Last week I was without my e-mail for several days and not until Friday did I receive the news that Spencer Bell had won a Babe Ruth scholarship. You know we forget sometimes that because they hit a ball and run fast that is all they can do.
Spencer has been a part of a a Babe Ruth World Series, Legion State Finals played on two very good Gryphon baseball teams and was a part of Gryphon football team that played in Eastern Finals. He still had time to excel in the class room.
Spencer now a freshman for the Wolfpack has made us all proud of him both on the field of play and the young man he has become. Congratulations to the Bell family.
You know not all athletes that excelled on the field of play go on to the next level and play sports but prepare themselves for their future. I said this on this blog after the end of baseball season in 2009 that Dillon Cockrell was my favorite baseball player during his four years playing Gryphon baseball. Today he is excelling in the classroom at Carolina hoping to become a Doctor.
I heard from a birdie that the boys basketball team looked good Saturday during the jamboree held at RMHS.
From the NFL front does it seem to you that the New York Jets are no where near as good as their record. The defense is good but the offense just can't score. Teams that can't score 20 don't last long in the playoffs.
Now that Minnesota is 3-7 I think it is time for them to develop a quarterback for next year. They went down to Mississippi in August to beg Brett Farve to comeback because they didn't have a QB and with Farve playing like a 42 year old over the hill quarterback the Vikings had better look to next year.
What is it about the NFC East. The Giants have played three weeks like world beaters and they make Dallas look like Super Bowl champs yesterday. But, that is the way that division is every year. Everyone is so close in that division it is hard to dominate.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
ACC Football- A Big Muddle
No one in the offices of the ACC could have asked for the schedule to work any better than how this seasons final weeks are working out. Who in the world at the beginning of the season saw Maryland and North Carolina State being any where close to the top?
Last night's last play win by Florida Start gives then a 5-2 conference record. The Terps and Pack are next at 4-2. Clemson loss last night gave them four losses and knock them out of any chance of winning the Atlantic Division.
This weekend Maryland and Florida State play each other. That should knock one or the other out but it doesn't. N C State plays Carolina and then they finish with Maryland. If either Maryland or State win both of their remaining games they will be the Atlantic division champs. There is still a chance for a three way tie.! If Maryland beats FSU, Carolina beats State and State beats Maryland there will be three teams with three losses.
Life is much simpler in the Coastal division. If Virginia Tech beats Miami Saturday they are the winners. Even if Miami wins Saturday over the Gobblers the Hokies can beat Virginia later and still win the Coastal.
Even though they are unbeaten in conference play Virginia Tech looks beatable by any of the three still with a chance to make it to Charlotte. I am sorry to say this but I just don't trust Tyrod Taylor to be my quarterback. He looks great on one play and over throws the next.
You know there is an forgotten team in our area. North Carolina Wesleyan, they finished off their season yesterday beating Averitt 28-13. They have tied for the conference championship but lost when they met Christopher Newport earlier this year. This is three of their four years playing football that they have either shared or won the conference crown. NCW has taken the fast track to winning football as they did not lose forty in a row like you would expect a fledgling program to do. The Bishops are certainly not fledgling.
Tonight on the "Stretchlon Sports show " we will be having a live show featuring the Rocky Mount Gryphon soccer team and the senior class. Were hoping to have the Nash Central soccer team but now hopefully next week.
Last night's last play win by Florida Start gives then a 5-2 conference record. The Terps and Pack are next at 4-2. Clemson loss last night gave them four losses and knock them out of any chance of winning the Atlantic Division.
This weekend Maryland and Florida State play each other. That should knock one or the other out but it doesn't. N C State plays Carolina and then they finish with Maryland. If either Maryland or State win both of their remaining games they will be the Atlantic division champs. There is still a chance for a three way tie.! If Maryland beats FSU, Carolina beats State and State beats Maryland there will be three teams with three losses.
Life is much simpler in the Coastal division. If Virginia Tech beats Miami Saturday they are the winners. Even if Miami wins Saturday over the Gobblers the Hokies can beat Virginia later and still win the Coastal.
Even though they are unbeaten in conference play Virginia Tech looks beatable by any of the three still with a chance to make it to Charlotte. I am sorry to say this but I just don't trust Tyrod Taylor to be my quarterback. He looks great on one play and over throws the next.
