bad either is it?

After scoring three touchdowns last week, Nick Hahula got only two carries. Jordan Ford got only a couple of touches. One of the drawbacks of getting such a big lead early is you can't give everyone there regular touches or no telling what the score might be.

We desperately need someone to give us a test. No fooling. We need to find out how we will react when things don't go our way all the time.

Do you realize that no one has scored on us until we've had at least 28 point?. I don't know if that tells you how good our defense is or how good the offense is.

Enough of this! Gryphons 63, Southern Wayne 6

In Other scores......

What a comeback for Southern Nash - down 21-7, the Firebirds score twice and after the second score go for two and the win over North Johnston, 22-21

The Bunn at Nash Central game was postponed until next Thursday night because of a wet field.

Fike downs Hunt for the second time this year. Unlike the first game which went to overtime at Fike, the Golden Demons handled Hunt 38-9 at Hunt.

One of the best battles in a long time between SouthWest Edgecombe and Tarboro goes SouthWest's way, 13-7

Do you think after receiving a trashing from Rocky Mount last week, Hertford County may have had a Gryphon hangover? Probably: Northeastern 39, Hertford County 33

It has been over three years since Northern Nash has won a home football game, but Randy Langley and everyone who bleeds Northern green can celebrate tonight.

A defensive penalty gave Northern the ball for one last play after the clock has expired and Chad Smith's Knights took advantage of one more play and beat Southern Vance 20-15.

This is the first time that Chad has been able to walk off the field after a game and shake the other coach's hand as a winner in his short coaching career.

Northern has been improving as of late and almost got one at Bertie last week

We have made it through five games and the Gryphons are healthy.

Conference play starts in two weeks and the Gryphons will play a team on a winning streak -Northern Nash. They have this week off.

We will talk after the college games.

Time For The Kickoff

I doesn't matter how bad a day I may have on Fridays, I always have the kickoff to fall back on.

When my feet hit the floor right after I thank the Lord for giving me another day, my attention turns to football.

It doesn't matter how work goes on Fridays, it passes fast because I can put off any problem that needs to to taken care of until Monday.

Looks like the field conditions will not be very good Friday night from the rain we have already received and what is expected early Friday.

The weather man is promising clearing skies Friday afternoon and I'm holding them to that promise.

The Gryphons are almost forced to play Friday night rain or shine. Why?

First, it's Homecoming. There may be a class reunion or two planned around the football game.

Second, Saturday the field is being used for the Down East Viking Classic. There will be tailgating going on all day Saturday.

Finally, if the first two reasons weren't enough if the game is put off to Monday, then we only have three days until we play at Northern Vance next Thursday night.

I am sure Mike Gainey will do everything possible to play Friday night as long as there is no lightning. In fact, it has not rained today like I thought it was going to. It has rained a little bit then stop for a while and rained some more.

Here is a hard fact about not playing on Friday nights. The gate may will suffer for people may not go to sit in the rain or slosh through the mud on Friday, but they will not go any other night either. Friday is the largest possible night for the gate.

People have already made other plans for other nights.

I suspect we will kickoff at 7.30.

Can you imagine what the field and the parking lot will look like Sunday morning following two games in the slop.

Last year, Gryphon athletics had one of their best years ever.

The Lady Gryphon volleyball beat Northern Nash Tuesday to force a tie for first place. They have lost only once all season. They are 11-1 right now.

The boys soccer team beat Fike in a big match and they now stand at 10-1-1.

Not to be outdone The girls tennis team is 10-1

The JV boys football squad had a great comeback to keep its winning streak a live at 26 games. They are 5-0 this season.

The pressure is really on the varsity football team to keep pace with the other sports.

The word is out with SouthWest Edgecombe going back to 2-A next year and Hunt replacing it - the conference will be missing the "E" in the NEW 6.

The committee putting together the bylaws for the new conference has requested the Big East 3-A as the name of the new conference.

The new conference will be submitted to the NCHSAA and unless there is some objection ( kind of like when you get married they always say does any one here know of any reason? There never is ) the Big East is back in business as a 3-A league.

Don't forget in case you decide to stay home on Friday night, AM 1390 will be there to bring the game to you in your living room or car. Wes and I hit the airwaves at 7 p.m.

