A Little Slap in Face

 Some times a good slap in the face gets you on track.  Fike popped Rocky Mount with a 14-0 lead mid way of the second quarter and then it happened.  Rocky Mount scored 21 in about three minutes. Down 14 Rocky Mount drove the field and scored on a Nick Bynum 6 yard run.  First play for Fike from scrimmage Sherrod Green picked up a loose ball and rambled 26 yards for a Gryphon Touchdown.  A Fike punt after a three and out Nick Bynum goes 70 yards to give Rocky Mount 21-14 half time lead.

The Gryphons fumble the second half squib kick and Fike scores on a 35 yard drive.  Rocky Mount proceeds to take two drives the first B J Sanders scores from 15 yards out to up the lead to 28-20 as the Gryphons respond to the Fike score.  After a Fike Punt to RM four yard line the Gryphons go 96 yards using up nearly nine minutes and Nick Bynum caps off a great Gryphon come back 35-20

You know ever since the Big East voted Northern Nash last in the preseason even though Nash Central was still on a 20 something losing streak it has been a focus for Northern all year. Tonight Northern Nash takes out a full season of frustration on Nash Central and rolls.  Ahead 34-0 at the half
The Knights play with the Bulldogs like a kitten plays with a ball 51-0 Northern Nash.

Southern Nash broke a 13-13 tie and scored with :26 seconds to play to beat the Hunt Warriors 20-13.  This sets up a Rocky Mount Southern Nash winner take all game next week in Rocky Mount for the number one seed in a big East

Final St David's  46 RMA 22
Final SWE 35 Farmville Cent 20
Final Northampton  34 North Edgecombe 32
Final Tarboro 49 Riverside Martin 28
Final South Creek 44 Rocky Mount Prep 8

1St round of Volleyball playoffs Eastern Alamance 3-1 over Rocky Mount. Hunt plays noon Saturday , Fike  6pm Saturday night

4th Saturday In October

Got six of eight games correct last week to make my over all college guesses 58-19 on the year.

North Carolina Wesleyan  1-5 is home for home coming.  Just maybe the last two losses suffered by the Battling Bishops were improving efforts as the Bishops seem close to getting another win.  I'm going with the Bishops because they are playing better and home. Bishops over Greensboro College 2-4  26-23

Clemson 6-0 @ Miami 4-2:  If Tigers want any part of four team playoffs they cannot sleep on any team.  Miami is good but not great.  Tigers win on the conference road  30-20

NC State 4-2 @ Wake  Forest 3-4:  I have no reason what so ever to pick the Pack in this game.  Wake's offense scored 14 on Carolina which was a big day.   It is do or die for Pack.  23-14 NC State

Pitt 5-1 @ Syracuse 3-3:  Pitt is having a good season going up against their top conference rival. Pitt will hang on in this one.  Pitt 26 Cuse 20

Boston College 3-4 @ Louisville 2-4:  BC just can't score enough points to win this one. The Ville 34 BC 14

Duke 5-1 @ Virginia Tech 3-4:  despite the spread in records Tech defense will give Duke offense plenty of Trouble.  The question in this one is can Va Tech score on Duke's D? Duke 17 Tech 13

Virginia 2-4 @ North Carolina 5-1:  the Tar Heels have convinced me.  The offense is back on track and the Heels do have a defense.  The only game they have left that would be considered a tossup game is Duke.  Heels will be favored in every other game.  Virginia has two wins at home and this one on the road.  Carolina 41 Virginia 24

Florida State 6-0 @ Georgia Tech 2-5.  Noles played their best game to date last week beating the Hurricanes.  GT scares me cause they look better than their record.  FSU plays like last week 40-24 over the rambling wreck.

Tonight is an interesting night for Big East football.  If both Rocky Mount and Southern Nash win at their Wilson County game tonight they will play for the Big East #1 seed next week.  If they both lose or only one lose tonight then it becomes a mad scramble to the finish.  If the one that wins tonight wins next week then they are conference champs.  This is of course the Big East and football is never decided before the last game of the season is finished.

