A few Surprises

Rocky Mount is off to a 2-0 start and I don't think anybody is shocked at that but who expected the Gryphons to look this good on defense?,not me for one.

Hello Eagles Rocky Mount Academy rolls in their opener against Halifax Academy. 49-7.  The old ball coach B W Holt can score in any league 14 man football  you name it.

I told you Tarboro was  going to play their second toughest game of their regular season.  Washington gave Havelock a hand full last week and Havelock crushed New Bern Friday so a 20-14 lost to a 3-A team that's pretty good is not bad at all.

IF there is a team that needs a good doctor right now it's Southern Nash.  Used two backs up from the jv's team extensively against Beddingfield.  They have an excellent line but not enough speed in back field.

I think everyone with Northern Nash is disappointed after an 0-2 start but losing 45-0 at Northeastern stings.

Nash Central improved over last week but the lack of offense  has everyone scratching their head.

Don't feel sorry for SouthWest Edgecombe.  I don't care what  the first name of the head coach is all I know is his last name is Cobb and all the coaches I know name Cobb can coach.

Spent the day watching Campbell Volley ball and they won twice today in 5th set tie breakers.  Too early in year for this kind of games on the heart.

Speaking of the heart would like to finish on a real high note.  Former Gryphon Mason Holt first three weeks at Campbell have been challenging to say the least.  His first day on the cross country he failed his physical.  Had to see a heart specialist before Campbell would clear him to run.  Saturday in his first meet at Caroina Mason ran his personal best at 16.03 to help Campbell finish second at an invitational at Carolina.

Big Play Gryphons

Jason Battle's Gryphons used four big plays that totaled 235yards and 27 points and Rocky Mount uses the fourth quarter for the youngsters as Rocky Mount goes to 2-0 on the season roughing up Webb 30-0.

The opening drive of the game Rasheed Harris took pass 40 yard pass to the house and the Gryphons were off to the races.  Micah Varnell added the extra and a field goal to give RM 10-0 lead.  The next big play shot the lead to 16-0 when JT Smith hit KB Kearney on an 80 yard pass  and the Gryphon defense holds Webb scoreless at the half.  

Two long runs highlighted the 3rd quarter as freshman Sherrod Green went 41 yards and just a few moments Later Malek Lewis hit pay dirt on a 60 yarder.  That point on it was let's get everyone in the game.  Final Rocky Mount 30 Oxford Webb 0.

The ride was long and the game even longer for the Knights of Northern Nash as Northeastern thumps Northern 45- 0.  Nash Central looked like a different team and shot to a 9-0 first half lead but by games end Kinston scores 26 and not giving up another point.  SouthWest Edgecombe had a 40 -0 halftime lead and wins 54-14 over North Edgecombe. As of this writing Tarboro
 is down 20-7 at Washington late.

Have been in Williamsburg today following Campbell VB.  Lost to Northern Arizona tonight play William and Mary at 10a Saturday.

Almost a Shocker

Southern Nash intercepted a Beddingfield pass in the enzone with six seconds to play to save a 30-24 victory over the Bruins.  The Bruins lead after their opening drive of the third quarter but from that point until two minutes to go it was all Firebirds taking a 30-17 lead.  The Bruins score with 1:53 to go to cut the lead to 30-24 and then used time outs and defense to get the ball back

For a moment with 30 seconds to go it looked like a simple five yard pass was going to win the game for Beddingfield until the runner stepped out of bounds near the 25.  The Bruins came close but no cigar as Southern Nash beats Beddingfield 30-24.

There was a shocker as Hertford County beat Hunt 21-15 and Fike drubbed Roanoke Rapids 49-0.
Carolina was playing in the first quarter when I walked inside the football stadium at Southern Nash and they were still playing when I came out after a hour and a half rain delay.  Didn't help the Heels as they lose 27-10

So we have a high school game out of the way for the upcoming weekend and Carolina off through for the night so let's take a look at other college action coming up on Saturday:

North Carolina Central at Duke:  If there is ever a reason to play a Division II team  having the two universities in Durham would be a good reason. Duke coming off it's best year in 20 years facing a Central team that just last week fired their coach. Duke 34- Central 20

Skip Holtz is back in town to run up and down the bleachers at Carter Finley like he use to do when his dad Lou was the Pack coach.  La Tech won 9 games last year and if the Pack starts slow  the Techsters could surprise.   Pack wins  their season opener 36 -24.