You know there is an forgotten team in our area. North Carolina Wesleyan, they finished off their season yesterday beating Averitt 28-13. They have tied for the conference championship but lost when they met Christopher Newport earlier this year. This is three of their four years playing football that they have either shared or won the conference crown. NCW has taken the fast track to winning football as they did not lose forty in a row like you would expect a fledgling program to do. The Bishops are certainly not fledgling.
Tonight on the "Stretchlon Sports show " we will be having a live show featuring the Rocky Mount Gryphon soccer team and the senior class. Were hoping to have the Nash Central soccer team but now hopefully next week.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Second Round Matchups Set
This new POD system if it has done one thing, it is bringing together some very interesting second round match ups that in the past would not happen until at least the third or fourth round.
Tarboro who romped over Pasquatank 47-0 will host Roanoke Rapids who beat Jacksonville Northside 56-0. Theses two teams played a regular season game which Tarboro won 42-35. This is also two conference champions colliding in the second round.
North Edgecombe will also be home next Friday as they host Northampton West in a second rounder. This is also a conference match up game so the Warriors play a conference member for the second week in a row.
Northern Nash travels to South Central a place they are familiar with since they played there earlier this year and won. Nice reward for winning head to head. Both teams are 9-3 and both are miles a part from the teams that they both were when they played in early September.
Hunt will be home again hosting West Carteret and if Hunt wins that game will host the Northern-South Central winner in the third round. Beddingfield a winner overSouthWest Edgecombe will play Northeastern of Elizabeth City.
The good old United States of America is a self centered country that all we think about is me-me-me. We are that way until something happens to someone and they need our help. Haiti is a good example of the USA leading the way when you need a hand. Locally all the flooding that happened in Eastern North Carolina many from this area went and help those in need.
I am thankful to God even at home when others need help we all have stepped up. Yesterday there was a dinner at Red Oak Middle school to support the young Terry Pittman injured while playing football for Red Oak Middle. They sold 2,000 plates. Thanks to everyone who bought a plate but can you imagine how much effort was put in making those plates.
Today there is a raffle supporting RMA's Colt Brake that is being drawn today at Shell Rapid Lube. When people have needs American's despite being self centered people have enough Christian back grounds that they step forward when needed.
Sunday night on the Stretchlon Sports show we will have the Seniors from Rocky Mount's soccerteam on to celebrate the best senior class in history. Been trying to effort the Nash Central Cross country team but that is not finalized yet.
Tarboro who romped over Pasquatank 47-0 will host Roanoke Rapids who beat Jacksonville Northside 56-0. Theses two teams played a regular season game which Tarboro won 42-35. This is also two conference champions colliding in the second round.
North Edgecombe will also be home next Friday as they host Northampton West in a second rounder. This is also a conference match up game so the Warriors play a conference member for the second week in a row.
Northern Nash travels to South Central a place they are familiar with since they played there earlier this year and won. Nice reward for winning head to head. Both teams are 9-3 and both are miles a part from the teams that they both were when they played in early September.
Hunt will be home again hosting West Carteret and if Hunt wins that game will host the Northern-South Central winner in the third round. Beddingfield a winner over
The good old United States of America is a self centered country that all we think about is me-me-me. We are that way until something happens to someone and they need our help. Haiti is a good example of the USA leading the way when you need a hand. Locally all the flooding that happened in Eastern North Carolina many from this area went and help those in need.
I am thankful to God even at home when others need help we all have stepped up. Yesterday there was a dinner at Red Oak Middle school to support the young Terry Pittman injured while playing football for Red Oak Middle. They sold 2,000 plates. Thanks to everyone who bought a plate but can you imagine how much effort was put in making those plates.
Today there is a raffle supporting RMA's Colt Brake that is being drawn today at Shell Rapid Lube. When people have needs American's despite being self centered people have enough Christian back grounds that they step forward when needed.
Sunday night on the Stretchlon Sports show we will have the Seniors from Rocky Mount's soccer
Friday, November 12, 2010
Dry Spell Over for Northern
What started out as a rock-em- sock-em game turn into a celebration for Northern Nash as Northern just three short years ago was having a hard time winning a game wins their opening round playoff game against Arch-rival Southern Nash tonight at Death Valley 26-7.
