Laying On My Heart

I want to go away from sports today to just get something off my chest.  Every now and then we have a major disaster that occurs sometimes they are man made like 9-11 but most are heavenly events.  Our most recent heavenly event  has devastated the most populated place in America the Metro area of New York.

We live in a small world due to the fact that electronics have made every thing in this world is  arms length from us.  We can talk   to anyone in the world  in a matter of seconds.  We even have capability now to see them as we talk to them so we feel that the world isn't all that big any more.  Yet this world is huge.

Back during the floods from Hurricane Floyd we saw first hand how difficult it was to get help.  The flooding didn't allow transportation movement like we normally see.  The lights were out for days and a bag of ice was precious when one could be found.  We all feel the pain that those who have lost every thing  from this recent storm.

Like in 1999 people from all over the country are rushing to the Metro area to help.  While working at the food pantry set up in the Mall in 99 a man on his motor cycle road from Chicago just to help where he could.  When we are faced with our backs to the wall this country steps forward and lends a helping hand when ever.

I know we had the same problem in 99 people get frustrated  and show anger when it doesn't seem the help is fast enough.  I don't understand why people would throw eggs at power company people from a far off state that have come to help because they are not getting the power turned on fast enough.

We are a me society and when the power goes off somebody had better get it back on now so I can continue to be absorbed in me.  What everyone forgets and we forgot it too in 1999 that the damage is tremendous.  Our little world isn't as small when everything has to be replace.  Some cases there are no homes to go home to.  Entire cities power structure has to be rebuilt.  It is not going to happen  over night and in some cases not next month.

We have become blind to the message sent to us from this storm.  We the people of me have no control what so ever when GOD speaks.  He has spoken in a clear voice.  I am in control and I am sending you a message.  It is time for America to get down on their knees and thank the Lord for what he has given to us and what he can take away.   We the people of me have no idea when he will speak again.

This Computer World

Sorry that I missed Saturday but when your computer can't find how to come on there is moments in life that you would just love to throw a computer in the river.  I know with all the people in the Northeast that are still without power this is minor item in the realm of life.

Northern Nash Cross Country team finished 15th in the team portion of the State Cross Country Championships held yesterday in Kernersville.  Southern Nash's Neopolian Patel was the top local runner finishing 48th and Gryphon Mason Holt was 61st. 

It helps runners out west to train year round in the hills  over those of us who live east of I-95 where the biggest hill in running through a ditch.  Eastern Runners normally run about thirty seconds slower when ever the championships are west of I-85 because of the rolling hills.

Fike girls finished 15th and Nash Central's Michaela Williams finished 38th to take the top honor for our local runners.

Heart break for the Nash Central girls tennis team who loses to Charlotte Catholic 5-3 in the state championship.  Here we go again with those professional amateurs winning another state title.  So far this fall all team titles have been won by either Cardinal Gibbons or Charlotte Catholic.  Why doesn't the state make private schools play at the 4-a level to give public schools who play with kids from their living district have a chance to win a title?

Southern Nash has advanced to the third round of the of the soccer playoffs with a 3-2 win on Saturday.

Despite how frustrated I was trying to get my computer on last night I was using the flipper on the tv and came across MLB Network who last night had a live baseball game from the Arizona Fall League and it was the All Star game featuring all the rising baseball players who played this fall.  The first batter for the East team was Rocky Mount High former gryphon Brian Goodwin and he proceeded to send one over the fence for a home run.

After a strike out Brian's third at bat he sent the center fielder to the wall in center field as he hit one about 400 feet only to have it caught.  The 7th Brian doubled off the wall driving in a run and he later scored.  Not a bad all star game 2-5 a home run two rbi and two runs scored.

Gryphons Snooze And Lose

Whether it was there was no Gryphon player who had ever been in a playoff football game or what it might have been the Rocky Mount Gryphons played as if they were suppose to win and Jacksonville was suppose to let them .  There was only one problem with that theory is that Jacksonville did not cooperate and jumped on the Gryphons from the get go and never let up until they had a comfortable 27-0 lead.  The Late rising Gryphons came out of their sleep mode in the fourth quarter and made the score respectable in the end 27-14.

In any game that is basically a tossup as this game was you need to come out of the locker room roaring and tonight the Gryphons didn't.  The best perspective on this playoff loss is I don't think too many Gryphon fans expected to be in the playoffs three  months ago and despite a loss tonight Jason Battle has had a very good start on his coaching career.