Wake opens with Presbyterian and look, seems like Wake is far removed from their ACC  title game seven years ago.  Wake doesn't have many winnable games but this is one.  Deacs 44 The religious guys 14.Wake wins 38-7

ECU plays ODU in their home opener and the Pirates need to get in the winning frame of mind cause Va tech is down the road and that is a winnable game this year.  Pirates  roll  42-13.

No Longer DII the App State Mounties head west to play Montana in Missoula Montana.  New coach for App St and Montana does them in 28-24.

Friday Night Picks On Thursday

Holiday weekend coming up and high school football starts tonight as I will join Wes Bradshaw and the High School Game of the Week TV crowd tonight in Bailey for Beddingfield and Southern.  We will start the picks right there.

Beddingfield at Southern Nash:  Trap game for sure for Southern.  Beddingfield seems with it's style to always give the Birds trouble.  The Problem for the Bruins is slowing down the Firebirds. Southern 34-Beddingfield 22.

North Edgecombe at SOUTHWest. Edgecombe :  I think I saw enough last week in the Cougars to think that having the Cobb's Switching jobs with dad Raymond standing behind  J C. not much has changed in Pinetops SWE 41. Northedge 16

Rocky Mount host J F Webb and this is not a basketball game.  Both won in Granville County last week with Webb beating Granville Central 29-14.   Gryphons home opener is a tight one 24-21 over Webb.

Rocky Mount Academy will start this week at Halifax and like last week I'll uptake the Eagles. 43-34 over. HA.

Nash Central did very little to encourage anybody who pulls for the Bulldogs.  This week they are on the road at Kinston the only team in Tarboro's conference last year to give them a test.  Kinston rolls 35-7 over the dogs.

Northern Nash travels to Northeastern and no one who made the Knights schedule did new coach Randy Raper any favors with four straight on the road and scheduling Northeastern during a era when they are. Back.  Only Tarboro had the Eagles last year and it is along ride to Elizabeth City.  NE Eagles. 35 Northern 14.

Tarboro at Washington: The problem I see for the Vikes this season they seem to be heavy with one back.  In the past when say Todd Gurley was there they didn't rely on him until crunch time and he delivered. They need to spread it around.  This could be their second toughest game of the regular season.  Somewhere down the line somebody will stop a one back offense but not this week.  Vikes 27Washington 21.

Rocky Mount Prep was undefeated for one week yep pee.  Granville Central delivers the first loss of the year.  28-12  

Hunt plays host to Hertford County which will be of interest to most of the Rocky Mount schools down the road who play Hertford County.  Hunt 35. HC14

Fike heads to Roanoke Rapids where they play 0-1 Yellow Jackets who will be 0-2 after Fike wins 38-13.

Off to a 5-1 after last week.

There is one college game of interest to all of us this week at Carolina heads south to play South Carolina on ESPN as this is the typical SEC/ACC match up Labor day weekend .  I think this has the best makings of all of the TV national games this weekend.  North Carolina will need to show me the defense has improved over last year but I think this is a really good game.  South Carolina 24 Carolina 17

Waiting For The Phone To Ring

Monday is the last day of minor league baseball's regular season and Rocky Mount's Gryphons  two minor league players will be finishing up baseball or will they.  The number one prospect of the Washington Nationals Brian Goodwin has played about two weeks since coming off the DL and his numbers may just get a call from the big club to come ride the jets in September in Washington.

First look Brian's batting average is not what the Nationals would like it to be but when you dissect the numbers whoa.  Brian has 17 doubles, 10 triples and ten home runs.  I have tried my best to look at all minor league baseball and I can't find any other player that has a triple double in the three power categories. Yes there are plenty that have more doubles and home runs but when you add the triples not only is Brian's showing power hitting 10 homers but double digits triples shows fantastic speed.

Since Washington is really out of the playoff race this is a good time to bring up the top prospects and give them a look in September. I of course just maybe wishful  thinking but there is a chance we just might be able to watch him on the satellite next week.