Northern scored first on a 85 yard run from Rashad Hedgepeth with 11:06 to play in the second quarter. Southern who moved the ball better than Northern in the first half took less than two minutes to tie the game and take the lead on a 39 yard run from Tracy Coppedge. Northern made their extra point but because Southern was off sides and the penalty happened before the play Northern second attempt missed but Southern's extra point was good enough to give Southern a 7-6 lead at the half.
Northern took their second half first opportunity and drove the field and scored on a Hedgepeth 13 yard run but they missed the two point conversion. The very next possession Southern snapped the ball over their punters head and Northern start from the Southern two yard line. Marquez Farmer score and Northern added a two point conversion to make it 20-7.
Not finished with the mistakes Southern fumble a snap from center and Northern took advantage to score once again on a fifty yard drive. T J Marshall score from seven yards out and the celebration was on for the Knights as they shut out Southern in the second half to win 26-7.
Northern now 9-3 will travel to South Central a 25-14 winner over West Brunswick tonight. South Central is the second team that Northern will play in the playoffs after having faced and beat South Central in the regular season at South Central 14-12. That was however way back when Northern defense was the only thing they had going. Their offense has now started enjoying some of this winning that Northern is now doing.
The number one seed from the Big East Hunt was shocked byD H Conley who scored 36 points on the Warriors. That only meant that the Warriors won by 31. Hunt hangs a 67 spot on the Vikings 67-36.
Nash Central came close at West Carteret losing 20-13. Central's loss and Southern losing the conference goes 1-1 on the first night of the playoffs. Northern gives the Big East with two teams advancing to the second round after beating conference foe Southern Nash.
Tarboro had little trouble with Pasquatank leading 33-0 at the half and winning 47-0. We talked about this last night that SouthWest Edgecombe had to play a conference foe which they beat during the regular season but had to play them again at Beddingfield. Beddingfield jumped on SWE early and hung on for 36-28 victory over SWE. This is the first -first round loss for SWE since Raymond Cobb came to Cougar land.
The final local team playing the first night of the playoffs was North Edgecombe and they hosted conference foe Kipp Pride who they have already beaten 38-6. NE wins tonight 40-20.
Did the Northern-Southern game for TV which will be shown at 10.00am Saturday morning and
at 9.00pm Sunday night
Northern scored first on a 85 yard run from Rashad Hedgepeth with 11:06 to play in the second quarter. Southern who moved the ball better than Northern in the first half took less than two minutes to tie the game and take the lead on a 39 yard run from Tracy Coppedge. Northern made their extra point but because Southern was off sides and the penalty happened before the play Northern second attempt missed but Southern's extra point was good enough to give Southern a 7-6 lead at the half.
Northern took their second half first opportunity and drove the field and scored on a Hedgepeth 13 yard run but they missed the two point conversion. The very next possession Southern snapped the ball over their punters head and Northern start from the Southern two yard line. Marquez Farmer score and Northern added a two point conversion to make it 20-7.
Not finished with the mistakes Southern fumble a snap from center and Northern took advantage to score once again on a fifty yard drive. T J Marshall score from seven yards out and the celebration was on for the Knights as they shut out Southern in the second half to win 26-7.
Northern now 9-3 will travel to South Central a 25-14 winner over West Brunswick tonight. South Central is the second team that Northern will play in the playoffs after having faced and beat South Central in the regular season at South Central 14-12. That was however way back when Northern defense was the only thing they had going. Their offense has now started enjoying some of this winning that Northern is now doing.
The number one seed from the Big East Hunt was shocked byD H Conley who scored 36 points on the Warriors. That only meant that the Warriors won by 31. Hunt hangs a 67 spot on the Vikings 67-36.
Nash Central came close at West Carteret losing 20-13. Central's loss and Southern losing the conference goes 1-1 on the first night of the playoffs. Northern gives the Big East with two teams advancing to the second round after beating conference foe Southern Nash.
Tarboro had little trouble with Pasquatank leading 33-0 at the half and winning 47-0. We talked about this last night that SouthWest Edgecombe had to play a conference foe which they beat during the regular season but had to play them again at Beddingfield. Beddingfield jumped on SWE early and hung on for 36-28 victory over SWE. This is the first -first round loss for SWE since Raymond Cobb came to Cougar land.
