Gryphons Add To Their Grief

I have seen Hunt play twice this season and neither time did I leave the game thinking boy this is the best team in the league.  Rocky Mount continues to put the ball on the ground and tonight they assist Hunt by throwing two interceptions to wide open defenders one setting up a 33 yard scoring drive and the other a 78 yard int returned for a score when it looked as if RM might get points just before the half instead Hunt Does.

The one thing that impresses me is when you look at the second half  for Hunt after having only 61 yards rushing in the first half they finished the game with 255 so they dominated the ball on the ground in the second half.  They remind me of what Pete Rose once said about Catfish Hunter.  " You stand in the on deck circle and say to yourself man I'll get some hits tonight, then after going 0-4 you say  he don't look that good.  Hunt takes advantage of every mistake you make and Rocky Mount sure was in the obliging mood.  They pound the football and wear you down and tonight was classic Randy Raper football at Hunt.

Josh Joyner rushed for 135 yards for Hunt while Mason Hines had 125 for Rocky Mount but he had two long runs of 50 and 49 yards. Otherwise he got 26 on 17 carries. Final Hunt 27 Rocky Mount 14

Over in Stan Hope upset at having lost their first game of the season last week Southern Nash took the opening kickoff for a touchdown to lead 7-0.  They went for an on side kick and recovered.  Four plays later they scored again and on the ensuing kickoff Northern fumbled and Southern score quickly to lead 20-0 before most people had gotten inside to their seats.  Considering the start 28-13 Southern over Northern is your final.

The team voted last in the conference is no way going to come close to last the way they are playing right now.  Fike scares the Bulldogs of Nash Central to death but in the end  NC wins 31-23 of the much improved Golden Demons.

Two weeks of Big East football is in the books  and Hunt and Nash Central are tied at the top 2-0.  The next two weeks Hunt plays Southern Nash and Nash Central so I think two weeks from now we will know who is the big dog in the league is

 Rocky Mount's Homecoming Queen this year is Holly Fryer.  This is a very special moment since Holly's athletic career at Rocky Mount was stopped by her fight with cancer.  Congratulations HOLLY!
 

Northern Ends Gryphon Volleyball Dominance

Considering this was a volleyball game to get 300 or more to show up is equivalent to a standing room only basketball crowd between Northern and Rocky Mount.  The first reason for the good crowd was the "Dig For A Cure" benefit for the Susan B Koman Foundation.  The folks at Northern think they have over a thousand dollars for the Breast Cancer Foundation but they haven't gotten a chance to make a final count with their celebration winning the title.

The students came out in force supporting Northern and both teams put  out championship effort the first three games as each was nip and tuck.  By game four Northern was winning every point at the net  and that proved to be enough to end Rocky Mount's four years as conference champions.

Northern will get the #1 in the conference tournament which starts Monday at Rocky Mount but they will not play until Tuesday.  Hunt today beat Fike and they are tied with Rocky Mount and as we speak the #2 seed is up in the air but I believe Rocky Mount gets the #2 seed since they beat Northern Once while Hunt lost both times to Northern but don't quote me on that yet.

If Rocky Mount gets second they would not play till Tuesday but if they finish third they play as the #3 seed and play Monday against #6 who I believe would be Southern Nash.

The Northern Tennis courts had Rocky Mount and the Knights colliding and Rocky Mount beat Northern for the second time this year 7-2. Gryphon JVs beat Hunt in overtime  in football 12-6.

Friday night football has Rocky Mount hosting Hunt in this year's home coming game. I think this will be a close game.   Also on the conference docket Friday Northern Nash travels to Southern Nash in what now is a must win for both but especially  Southern Nash.  The Firebirds willingness to put the ball on the ground will be tested by the hardest hitting defense in the league in the Knights.  If Northern ever figures out how to score on defense they will be a hard   for everyone. Fike travels to Nash Central in what now is a battle for first place.

Tomorrow night at this time everything could be upside down again.

Paint It Pink Thursday

Today at Northern Nash High School Northern Nash will Host Rocky Mount in the second Annual "Dig For A Cure" Cancer Benefit for the Susan G Koman Foundation. This year the shirts say Northern Nash versus Rocky Mount.  Last year it said Rocky Mount versus Northern Nash.  Regard of who's name is first both sides are pulling together to fight for a cause.

What makes this years match a little more intense is that fact that the winner is conference regular season champion..  On the line is Rocky Mount's four year strangle hold of the last two years of the NEW Conference and the first two years of the Big East Champs.  If they win Thursday they will have won the conference crown five years in a row.  I know for sure that  Northern has never beaten Rocky Mount in the Big East Regular season. No better way for them to knock Rocky Mount from the top than to take it themselves is what Northern is thinking.

I have hardly ever heard of a tie in soccer in high school and especially since they play two ten minute over times somebody usually wins.  Last night Nash Central and Rocky Mount played to a 0-0 tie.  Each team has played a conference game to a tie now twice this year.

Wednesday afternoon the regular weekly Cross Country run Rocky Mount boys win again with a score of 53.  There is a tie for second between Northern Nash and Fike scoring 70.  On the girls side of the ledger Fike wins with a score of 28 with Rocky Mount finishing second with 49 and Nash Central was on their heels with 57.

Gryphon Junior Mason Holt won the boys race with a time of 17.09 winning by just three seconds. You know Rocky Mount is winning in Cross Country despite having lost James Bond who transferred to Rocky Mount Prep.  Seems as if RMP is getting a lot of kids who transfer.  Heard this week that Rick Ruffin at Northern Nash has lost DeShawn Freeman off the basketball team as Freeman has headed to play at Prep. Those two players right there are impact players in their sports.