A Meaningful Week

The Big East earns three slots in the state 3A Volleyball playoffs as top seed Hunt 15-6 is seeded 6th in the East will  host Jacksonville 10-7 and the 27th seed.  Rocky Mount  10-12 gets a home game as the two seed from the Big East  and 16th seed in the east  will host 17th seed Eastern Alamance 15-7.  Fike  9-9 as the Big East #3 travels to Cleveland the 11th seed 19-3.  VB playoffs start Saturday

We have come to week three in conference play and all three games are important regardless of where you are in the standings.  7-0 last week on picks to run  my record on high school picks to 54-9.  All there games are probably six point or less difference because of where the games are.

Northern Nash 2-6 @ Nash Central 1-7:  As this season started I have swayed back and forth on this game.  Early on I was picking Nash Central.  A month ago I thought The Knights were coming together and here we are I have swung back to the Bulldogs.  I think this is a shootout and Nash Central scores more.  Bulldogs 45 Knights 35

The top four teams mix it up first Southern Nash 6-2 @ Hunt 6-2.  This is a Big  East football game where if either were in another conference they would be on top.  I like Hunt in this one totally being the home team.  Hunt 35 Southern Nash 27.

Rocky Mount 6-2 @ Fike 5-3.  Fike has a very wide open offense and are going to score points on any body.  Their problem they are facing the best offense in the Big East and I don't think Fike can keep Rocky Mount down unless Rocky Mount keeps themselves down with penalties and turnovers.
Gryphons 45 Fike 28.

Riverside Martin  6-2 @ Tarboro 7-1:  looks as if Riverside is rising and this has become a real championship quality game.  I might lean toward Riverside if this game was in Williamston but it is up river in Viking Land. Tarboro 35 Riverside 27

Northampton 4-4 @ North Edgecombe 5-2:  This is a must for the Warriors.  Warriors 26 Northampton 20

SouthWest Edgecombe 7-1 @ Farmville  4-4:  Can the Cougars rebound from their worse game under a coach named Cobb.  This will be close SWE 26 Farmville 21

St David's 8-0 @ Rocky Mount Academy 6-2:  I am afraid that from here on out the size of St David will be hard to conquer  until some other school comes along that is in population as large as they are becoming.  ST  David's 54 RMA 26

South Creek 5-2 @ RM Prep  1-4:  South Creek is having a good year and can't afford a stumble against Prep. 36 -14 South Creek

Village Christian 3-4 at NorthEast Carolina Prep:  NCP has been close in several games.  They get over the hump this week.  NCP 45 VC 22

Thursday night College football finds both App St and ECU on the tube tonight.  Temple 7-0 @ ECU 4-3..  Haven't heard one word about Temple being undefeated.  They have two quality wins.  Pirates are really good at home against team when they are the underdog.  Pirates 30 Temple  20

Lady Gryphons Roll

Rocky Mount looked for a tough match in the opening round of the NCHSAA state 3-A playoffs when once beaten Jacksonville rolled into town.  Sunset came and  Rocky Mount six singles players were winners as Rocky Mount sweeps the Cardinals 6-0 to advance to round two next Tuesday.  Conference number two Fike lost 1-5 at Northern Guilford.  Thursday singles and doubles player begin their quest to make it to state championship weekend.

Had a rather good day compared with other weeks going 10-4 in NFL games raising picks for the year to 49- 42.  Mighty hard to pick NFL when worse team in the league can win on some days.

Thursday night game Seahawks 2-4 @ 49's 2-4:  Seahawks have made it to last two Super Bowls because of their defense.  Russell Wilson is doing ok but no longer is backed up by a great D.  Niners win 23-21.