Hunt once again was the best team in the second half and they are moving on to the second round after the Warriors dump Southern Nash 28-7.  Just like the first time when these two teams met the score was 14-7 and up for grabs but the final two scores come from Hunt.

One of the big wins of the night comes from SouthWest Edgecombe who wins on the Road 30-26 win over East Duplin.  The coaching career of Raymond Cobb is still alive for at least another week.

Tarboro let everyone know that the state title for any 2-A team will have to pass through Tarboro as the Vikings didn't stumble any at all having to play a team they just drubbed last week.  They drubbed them even worse tonight as Tarboro breaks the 50 point barrier and takes out Beddingfield again this time 53-13.

Nash Central girls tennis team plays for the team championship Saturday against Charlotte Catholic  Should the Bulldogs win they will have taken out the top two private shools in the state in three days having beaten Cardinal Gibbons Thursday.

The second round of the boys soccer playoffs will be in Bailey Saturday afternoon as West Brunswick will play Southern Nash at 4pm.

The State Cross Country state championships will be run Saturday in Kernersville.

Got to our motel room in Lillington tonight and cut on the tv and who do I see but Andrew Morales the former Rocky Mount Gryphon playing soccer for SMU on Fox Sports South

November Football

                                                               URGENT
 RMA JV's have won the State Championship beating St David's of Raleigh  44-16

The State football playoffs begin Friday night and for the first time this century the state champions will start the process of crowning champions in November with most being crowned on December first.  Three teams from Edgecombe, two from Nash and two from Wilson County get to play at least one more week and in two games they will meet up with each other.

Tarboro begins  their quest for their fourth straight state championship and the first round should be a cinch as they take on Beddingfield a team they just took to the woodshed last Friday 34-0.  This  game will go one or two ways.  Tarboro will either show up ready to demolish Beddingfield or be asleep from the get go.  Here is what I suspect.  Tarboro will show up get a working lead and coast.  35-0 Vikings.

Southern Nash will hope to have a full team for the first time in a couple weeks as they will need everyone on hand as Hunt host the Firebirds.  I think both of these teams will come out firing all of their weapons because they both know this game will be a take no prisoners game.  Hunt will be hard to beat at home and I think that will be the deciding factor in this one.  If you look at every close game that Hunt has been in they won the fourth quarter and I think they will in this one too.  Hunt 35 Southern Nash 27


Two conference foes match up once again when North Edgecombe and Weldon square off.  Have a feeling it will be low scoring and defensive.  The Warriors make it to the second round in this squeaker.  NE 16 Weldon 14.


They have had a week off to heal injuries and hit the road as SouthWest Edgecombe travels to East Duplin to open up the 2-AA playoffs.  This could be the last game in the legendary career of Raymond Cobb as I think SWE will scared EP to death but playing at home EP prevails  34-28 over the Cougars.

Rocky Mount returns to the playoffs after being absent for two years as they host Jacksonville from the Coastal Conference.  I believe the Gryphons will win but I will be shocked if this one isn't competitive right down to the end.    Rocky Mount advances 26-20 over the Cardinals.

Once again on Friday night I will be in Buies Creek as Campbell has their last home volleyball weekend of the year.  Just found out today that Morgan will again sing the National Anthem Friday evening.

Bulldogs Bite Aycock

It took two days to get it in because of weather but the third round of the 3-A tennis playoffs finished today at Nash Central was all Bulldogs.  Nash Central wins and advances to the East regional winning 6-0.  They meet the winner of the Union Pines 17-0 against Cardinal Gibbons 18-6 who are playing tonight as I write this.  So far in the three rounds of the team competition the Lady Bulldogs have lost only one game.

Over in Bailey the Firebirds the Big East Conference champions in Soccer got off on the right foot winning over Havelock 2-1.  They will now face the winner of the West Brunswick 11-5-1 and Southern Wayne 10-7-3 which was played tonight in West Brunswick.  The Firebirds are now 16-4-1 after their first round win.

The other two Big East teams playing in the soccer playoffs were play at 7pm tonight.  Hunt had to travel to Currituck while Fike was hosting West Carteret.

Last night Cardinal Gibbons beat D H Conley in volleyball to move on to the State Finals.  I heard this stat today on the radio and this will just absolutely shock you.  Since Cardinal Gibbons was brought on to play in the public school volleyball which I think 2006 was the year they joined the NCHSAA they have played in the volleyball finals every year since.  In fact they have play in every final they have been eligible to be in since 1998 which cover when they played in the private school  playoffs.

