Game Of Century Week

Had a horrible 4-4 week to drop to 58-13 on the year.  North East Carolina Prep season is over and we now look at the next to last week of the high school football regular season.

SWE 8-1 @ North Johnston 5-4:  The Cougars have injuries in the offensive line which is not good for a running football team.  North Johnston has lost three in a row and I think the Cougars are just too powerful for them SWE 26 North Johnston 19

Rocky Mount Prep 1-6 @ Riverside Martin 6-3.  Riverside is the second best team behind Tarboro in the conference.  Enough said. Riverside Martin 36 RM Prep 8.

North Edgecombe 5-3 @ South Creek 6-2:  the Warriors have fallen on hard times.  The team from Robersonville seems to be playing better than NE right now.  South Creek 30 North Edgecombe 25

Tarboro 8-1 @ Northampton County 5-4: Don't know if Tarboro has ever been to Conway before.  Hard place to play out in the middle of Northampton County and where the football field is it gives you the  feel you are playing in the middle of a field.  Tarboro 42 Northampton 16

Rocky Mount Academy 6-3 @ Halifax Academy 2-7:  Final regular season game for RMA before playoffs.  This game will be a game of not getting any more injuries this close to the playoffs.  Eagles 44 Halifax 6.

Nash Central 1-8 @  Hunt 6-3:  Hunt has lost two conference games in a row which hasn't happened often in their history.  Nash Central is floundering on defense.  Hunt big 45 -14

Fike 5-4 @ Northern Nash 3-6:  Northern may be good enough defensively to hold down the Golden Demons.  Northern has gotten better all season on offense.  Northern just might pull this one out and since the preseason coaches pick Fike first and Northern last that would be a major upset but not the way both teams are playing now.  NN 27 Fike 20

Southern Nash 7-2@ Rocky Mount 7-2:  I see this game coming down to Rocky Mount ability to rush the passer.   Both sides should be equal running the ball.  The Gryphons have been beaten in the pass game against some really good receivers.  Nobody has stopped the Gryphons on offense.  The Firebirds have balanced passing and running.  Rocky Mount has been shaky passing the last couple of weeks.

  You realize that The Firebirds have played at Fike, at Hunt and will now play at Rocky Mount.  Boy talk about a tough conference schedule.  Rocky Mount's two losses come from the #4 Middle Creek  and #21 Rose ranked 4-A schools.  Should have beat the #4 Middle Creek team.  The Firebirds lost to #2 Tarboro in 1-A and a team lower than them #40 South Johnston.  I like the Gryphons 28-20

The loser will not have a high seed but should get at least one home game.  The winner because of the two losses could get at least two home games if they win their first playoff so a lot is on the line and it is not November yet.

Tennis Title Up For Grabs Friday/ Saturday

 Friday morning at 9am at the Burlington Tennis Center  two doubles teams from Rocky Mount take aim at a State championship.  Rocky Mount's #1 team Brenna Bryant and Chandler Brice will square of with Ashley Robinson-Andrea Brenk from Concord.  The Gryphon's #2 team Eliza Fike- Mary Blair Thompson face Ryleigh Burns- Hannah Scott of Marvin Ridge.

Should they win their Morning match and the field is reduced to 8 teams there will be a afternoon session.  If you win both matches you come back Saturday morning at 9am when we are down to four to win twice again on Saturday.  You must remember that there are also 8 singles matches following the same process as doubles so it will be mid afternoon both Friday and Saturday before there will be any official announcement of the winners unless you know someone  on site feeding you the action.

Now the NFL:

It is a struggle this year picking NFL games.  Just did get more than half right 8-6 running my year's record To 57- 48.  Nothing at all to brag about.   So we will try once more to act like we know what we are doing.

Dolphins 3-3 @ Patriots 6-0:  Really would like to pick the fish in this one but remember this is a AFC East game in Boston.  Pats 27 Dolphins 20

Lions 1-6 @ Chiefs 2-5:  Here's a real high profile game that all the nation will follow.  Chiefs do have some defense but no offense.  Lions have neither of the above. Chiefs 23 Lions 16

Tampa 2-4 @ Falcons 6-1:  Bucs are competitive and Falcons are up and down.  They will be up in this one.  30-23 Falcons.

Cardinals 5-2 @ Browns 2-5:  Browns will make this a game but who will quarterback?  Cardinals had better keep up the pace as they had better be watching the Rams and the Seahawks  on their tail.  Cards 30 Browns 23

49's 2-5 @ Rams 3-3: Any body noticed that the Rams are a different team with Todd Gurley running.   Rams 30 9er's16


Giant's 4-3 @ Saints 3-4:  let's see who is in the lead in NFC East?  Must be Giants this week so that must mean they lose.  Saints 31 Giants 27


Vikings 4-2 @ Bears 2-4:  can Bears slow down Peterson and I think that answer is no.  27-16 Vikes.