Bills 3-3 @ Jags 1-5:  Bills have a chance to get a win and since this is a bad team Bills will play to Jacksonville level but will win somehow. 27-23

Tampa 2-3 @ Washington 2-4 Washington plays well at home and right now Winston looks like a rookie
Washington 26 Buc's 17

Falcon's 5-1 @ Titans 1-4 I think New Orleans got Atlanta's attention. 31-20 Falcons

Saints 2-4 Colts 3-3:  Colts win  35 -27

Vikes 3-2 @ Lions 1-5:  make it two in a row  for Lions 34-24

Steelers 4-2@ Chiefs 1-5: Chiefs with no running game just doesn't have the quarter back to win.  Steelers 30 Chiefs 17

Browns 2-4 @ Rams 2-3:Browns are just good enough to lose.  Rams 30 Browns 24

Texans 2-4 @ Dolphins 2-3 coaching change has made a difference in South Florida Fish 24 Texans 20

Jets 4-1 @ Patriots  5-0:Jets will be pesky but will not win in Foxbourgh.  Pats 31 Jets 20

Raiders 2-3@ Chargers 2-4: Chargers have lost four to teams with a combined 19-5 record.  Eight of their last ten against teams with losing record  plus twice against Bronco's and their luck can't hold out.  In order get on a run need to beat Raiders who are always a load for Chargers.  Chargers 26 Raiders 23

Cowboys 2-3@ Giants 3-3 Romoless Cowboys winless again. New York 26-20 over the boys

Eagles 3-3  @ Panthers 5-0: Everyone should be proud of the play of the Panthers and Cam is playing great but keep this in mind all five wins against losing teams.  Sunday night lights Cats win 27-24

Ravens 1-5 @ Cardinals4-2:  Cards stung twice last two weeks but not three weeks Cards 33 Ravens 24

Gryphon Undefeated Girls Tennis Start Playoffs

There is one thing about playoffs in the so called minor sports that the state doesn't mess around with the seedings  like they do in  basketball, baseball and football.  The state can make income from ticket sales of the three major sports but women's tennis let's put all the number one seeds against another number one and get this playoff over with as soon as possible.

Tennis has this strange set up that today  when the playoff starts that is the day teams compete against teams and on Thursday each tennis player plays either singles or doubles working their way through the brackets.

The brackets have been release in girls tennis and undefeated Rocky Mount gets a handful right out of the gate in the duel matches.  They play once beaten Jacksonville in the opening round of the playoffs  Today at 4pm at Rocky Mount.  Rocky Mount in the seedings process is #1 seed.  Jacksonville #1 in their conference has the third best overall record in the east.

Fike who only lost to Rocky Mount during the season is 16-2 on the season as a second place team they get to travel to Northern Guilford 12-5 on the season but conference champs.  Barring rain by midnight there will only be  eight teams left in the duel matches in the east.

If you were not there Friday night Rocky Mount's homecoming was one of the largest crowds  since the move to the new school.  Public schools are fighting budget cuts from the state and even from the county.  It is vital that people go to football, basketball and baseball games so the funds receive through the gate helps pay for every sport on any campus in Nash County.

I was on the far sidelines but I heard after the game that there was at least two fights in the bleachers on the Rocky Mount side.  Then there was the chase.  Early in the third quarter a few plays after Rocky Mount kicked off to Hunt I saw a young person running across the field an at that second I thought they were running out to pick up the kicking tee that may have been left after the kickoff.

Just about time where the tee should have been I noticed that two police officers in pursuit of this person.  He ran across the field as both teams were about 30 yards down the field.  Once past the bench of Hunt he cut to the right and was running down the track in front of the Hunt crowd when Athletic Director Mike Gainey called out on the PA for someone to tackle the boy.

Several people made moves but by this time the young man was out of gas and fell face first on the track where the officers handcuffed him behind the Hunt  bench but totally  in front of the Hunt crowd.

The referee held up the game waiting for the officers to remove  the indivual.  They started moving him and near the goal line still on the track they took him down again and the ref delayed the game until he was totally  removed.