Don't forget the State Championship JV game at 6pm Thursday at RMA.

You may have heard that starting with this years freshman class in high school all athletes will have to have a grade point average at a certain level in order to meet new academic standards being implemented by the NCAA which will be required of all athletes as college freshmen in 2016. Listening to David Glenn's Statewide radio show during my lunch today he asked the question how was that going to effect State and Carolina during their future recruiting?

His answer may startle you.  He says they are already recruiting by theses standards and everyone else will now have to recruit the same way they do.  Just maybe that explains why they can't win consistantly in football   They do require more than others in order to play sports at our state institution.

RMA Plays For The Title

The junior varsity baby Eagles of RMA will play for the Independent State Championship for jv teams Thursday at 6pm at RMA.  The 9-0 Eagles will host St David of Raleigh.

It doesn't matter what level it is when you play for all the marbles but the fact they will be giving away a trophy  there is history in the trophy case and the RMA shoots for the gold.  Things are really looking up for the Eagles after having one of their best varsity  teams in years  and help is on the way from the jv team.  I think I saw somewhere that they only lose one player off the varsity team and that is a big hole in Adam Bayless.

The third round of the 3-A tennis duels are Wednesday as Nash Central will be hosting.  You had better bring your long johns if you plan on attending.

The fourth round of the volley ball  is this week with D H Conley the team that beat both Rocky Mount and Fike will be playing that professional amateur team Cardinal Gibbons.

Southern Nash will be starting their quest for the state soccer title as the opening round is this week.

Still can't figure out this POD system with Southern Nash the #2 from the Big East facing the #1 from the Big East Hunt.  I can't understand why in the 2-A bracket they were  rated 1-16 with Tarboro getting the #1 seed and Beddingfield the #16 and yet in the 3-AA Hunt is seeded 3rd and Southern 6th.  Three against six should be a second round game.

I understand why Fike did not get in as the Big East #4 since they did not win the required four games.  Sure does look like the people who put the brackets together said we are not going to let the Big East have a team in the East Regional final for what 7th year in a row.  Either Hunt or Southern will have be get by that pro amateur team Cardinal Gibbons 10-0  and Cleveland 9-1 to make it this year.  The road for the Big East back to the Regional will be about as  hard to drive on as the beach road in Nags Head is now after Sandy past through.

It is almost basketball time and for the defending 3-A Champs Rocky Mount they have a decent nucleus coming back.  The problem most of the team plays football so  when practice cranks up most will still be doing something else.  I am hearing that Rocky Mount  just might have one of the best wrestling teams around this year too.

Not The Same Cardinal Team

Several years ago during the B W Holt era Rocky Mount drew Jacksonville in the opening round game and the Cardinals came into that game 2-8.  I think that was one of the years when Rocky Mount was undefeated and after being ahead by 40 the clock ran the entire second half of that game.  If you are expecting that kind of game you had better take an aspirin as that ain't going to happen this time.

Jacksonville is 4-3 in the Coastal 3-A and 7-3 over all.  Their three losses were to Washington 35-0, Havelock 42-12 and D H Conley 31-14.  Nobody has touched Havelock and Conley has lost to only Havelock and the rule makers after having to forfeit two games.

They are coached by Beau Williams who has a very familiar father in Chip Williams who just might be on the side lines helping his son this Friday as Chip is of course the former, Bertie, Rose and New Bern coach  who has coached against Rocky Mount with all three of those teams.

Their high water mark on the year was scoring 28 points against South Central and White Oak and on the year are averaging just 14 points per game.  The Gryphons on the other hand are averaging 24 per contest and they have scored at least 25 the last three games.

Both defenses are yielding near the same Jacksonville at 21 per ball game and the Gryphons just over 19. The undefeated team Havelock laced the Cardinals for 42 points while the undefeated team on Rocky Mount's schedule Hunt produced 28.

All in all this is a very good match up in the opening round but that should be expected when you have a four seed in Rocky Mount matched up against the five seed.  This is suppose to be a close game by seedings.

I am completely lost as to explain the POD system.  Jacksonville is coming a 100 miles to Rocky Mount while Currituck is traveling 165 to play Havelock.  Should the Gryphons win they probably would go to Havelock which is 110 miles.  Wouldn't be much better if they had to go to Currituck.  Lord help if Jacksonville had to go to Currituck.  All this travel and Southern Nash is going 10 mile to play conference foe Hunt.  I honestly feel like  they are trying to make the seedings this year so bad that the coaches will vote to do away with the POD next year.