Wes tells me we have some new radio toys to play with tomorrow night. We have a new mixer to plug our microphones into ( that's radio lingo).

See you at the kickoff!

Can't Let Up

We begin the directional portion of our football schedule.

We get SOUTHERN Wayne, NORTHERN Vance, NORTHERN Nash, SouthWest Edgecombe and SOUTHERN Nash over the next five weeks.

If you look at the won-lost records, the next three should be by scores of whatever Coach Holt allows it to be.

One thing I like about coach, you can just look at the Hertford County games as an example. When he gets you down like Hunt and Hertford County, he starts putting in backup players. Not necessarily the entire team, but he starts giving backup players quality time - even in the first half.

We have averaged 25 points per game in the first half, and only 16 in the second,

When you have someone down by 25 at the half and you score the first time you have the ball in the second half, more than likely if you wanted to win by 60, you probably can at this point in the game.

Coach Holt has these guys in the game that will be the starting players next year and the year after. They gain experience for when it's their time to lead.

In past years, we have had to have more than one quarterback to make it through a season.

B.W. Holt is not 60-12 at Rocky Mount because he only plays his best 22.

When there have been times of scoring 60, the defense has helped push the score up, too.

We may find out how really good this team is the next three games to see if it plays up to its potential and light up the scoreboard.

He's at it again ...

Former Gryphon QB - now Elon wide receiver Terrell Hudgins leads the Div. I-AA, or as it is called now, FCS with 40 catches in four games. The next closest receiver to him has 32.

He is second in the nation in total yards receiving.

I realize this is only Terrell's junior year, but there is and an outside chance, barring injury, he may become the all-time leader in FCS football history in total catches for a career this year.

He has 223 while at Elon, the NCAA Div. I-A all-time record is 300.

Elon has seven games to play and if its makes the D-I AA playoffs, it could happen.

Terrell is a Jerricho Cotchery-type receiver (6-3, 233). If you have ever been up close to Terrell, one of his hands is bigger than both of mind put together. So when the ball is near him, he can put those catcher's mitts on the ball.

Turning quickly to the NFL...

My vote right now for MVP of the NFL is Philip Rivers. In three games, he has nine touchdown passes and only two interceptions.

The Chargers have scored 110 points in three games. Remember this is the NFL.

Boy, last week, it looked like New England and Pittsburgh were the best two teams in the NFL.

What happened??

In case you haven't heard, the JV football game has been moved to Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Dudley to avoid the incoming inclement weather.

Time to sign off for tonight. Don't forget Homecoming Friday Night...

Showdown Tuesday

Tuesday afternoon at 5.30 in the Rocky Mount High School gym the Lady Gryphons will try to avenge their only loss of the volleyball season.

They play host to the Northern Nash Lady Knights. This will be the rubber game this year as each side has won and lost against each other.

The Lady Gryphons beat the Lady Knights in the season opening tournament, however during conference play, Northern got the best of our ladies.

A loss would eliminate the Lady Gryphons from any chance of taking home the regular season crown.

Debbie Webb's team is off to an 11-1 start heading into this showdown with Northern.

I watched the boys soccer game against Northern on the Stretchlon Sports Show Sunday night.

If you pull for Northern, the word Gryphon sends chills down your spine while when Northern shows up in green, all Rocky Mount folks see is red.

You know what I mean - the soccer game was intense and victory for the Gryphons.

The Northern-Rocky Mount football game is only 18 days away.

Friday night's football game is Homecoming. Should be a large crown of alumni (like the Class of 1978 in town for their 30th Class Reunion) on hand to watch one of the best football teams in the state.

I'm not sure whether the football team is going to wear their new gold jerseys or wait until the Northern game.

I think it is official that the baseball team will be honored in front of the Northern Nash crowd and receive their state championship rings.

I wonder why they won't give them out this weekend???

YOU KNOW WHY ... IT'S NORTHERN!!

I watched the replay of the Rocky Mount-Hertford County game Saturday morning. I enjoy watching the game again because I can see things that you can't see when you have to follow the ball on every play.

I can tell you this - Hertford County is a good football team.

We made them look average.

I understand that Tuesday is dress-down day at Rocky Mount High School. Morgan has been giving us a fashion show here at home tonight as she is going way down on the dress down.

The Cast of Characters

One of the worst things that can happen to the Rocky Mount Gryphon football team is to start believing all the press clippings.