If you think that fights are funny or the chase was hilarious you need to think again.  There were many people who were going to their first game in several years but the fights and the flight across the field they will never attend a game again.  Just think of the future dollars lost from uncontrolled people who have no respect for anyone except themselves.  Most folks at the game did not feel safe and will have to think hard about going to any game ever again.  Now this is not a Rocky Mount problem alone.

My favorite newsman of all time was Paul Harvey.  I heard him say many times self government will not work without self discipline.  Our country has lost self desipline.  We only care about ourselves and don't care what our actions do to others.

We must as a society that gets control of ourselves and respect others.  If we don't high school sports will only be played by those who will have to pay as if they were a travel league teams.  No one will be allowed to watch because security can't be controlled with idiots watching who don't respect others.

Trending

It looks as if Big East football will be a four team race this season as two furlongs into the season there are two unbeaten teams Southern Nash and Rocky Mount.  Two one loss teams Hunt and Fike and two without a win Northern Nash and Nash Central.

It is doubtful that either Nash Central or Northern Nash have shown to this point an ability to win all three of their remaining games.  Can either cause havoc to the other four?  They still have a game with each other and two games with the top contenders.

Fike has shown ability to score.  If the road to a championship has to include defense it seems likely Fike would only be fifth best defense in the league.  They will have to out score Rocky Mount, Northern Nash and Hunt.

Hunt had  plenty of fight when Rocky Mount was on the verge of blowing the Warriors out.  Their defense was  a step late most of the night.   There offense proved to be a quick strike when needed.  They still play Nash Central, Southern Nash and Fike.

Southern Nash already has Fike and Northern Nash behind them.  They face Hunt, Rocky Mount and Nash Central the rest of the way.    They are consistent on both offense and defense.  They can pass when needed.

Rocky Mount  has moved the ball on everyone.  Hunt and Rose exposed a secondary weakness.   They still look like best defense in league.  They still play Fike, Southern and Northern.  The next two weeks will tell all for Rocky Mount.

The unbeatens still  play each other and one other one loss team.  It is a fight to the finish.

Playoff Time In Minor Sports

Football still has another three Friday nights to go so the person who only cares about the pigskin portion of high school sports would not  have any idea that Volley Ball, Girls tennis, cross country  and a couple more weeks Boys soccer will be deep into fall playoffs before football finishes it's regular season.  The minor sports deserve coverage as much as anybody so lets take a look and what has happened this fall in those sports.

Volleyball:  Hunt was king of the hill having a perfect 10-0 mark  and continued that by winning both Tournament games last week.  Rocky Mount and Fike tied for second at 7-3 and during the tournament Rocky Mount won the tie breaker to be seeded second when the playoffs start.  The first round of the volley ball state playoffs start October 24th so the seeding will be out soon.

Tennis:  Rocky Mount 10-0 was the conference team to control play winning all ten of their conference.  Fike 8-2 beat everyone in the conference every time except Rocky Mount.  The women's duels start October 20th.  Rocky Mount girls have an excellent shot at winning the east regional.

Cross Country on the boys side has been dominated all year by Northern Nash and the Northern girls have been very good with Rocky Mount nipping at their heels.  The conference championships will be held on October 21st.  The teams that qualify for the regionals will be run on October 31st.  Northern Boys have an excellent shot  at winning the regional.

Boys soccer still has a couple of weeks to go before the regular season ends  as both Hunt and Fike are still undefeated and all the rains associated with the hurricane has messed up the routine schedule.
November fourth is the first day of the state playoffs.

Football's regular season ends on November 6th.  The first night of the playoffs for those who qualify will be November 13th.

Saw this on face book which is very neat.  Former Gryphon wrestler and cross country runner Mason Holt who now as a junior at Campbell is a member of the Campbell cross country team and he is a top five runner every race.  As a junior he has started pre Pharmacy  and earlier this week the Pharmacy school gave  Mason a Campbell Varsity jacket.  You might ask why?  Mason is the only student in the pharmacy school who is an athlete.  Quite a feat.  Way to go Mason!!!!