A World Of Difference

During my 16 years doing local sports in Rocky Mount the walking encyclopedia  of Gryphon Sports was Charles Alston.  There were about three years that Charles rode with me to every Gryphon  game and he and I would argue about Rocky Mount being the smallest 4-A  school that they needed to be in 3-A.  Charles thought you had nothing to Brag about if you were 3-A state champions.

Once realignment came about and in 2008 when the Gryphons won the baseball championship I ask Charles how he felt only being a 3-A champion.  Of course Charle's answer was "Hard to tell any difference".  I can only tell you that Rocky  Mount High school has won two football titles and they won them back to back in 1962 and 1963.  If I remember Charles told me the last time the Gryphons even played in the state championship game in football was 1980.  I no longer have the Gryphon encyclopedia standing by with all the  answers.

Friday night December the 11th the Gryphons will try to win their third state title and their first as a 3-A school.  It will also be the third anniversary of the death of the Gryphons history  encyclopedia
Charles Alston.  Every year when teams take the field they need good players, a  healthy season and it doesn't hurt  to have an omen on your side.  Charles will be watching.

It has been close to ten years since Rocky Mount was demoted to 3-A in Charles' eyes.  They have won two basketball and a baseball title. Both basketball and football they have played in multiple regionals.  I don't care how big you are if you have 500 less students that other members of your conference it is hard to compete day in and day out.  Even a two hundred difference and you can use Nash Central as the example of having a hard time competing.

I wasn't there at Eastern Alamance as I was doing PA  at Wesleyan.  I have however done a SouthWest Edgecombe / EA playoff game there around 2006 or so.  All the people with lawn chairs and the field being encircle with fans made for a really nice atmosphere for a high school football game.  The field was muddy  but other than that a great place to watch high school football.

You know Chapel Hill was the site of both basketball titles in 2010 and 2012.  There is something about Chapel  Hill and the Gryphons.  Both Basketball titles we estimate between 5 to 7 thousand fans supported the Gryphons.  Kenan Stadium can dwarf seven thousand people making the place look empty.  Be there!!!

I think one of the best coaching moves of the weekend turned sour on SouthWest Edgecombe.  Trailing 22-21 in overtime Jonathan  Cobb chose to go for a two point conversion to win the game.  They came up six inches short.  There are many Cougar fans today asking why not kick and play on.  Just look at the Bunn/Clinton game to get your answer.   Under the same circumstance Clinton's kicker missed the tying score.

Cobb put the responsibility squarely on his shoulder and took the pressure off his players.  If for no other reason he probably felt this was his best chance to win because SWE led almost the entire game but late Kinston had the momentum on their side.  Not only that but the Cougars go for many two pointers all during the season.

What can happen on a extra point kick?  A bad snap, poor hold, a kicker slip or even a shanked kick.  I would rather have a coach trying to win  Any day.

Gryphons Still Have A Game To Play

When I made my pick of Rocky Mount beating Eastern Alamance this week I did so base on Eastern Alamance thought the team they had to beat to win the state championship was Southern Alamance.
They did that last week. My thinking was EA would not respect the Gryphons.

Tonight Rocky Mount goes to Eastern Alamance and lays a whipping on the home team leading 28-0 at the half and coast to a 42-21 victory over Eastern Alamance and will now play for the 3-A state championship next Friday night at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill at 7:30.  The Gryphons have not won a football Title since 1963.

Rocky Mount won the toss and drove down to near the twenty before EA stop them.  The Gryphon D force a punt and the Gryphons March done the field.  They scored on a 16 yard run with 4:59 by Tyrell  Forbes.  EA  march down the field but were forced to kick a field goal which was blocked by Gryphons. Then B J Sanders from the Gryphons 6 yard line broke a 59 yard run.  Tyrell Forbes put it in the enzone from 24 yards out.

Rob White  picked East Alamance quarterback John Lamonte and took it 85 yards to the house and after Chase Millers kick the Gryphons led 21-0 with 6:44 in the second Q.  Then with 4:44 to play in the quarter Nick Bynum  took it 44 yards and after a great stop by the defense made a goal line stand just before half the Gryphons led 28-0.

Alamance was held to a three out and out on  the first drive of second half but on Rocky Mount's first procession they fumbled giving EA the ball near the 50.  On a 4th and ten with 6:44 to play in the third John Lamont hit a 15 yard touchdown strike to get EA on the board at 28-7.  K K Edwards caught a 39 yard pass from Forest Bell and B J Sanders took it the two yards to get 35 on the board for the Gryphons.