The final local team playing the first night of the playoffs was North Edgecombe and they hosted conference foe Kipp Pride who they have already beaten 38-6. NE wins tonight 40-20.
Did the Northern-Southern game for TV which will be shown at 10.00am Saturday morning and
at 9.00pm Sunday night
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Playoff Time
My guess on the winning teams each Friday got just a little better the last three weeks but all in all this has been a difficult season to pick Big East games. The non-conference games I was 18-6. Conference games I finished up 16-8 so I head to the playoffs 34-14 for the season. We will begin the playoff look at a Big East conference game.
Southern Nash @ Northern Nash: They played just three weeks ago against each other at Northern with the Knights winning 21-7. Northern was just as quick as Southern when they tried to get outside. I don't think Northern has slowed down any to the outside so the Firebirds will find running just as hard as last time. 21-7 was good last time and it looks good again.
Nash Central @ West Carteret: Nash Central's reward for getting the third seed from the Big East is a 100 mile ride to Morehead City to play West Carteret. The Patriots finished in a three way tie for first in the Coastal and sport an 8-3 record. The question mark in this game is, is the Big East a power in football this year or no not this year. If they are a power the Bulldogs win if not basketball is Monday. Nash Central 26 West Carteret 21
SouthWest Edgecombe @ Beddingfield If there is one coach in the playoffs who has a right to say how did this happen it is Raymond Cobb. During the regular season SWE beat Beddingfield 14-0 during the conference play and Kinston, SWE and Beddingfield all tied for second the the league. During the seeding drawing Beddingfield won ahead of SWE so in the playoffs they are seeded in their POD 4/5. Beddingfield is the home team even though they lost head to head with the Cougars. I think Cobb has used every ounce of his coaching ability selling is team on the idea that every body is against them. SWE 22 Beddingfield 7
Pasquotank @ Tarboro: Pasquotank is 6-5 on the year and are the 2-A team in that 3-A/2-A Northeastern Coastal league . They may be better than their record but Tarboro is better. Tarboro 35 Pasquotank 13.
Kipp-Pride @ North Edgecombe: Here we go with another conference game. Already this year the Warriors won 38-6 at Pride during the regular season. Who would think playing at North Edgecombe it will be any closer this time. North Edgecombe 40 Kipp- Pride 6
D H Conley @ Hunt: Now let's look at this one. Early in the year Conley lost by a 55-32 score at Fike. Fike wasn't close in any game against the playoff teams from the Big East, why then is this one going to be close? Hunt 35- D H Conley 13
I would suspect a big crowd at Northern you had better be there by 7.00pm
Southern Nash @ Northern Nash: They played just three weeks ago against each other at Northern with the Knights winning 21-7. Northern was just as quick as Southern when they tried to get outside. I don't think Northern has slowed down any to the outside so the Firebirds will find running just as hard as last time. 21-7 was good last time and it looks good again.
Nash Central @ West Carteret: Nash Central's reward for getting the third seed from the Big East is a 100 mile ride to Morehead City to play West Carteret. The Patriots finished in a three way tie for first in the Coastal and sport an 8-3 record. The question mark in this game is, is the Big East a power in football this year or no not this year. If they are a power the Bulldogs win if not basketball is Monday. Nash Central 26 West Carteret 21
SouthWest Edgecombe @ Beddingfield If there is one coach in the playoffs who has a right to say how did this happen it is Raymond Cobb. During the regular season SWE beat Beddingfield 14-0 during the conference play and Kinston, SWE and Beddingfield all tied for second the the league. During the seeding drawing Beddingfield won ahead of SWE so in the playoffs they are seeded in their POD 4/5. Beddingfield is the home team even though they lost head to head with the Cougars. I think Cobb has used every ounce of his coaching ability selling is team on the idea that every body is against them. SWE 22 Beddingfield 7
Pasquotank @ Tarboro: Pasquotank is 6-5 on the year and are the 2-A team in that 3-A/2-A Northeastern Coastal league . They may be better than their record but Tarboro is better. Tarboro 35 Pasquotank 13.