As far as Hobb's Johnson is concerned  I doubt that at this point  fall ball will probably be in the offing but boy has he has a great pro career since signing in June.  He has now pitched six times in Wisconsin and in 11 inning has given up 10 hits struck out 21 and has given up a measly one run.  That works out to an ERA of .082

Looking back at Carolina you know there was a period that all of the Gryphon baseball players that signed with Carolina never stayed during their time and went to other places.  Hobbs Johnson and Benton Moss have made up for the period as for Hobbs his three years he had a record of 12-2 for Mike Fox.  Two years now he has been joined by Benton Moss and Benton's two year pitching career stands at 15-3.  That is a total of 25-5 from Rocky Mount Gryphon pitchers for UNC. If there was a period when maybe there were second thoughts about Gryphon baseball players Johnson and Moss have helped out the next recruit that Mike Fox might coming looking.

A Hole That Just Gets Deeper

Some times I wonder why Pro football coaches get paid so much money to be stupider than you and me.  Point #1 what in the world was Rex Ryan doing putting who has to be the #1 quarterback in a preseason game in the 4th quarter with the third string line.  Today the Jets have no idea who their starting quarterback will be if Mark Sanchez can't play.

It is not like Sanchez has proven he is the best they have over the past few years but surely with the draftees and their performances there is nobody in Jets land that has taken away Sanchez's job.  So if no one has taken the job away from him why play him in a meaningless game against the cross town rivals the Giants?  The answer was that the Jets were trying to win the game.

The last time I looked and the NFL is trying to do something about it but this was only the Jets third preseason game and wins and losses don't count as of yet.  So why then is it so important to win a meaningless game when now when the real games start you just might not have anybody better than me to be your quarterback.  I thought they paid the big bucks for winning regular season games not practice games.

Point #2:  The Washington Redskins head toward the first regular season games with all indications that they will start RG3 in the opening game of the year.  Let's review here.  During the playoffs last year 3 hurt his knee and continued to play and it was quite obvious to me and you as unpaid advisers to the Redskins they needed to get 3 out of the game and put Cousins in the game a player that had shown quite capable during the regular season.  So for some reason it wasn't obvious to the Skins coach to take his franchise player out to play another year.

Now it just might happen that they keep him in too long during the playoffs and now they may bring him back too soon.  If he is ready which I doubt he needs some playing time to get into shape.  If they throw him in a game without a couple of weeks practice guess where he going to be by week two but back on the DL just maybe for the season.

I am offering my services to either the Jets or the Redskins.  I will gladly coach either team for a million a year.  That is a bargain and I know that I can make better decisions  than the dumb bunnies they have that cost them a lot more.  If my offer seems reasonable to you  call my agent immediately.  The season is almost here.

Put Up Time For The ACC

If you listened to all the experts you would think ACC football is one step short of Division III.  The truth says however that the ACC has more  players in the NFL except the SEC.  If all the talk in Tampa is true the Wolfpack will have three starting quarterbacks in the NFL and no other school in the country can boast of that.  Every Saturday when the TV ratings come out the ACC is nipping at the SEC heels at who watched college football.  They have more watcher than the Big Ten, Big 12 and The Pac ever how many.

Why does the ACC have such a bad repetition when it has so many players in the NFL.  The facts are these.  The ACC and the SEC are intertwined being southern football conferences.  When it comes to playing non-conferences games it is just so much easier playing somebody close by over flying halfway across the country.  When the ACC plays national TV games you don't see Florida State and Kentucky play each other but it is against the big boys of the SEC the Alabama's and LSU's of the conference.

Ever since Bobby Bowden stayed too long at Florida State which was around the turn of the century the ACC has not had a national championship contender.  Miami the team that when they joined the ACC everyone thought they would dominate football and baseball haven't come close in either.  This year Florida State and Clemson are suppose to be national title contenders if they are it's time to put up.

This week is the first week of the college football season.  The real Carolina (North) heads south to take on the team that likes to call themselves Carolina.  They are around sixth in preseason polls.  Once again the ACC is matched up with a team ranked higher but if the ACC is to get this monkey off their back about  being second fiddle to the SEC they have got to start beating the SEC.

I doubt the ACC has a chance with Virginia Tech playing Alabama even if everyone thought Tech was good but sounds like the are going to have more players on MASH than on the field.  Clemson and North Carolina one of the two needs to win for the ACC.  The ACC doesn't need to win all three to start getting some respect just win ONE.