Chargers 2-5 @ Ravens 1-6:  Philip Rivers has a chance to pass for more yardage this year in history. They have no offensive line and their defense actually steps on the field once in a while. Chargers will always be behind and with no line Rivers has to let it go as soon as he gets it and yet he completes nearly 70%  to his team.   Ravens 35 Chargers 31

Bengals 6-0 @ Steelers 4-3:  I don't really think Steeler defense is that good. Bengals coming off bye may be fresh.  Bengals 35 Steelers 20.

Titans 1-5@ Texans 2-5:  Is there going to be a tie this year this might be it.  If there has to be a winner I'll take Texans 3-2

Jets 4-2 @ Raiders 3-3:  Raiders are on the rise.  Jets are not playing New England.  Oakland is alway difficult on the bay.  Raiders 24 Jets 23

Seahawks 3-4 @ Cowboys 2-4:  Let me tell you about the Cowboys.  Any owner who backs the action of Greg a Hardy and praises him as a leader must have dementia.  Cowboys are in trouble with this kind of leadership.  Seahawks 27 Boys 17

Packers 6-0 @ Broncos 6-0.  A couple of teams have shown teams how to slow down Aaron Rogers but Packers  defense  backed up Rogers. Denver's offense has not backed up the Denver defense.  Packers 20 Broncos 13.

Colts 3-4 @ Panthers 6-0:   Still the Panthers haven't beaten a team with a winning record.  Guess what Colts have lost more than they have won.  Can't blame Panthers for winning their scheduled games.  Panthers 30 Colts 23

Game Of The Century

This is the Big East Football.  Week eleven gives us two more weeks of conference football.  If this was a normal year three teams would be 2-1 in conference and the other three 1-2 and every team still have hopes of tying for first some how or other.

This is a crazy year with two weeks left only two teams can win the title.  Those two are three and zero on conference.  Southern Nash has wins over both Wilson County schools and rival Northern Nash.  Rocky Mount has two wins over the Wilson County schools and Nash Central.  Both Southern and Rocky Mount have a  rival game left and against each other Friday night.  The winner is the number one seed in the playoffs and another week left after this one.

Fike, Hunt and Northern Nash are 1-2 and still can get a rather good seeding with a good last two weeks.  Because either Southern  Nash or Rocky Mount will win Friday and remain undefeated those three have no chance left for first.  What a crazy year this has become because this is not the way the last few years have been each year since the conference went to the Six  schools we have now.

Rocky Mount through the years has dominated against Southern Nash when Rocky Mount was the 4-A school and Southern was smaller but the last ten years they have split 5 wins each.  Both are 4-1 at home and Friday night is in Rocky Mount.  There will be no need to score board watching Friday as no other game matters.  This game is THE Game.

This Even Steven football against each other started in 2006 in that overtime won by Southern at Southern  21-20.  The 2009 game in Rocky Mount when the Gryphons scored on a 65 yard pass in the last 25 seconds to win 24-19.  This series has become about as even as any can get.
If the last ten years have been even how do they stack up this year?

Both teams are 7-2.  Both have won four in a row after both had two non conference losses against very good teams.  Southern Nash averages 250.8 yards per game rushing while Rocky Mount 250.00.  Southern passes 120 yards per game Rocky Mount 90.  The three conference games the
Firebirds are averaging 29.3 while the Gryphons 41.  Defending the goal line Southern has given up 15 points while Rocky Mount 18.

The History of this league has been we need to win this game and watch the score board and see who loses.   There is no need for that.  This should be the biggest crowd ever at Rocky Mount's new stadium.  Southern probably has the best fans when on the road as they come in droves whenever they play Rocky Mount.  Here is an outdated statement.  This one is for all the marbles.  I wonder how many of you have ever gone home from school with every bodies marbles at recess? Somebody is going to win the whole shebang.

Thursday night college football features a game that I doubt anybody could visions this game could have playoffs implications  in preseason.  North Carolina 6-1 @ Pittsburgh 6-1:  Carolina at times has  struggled when you wonder why they are struggling.  Pittsburgh struggles against everybody.  Carolina 27 Pitt 24

Beating the rains Rocky Mount girls tennis team advanced to the third round of the duels beating Rockingham county 6-0.  So far in the first two rounds the lady Gryphons at 12-0 in matches played.  The third round is next week.

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.