Kipp-Pride @ North Edgecombe: Here we go with another conference game. Already this year the Warriors won 38-6 at Pride during the regular season. Who would think playing at North Edgecombe it will be any closer this time. North Edgecombe 40 Kipp- Pride 6
D H Conley @ Hunt: Now let's look at this one. Early in the year Conley lost by a 55-32 score at Fike. Fike wasn't close in any game against the playoff teams from the Big East, why then is this one going to be close? Hunt 35- D H Conley 13
I would suspect a big crowd at Northern you had better be there by 7.00pm
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
David One Rock Short Against Goliath
The Bible has the story of David a young lad who stepped forward to toss a rock at the giant Goliath. Tonight at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex soccer field the Gryphons of Rocky Mount High school faced the Goliath of Eastern North Carolina soccer the Jacksonville Cardinals.
Once already these two teams had faced each other on a neutral field in Wilson and battled to a 0-0 tie. Tonight the same two school battled for thirty seven minutes and were still tied 0-0 when a corner kick from the right corner was sailing toward the front of the goal when out of no where a Cardinal got his head on the ball and directed it into the right corner of the goal. It would prove to be the only score of the night.
Jacksonville will return home to defend their Eastern 3-A soccer championship and will face Wilson Hunt a 3-0 winner over county rival Fike. Oddly enough Jacksonville is taking the same path again this year to the state championships as last. They beat Roucky Mount 6-0 in the third round last season and followed that up beating Hunt in round four 5-0.
Neither team had great opportunities in the first half and a play which Rocky Mount has been very effective on all year the so call pass and chase where you try to out run the defender to the ball which has been passed up toward the goal never worked tonight at Jacksonville always had the defender in the right location. Neither could the Cardinals get any thing going as Rocky Mount was alway in the right spot.
Drew Gorham had ten saves on the night in goal for Rocky Mount but the Cardinal goal was not a bad play by the Gryphon defense but a great play by the offense which turned out to be the only score.
Rocky Mount finishes the season 21-3-1 while Jacksonville plays on with a 24-0-2 record. The Gryphons rocks just weren't big enough to slay the giant tonight.
As I have been writing this blog tonight I have had a thought that two area team Nash Central Cross Country team and the Gryphon soccer team have been about the best ever at their schools this year. I am going to try to get together with the coaches and of course tomorrow is a school holiday to try to have each team on Sunday night live on the "Stretchlon Sports Show".
I would love to get the seniors from both teams as well as the coaches live Sunday at 8.00pm on the SPS. If you know either coaches number get them to call me a t 903-9767 and we will try to make it happen for Sunday.
Once already these two teams had faced each other on a neutral field in Wilson and battled to a 0-0 tie. Tonight the same two school battled for thirty seven minutes and were still tied 0-0 when a corner kick from the right corner was sailing toward the front of the goal when out of no where a Cardinal got his head on the ball and directed it into the right corner of the goal. It would prove to be the only score of the night.
Jacksonville will return home to defend their Eastern 3-A soccer championship and will face Wilson Hunt a 3-0 winner over county rival Fike. Oddly enough Jacksonville is taking the same path again this year to the state championships as last. They beat Roucky Mount 6-0 in the third round last season and followed that up beating Hunt in round four 5-0.
Neither team had great opportunities in the first half and a play which Rocky Mount has been very effective on all year the so call pass and chase where you try to out run the defender to the ball which has been passed up toward the goal never worked tonight at Jacksonville always had the defender in the right location. Neither could the Cardinals get any thing going as Rocky Mount was alway in the right spot.
Drew Gorham had ten saves on the night in goal for Rocky Mount but the Cardinal goal was not a bad play by the Gryphon defense but a great play by the offense which turned out to be the only score.
Rocky Mount finishes the season 21-3-1 while Jacksonville plays on with a 24-0-2 record. The Gryphons rocks just weren't big enough to slay the giant tonight.
As I have been writing this blog tonight I have had a thought that two area team Nash Central Cross Country team and the Gryphon soccer team have been about the best ever at their schools this year. I am going to try to get together with the coaches and of course tomorrow is a school holiday to try to have each team on Sunday night live on the "Stretchlon Sports Show".
I would love to get the seniors from both teams as well as the coaches live Sunday at 8.00pm on the SPS. If you know either coaches number get them to call me a t 903-9767 and we will try to make it happen for Sunday.
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