If at any time during the next seven regular season games they think they have won the game before they step on the field, that will be the game where five fumbles occur and they'll never get on track and a loss slaps them in the face.

The varsity Gryphons have won 17 straight games on their home field. The JVs have won 25 games in a row.

The culture of winning is in the air for the Gryphon Nation. Coach B.W. Holt will not accept anything less than their best effort. Now in his sixth year leading the Gryphons, coach Holt has spread his Gospel through the entire program now and no one that plays football at Rocky Mount knows no other way.

Teams that lose regularly at some point in each game have the thought "what's going to go wrong tonight"? Winners think what can I do to help us win?

Let me show you some examples from this past Friday's game against Hertford County.

Jordan Ford's 57-yard touchdown run was highlighted by the pancake block that was thrown by offensive lineman Torey Lee around the Bears' 20-yard line.

Torey is a 255-pound lineman whose job it is to make hole way back up the field at the line of scrimmage. This play, the line of scrimmage was the Gryphon 43. What he is doing way down there?

Hustling!

During the third quarter, there was a running play on the HC sidelines in which back Ron Gatling, the Bears' best runner Friday night, took off around the end and seemed headed for the end zone. Trailing the play by five yards, linebacker Chris Pittman put on a burst of speed and ran Gatling down before he could score.

Even though Chris was out of the play, he was hustling.

Hiawatha Bunn was the Gryphon quarterback last season. Coach Holt can afford to move Bunn to the defense with the emergence of Collins Cuthrell as the signal caller. Hiawatha leads the team in pass interceptions (four).

Bunn playing defense has strengthened the defense and Collins gives the offense a weapon with the pass.

Hiawatha Bunn is a team player.

These are just a few examples of players doing what they have to do for their team to win.

There are many other examples by others members of the team which go unnoticed, but it is all part of winning.

The last two victories by Rocky Mount over Rose and Hertford County speak volumes about how good this team is.

Just remember this....

We have only played four games. Two-thirds of the regular season is still to be played. If we should make it to the state championship game, that contest is 12 games away.

That's still a whole season to play!

Goal Post Still Standing

Earlier this week I made the prediction here on this blog that N.C. State would beat East Carolina and protect the goal post at Carter-Finley Stadium.

The goal post are still standing tonight.

Just two short weeks ago there was doom and gloom in Raleigh. In Greenville, the Pirates had just won what was possibly their biggest game ever and there was talk of a BCS Bowl game.

If Rocky Mount Gryphon fans can take hold of one thing that happened on the football field is that you can't look past anybody.

Were the Pirates already thinking of a BCS bowl game? If they were, that's all they will do as the major bowl for ECU is a distant hope now.

Two weeks ago the Wolfpack may have been the worst team in Div. I football, and today they are the most improved.

Wolfpack in overtime over the Pirates on Greenville's Andre Brown overtime touchdown run, 30-24

In Chapel Hill, Carolina's dreams of playing in its first ACC championship game took a big hit against and old crafty coach Frank Beamer.

The Hokies, with quarterback play which looked like N.C. State until today, stole victory away from Carolina.

Former Rocky Mount Gryphon Stephan Virgil sealed the deal with a late interception for the Gobblers as they moved to 2-0 in the division and in the driver's seat to play for the conference championship.

How much worse can it get for first year Greenville Rose coach Todd Lipe?

During the summer, a Rose football player was critically injured while at a water park. The players were at a team outing when defensive end Garrett Ball hit his head on a water slide. Ironically, Ball served as honorary caption of the team Friday night,

Last week, Rocky Mount put an end the longest scoring streak in North Carolina high school football when it shutout Rose 36-0.

Today word comes that backup running back Jaquan Waller was stricken on the field at Rose's home game last night and has died today.

Waller carried the ball five times for five yards in the game against the Gryphons last week.

Every time a player steps on the field, injury is a possibility on any play. Waller becomes the third North Carolina High School player to die this year from football-related injuries.

There is not a game played in any sport that is worth the life of any person.

My heart is deep with sadness for all of the Rose coaches and players. You know we play Rose as much as we play our own conference members and we all know the coaches as well as any in our own conference.

I send out prayers tonight to the family of Jaquan Waller and to the entire Rose High school community.