EA's  John Lamont who ran many quarterback draws scored on a two yard run with 11:15 to go in the game.  After Rocky Mount failed on a fourth down Lamont led EA back down the field to make it 35-21.  Rocky  Mount  once again moved the ball but missed on a fourth down run but Alex Henderson put the icing on the cake for Gryphons with a 66 yard pick six.  Detrelle Revis got another pick with 90 seconds to go and the Gryphons celebrate.

Many people in the area listened on the internet to Burlington radio and  they said 800 people bought tickets from Rocky Mount.  To tell you how good the announcers were they kept saying legend B W Holt was calling the plays for the Gryphons.  Regardless of whether they knew who was coaching Rocky Mount or not I can tell them this.  Jason Battle is carrying the Rocky Mount Gryphons to a place Holt never did.  To a state championship game.  They will play South Point who beat Kings
Mountain in the Western regional Title 29-7.

The news is heart breaking in Kinston. SouthWest Edgecombe tie 15-15 at the end regulation gave up a score to trail 22-15 scored themselves but went for a two point conversion and missed by less than 6 inches and lose 22-21.

Carolina Has A shot

Twelve  wins in a row.  Right now there is probably no team in college football playing any better Than the Tar Heels. The biggest dig any body can put up against the Tar Heels is there is not a win against a top 25 team.   It is not their fault one team backed out of a scheduled game forcing the Heels to play two division 2 teams.  Their biggest flub was opening night against South Carolina and at the time everyone thought that was not that bad of a loss until the Gamecocks decided to be one of the worse teams in the SEC.

Carolina has done all this with Chapel Hill still under a cloud which brought scholarship reduction and coach Larry Fedora has done what ever the company spill has been without complaint.  There is no doubt that every year Fedora  has been at Carolina they have been able to put points on the board.  Some games they just could not score enough.

I  spoke about three weeks ago that Clemson would now go on cruise control after they captured their division.  Their offense has not as they have kept right on scoring.  The defense is the one on cruise control and the question has to be asked.  Can the defense pick up the pace? They remind me of the long distance runner who hangs back until it's the right time to motor pass those he was following.   Can the Tiger defense pick it up  and slow Carolina down any?

I think this is the first sellout of the ACC Championship game.  It is a perfect combination of teams two of the closes teams to Charlotte.  I suspect there will be more orange there due to the fact Clemson knew they were playing there two weeks before Carolina did.

If you are John Swofford a Carolina Grad an ACC Commissioner who are you pulling for.  Clemson wins and they make the final four and the playoffs.  Carolina wins and the ACC loses all the money earned if your conference plays in the playoffs and wins the championship.  There is just not enough dominoes left that can fall the Tar Heel way to get them in.

I think this game comes down to the best defense that takes the field.  Here is a fact they may shock you.  There is only one team in the RPI top 20 that has a strength of schedules  in the top 40.  Alabama is 7th while no other team in SOS is in the top 40 in strength of schedule.  Clemson is 70th while Carolina is 90th.  The loser probably scores at least 35.  Somewhere Clemson will get the Carolina quarterback to fumble and that will be the difference.  Clemson 45 Carolina 38

Same As Last Week

If you are wondering what the Gryphons will be facing this Friday all you need to do if you were in attendance Friday  night against Morehead expect more of the same.  The Eagles of Eastern Alamance run out of the shotgun and they too will have  a running quarterback and they will throw to their backs. In the past the Gryphons  have had trouble with running quarterbacks from Alamance County. They are much bigger on the line than Morehead.

Oddly enough the Eagles average 203 yards per game passing and that is what the Gryphons gave up to Morehead.  They rush the ball for 250 yards per game and their quarterback John Lamont averages 140 yards per game.  The Eagles average per catch  13.7 while 7.1 per run

Eastern Alamance front line compares to Hertford County but the offensive formation for The Eagles is  more on speed over power. The key Friday will be can the Gryphon defense be able to penetrate past the big front to cause havoc in the back field.

You would have to think Eastern Alamance has to worry about stopping the Gryphons just like Rocky Mount is worried about them.  The Gryphons  are averaging 98 yards per game through the air to help supplement the 278 yards per game on the ground.  Every catch for the Gryphons has gone for 19.7 yards per catch.  Every time the Gryphons run the football they got 6.7 yards per play.

This is for the Eastern 3A State Championship.  This game is a toss-up and the team that does what they do best better than the other will win.  Turnovers could make the score lopsided
 If one has three or more while the other team holds on all game with no turnovers.

As many times in the past ten years we have had a playoff game in Alamance County this is our first trip to Mebane. I assume you can choose what way you prefer to get past Raleigh and Durham.  Friday Mebane is having their Christmas Parade.  I would suggest you leave early.  On a Friday afternoon if you take I-40 you know traffic could be bumper to bumper and if there is a wreck could br stopped altogether.  Even going 98-I-85 around Durham could be as bad.  The it would be wise to find out from somebody how to avoid the parade in Mebane.

