Are The Stars In Line For The Lady Gryphons?

It doesn't always matter how much talent you have  sometimes it comes down to being good teammates.  Before this year started Rocky Mount Lady Gryphons tennis team returned their top three singles players who were also the top doubles team.  Insert an up and coming sophomore and if you don't look out jealousy can infect the entire team.

Coach Barry Nettercutt inserted sophomore Brenna Bryant as the Lady Gryphon number one player.  That dropped  Chandler Brice to  the number two.  It also leveled last year's number two to fall to the number three player Eliza Fike.  Just maybe it would lead to the breakup of the number one doubles team of Brice and Fike. If all the changes bring on internal  tensions then this year's team just might turn out to be a season of what could have been.

Even if the top three accept their new roles those posing as the 4-5-6 singles and 3rd doubles must also elevate  their play in order to make the Lady Gryphons an elite team so insert as the number four singles Mary Blair Thompson a junior who also dropped a spot in the singles line up.  Sarah Bland junior would ride the five singles and Grace Warren junior would anchor the 6th singles.  These spots also created the third doubles team in Sarah Bland  and Grace Warren.

Coaches all the time talk about senior leadership and this Lady Gryphon tennis team had great leadership all season. Brice, Fike and Thompson all took their spots gracefully.  The second round of the team playoffs is Tuesday at 4pm at the Rocky Mount High court where they will meet Rockingham County 12-2.   So far this season the Lady Gryphons are 13-0  as a team.

Sophomore Brenna Bryant as the one singles went   12-1 on the season.  Chandler Brice stands 13-0 as the number two.  Eliza Fike 9-1 as three singles 9-1.  Number four singles Mary Blair Thompson 8-2,  five singles Sarah Bland 10-0  and the  sixth singles Grace Warren went 9-1.  You add all those scores up and it comes down to a record of 70-6 record by the top six all year.

You take a coach that saw how this team could be better with changes, you add players that accepted their role as what was best for the team.  Then you add what the entire team did  seeing what  role required of them and this team could be playing a couple weeks more in the duels.

But, there is more Nettercutt's changes  the new doubles teams have been as good as the singles.  The Bryant/Brice number one doubles team went 9-1 on the season.  Number two duo of Fike/Thompson went 9-1 and the third team of Bland/Warren went 9-0.  27-2 to go along with 70-6 in singles. No wonder this team has a shot at a state team title but there is yet so much left to do.

This past weekend in the Eastern Regional in Wilson the number one and two doubles team went 6-0 against other doubles teams.  The only loss incurred was when Bryant /Brice beat Fike /Thompson for the regional title.  Finishing second both of Rocky Mount's doubles teams qualify for the doubles championship Friday at 9am at the Burlington Tennis Center.

Rocky Mount has sent teams to the singles and doubles championship before.  This just may be the first time that those in the know Rocky Mount top two doubles teams have a real shot at the state title.  Good luck this week Lady Gryphons.

Fall Season Unsung Hero

The fall sport season is almost complete as many playoffs are now underway and today we want to look at one of those hero's that is doing an outstanding job in the sports he is coaching.  Today we want to feature Jeff Dodrill the Northern Nash Cross Country coach who earlier this week added another conference title to the already full banner at Northern.

Jeff grew up in West Virginia where he lettered two years in both Cross County and basketball.  His college days were spent at Fairmont State College in Fairmont West Virginia.  Starting his sophomore year he walked on to the cross country team where he ran for three seasons.

1989 Jeff taught at a junior high in West Virginia and was the junior high CC coach and won the conference crown.  Jeff got a job in Halifax County North Carolina starting in 1990 but began coaching at Northern Nash in 1991.  He moved in 1993 over to Nash County where he taught at W.L. Green Middle and stayed there until Greene closed and transferred to Red Oak where he has been ever since.

Size is no object in running and during his life Jeff has run 25 Marathons including the Boston Marathon three times.  Jeff is one of those coaches that has a special quality that can make both boys and girls want to love to run. I have a hard enough time walking 3.1 miles and even today Jeff loves to set personal best times and it has spread though out the cross country teams now for 24 years.

Those 24 years have produced girls conference championship 13 times.  Twice the girls have been regional champs.  12 times the boys have hoisted conference championship banners including this year.  They have been regionals champs three times and runner up once.

During his tenure he coached the indoor track team for ten years until 2003 and won the indoor state championship in 1994.  Through 2004 he coach track and field in the spring for ten years and won the conference crown six times and regional champs once and runner ups once.

Jeff doesn't sit on his championships after the fall.  He is athletic director at Red Oak and  coached boys basketball from 2003 up until this year and oh by the way won championships five times and had an overall coaching record  of 161-43.  Coaching varsity CC is a taxing job alone but Jeff has coached the Red Oak middle cross country seven of the last ten years and six of those years the boys won conference and the girls were champs four times.

What is it that Jeff knows to make kids want to sweat, train and want to be champions.  I think a lot of it is runners at Red Oak and Northern want to keep up the winning tradition.  Jeff has that ability to make kids want to dig deep into themselves to be just a little better today over yesterday.  That is a hard job to do today in a world of social media, face book, selfies. 

Jeff Dodrill is one of those special people standing in the background because  cross country  is an unknown sport to many.  Those who have ever just been around him or ever played or run for him know that he is a special person making our world just a little better.  You don't win this many times in what ever sport just on luck.  Jeff Dodrill has something within him that he knows what it takes to make children want to do what he ask and when they follow through with  his coaching they will be a champion.  Our thanks to coaches like Jeff Dodrill.  He's making our kids winners.

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.