Big disappointment as I have too much on my plate Friday.  I have signed on as the PA man at North Carolina Wesleyan and will be doing the Roger Taylor tournament Friday night at Wesleyan.

The four local teams that played last week I went 3-1 to push my record for the year to 92-18.  We are down to two and both are on the road.  I went with all four home team's last week.  This week I'm picking both road teams SouthWest Edgecombe and Rocky Mount.  SWE 38 Kinston 27.  Rocky Mount 28 East Alamance 26.

Down The Stretch In The NFL

Had one of my best weeks picking NFL games going 14-2 and I surely need  to get off average.  Runs my record for the year to 100-75.

Packers 7-4 @  Lions 4-7:  Something is wrong with the Packers.  Aaron Rogers is not the Super Duper Aaron Rogers .  All of a sudden Detroit playing like everyone though Detroit was going to be this year.  Lions  27 Green Bay 24

Jets 6-5 @ Giants 5-6:  Long road trip for Jets.  Giants when they are bad they are bad.  Rest of the time they are lucky.   Jets 26 Giants 20

Cardinals 9-2 @ Rams 4-7:  quarterback issues for the Rams has been their down fall.  This will be close in St Louis.  Cards 30 Rams 20

Falcons 6-5 @Bucs 5-6:  Falcons have lost five in a row.  To me at this point Tampa is surprise team of the NFL.  Tampa takes this one 30 -27

Seahawks 6-5 @ Vikings 8-3:  I just don't think the Seattle defense is Super Bowl quality this year.  Vikings are a team on the rise.  Vikes 31- Seattle 26

49er's 3-8 @ Bears 5-6:  Bears started slow but have improved under John Fox.  49ers. have not improved. Bears 26 SF 17

Jags 4-7 @ Titans 2-9:  I think Jags are improving Jags 30 Titans 26

Texans 6-5 @ Bills 5-6:  right when it looks as if Bills are on the verge they falter.  T J Yates has Texans rolling.  That being said Bills win 23-21

Ravens 4-7 @ Dolphins 4-7:  This is one of those tough picks.  Dolphins win at home.  31-30

Bengals 9-2  @ Browns 2-9:  Hard to pick Browns for the rest of this season.  Bengals 27 Browns 10

Broncos 9-2 @ Chargers 3-8:  I have had a hard time picking Chargers all year.  Last week picked Jags and Rivers  throws four touchdowns and crosses 40,000 yards passing the fourth youngest quarterback to hit that's figure and 11th all time in touch down tosses.  If I want Chargers to really win pick Denver Denver 30 Chargers 23

Chiefs 6-5 @ Raiders 5-6:  just might be for wild card spot.  Chiefs 26 Raiders 23

Eagles 4-7 @ Patriots 10-1:  bad week having to play New England.  I don't think Pats will play in AFC title game.  They will beat Eagles though. 27-26

Panthers 11-0 @ Saints 4-7:  if the Panthers lose during regular season this is it if Brees goes crazy.  He will have to be crazy in order to score enough to win.  Panthers 37 Saints 24

Colts 6-5 @ Steelers 6-5:  interesting game just can't see Colts winning in the steel city Steelers 26 Colt 23

Cowboys 3-8 @ Redskins 5-6:  Too bad Redskins can't play them all at home.  Dallas is done without  or with Romo.  Redskins 28 Boys 20"

The Forgotten Sport

It is very good whenever your team plays football in to December and the entire community can go whole hog crazy for football.  There was a time once conflict occurred between schools in the football and teams trying to get the basketball season that those playing football postponed basketball and waited for the football players to join the basketball team.  Depending how long you lasted in the football playoffs you might wind up playing two conference games a week in January plus a makeup non conference game  and that eliminates practice time and rest during the important time of the year.  It has been a while since Rocky Mount  has been this far into December and at least three football players will play basketball.  Let's take our first look at how basketball has started in the area.

Rocky Mount has played three games going into tonight and all three have been 4A schools Rose, Knightdale and South Central.  All three games have been losses.  Tonight they travel to Hertford County which will not be easy without the full squad  because of football.

One thing forgotten whenever the football playoff delayed boys games the girls had to wait since they play the same schedule as the boys most of the time.  The Lady Gryphons have played three 4A schools and since they are not short of football players they have managed to win two of three.  The lost came to Knightdale.

Northern Nash Boys have five games under their belts and they lost  opening night to East Wake.  They have since run off four straight wins beating Southern Wayne, Conley, Smithfield Selma and Washington.

The Northern Nash girls have followed the same path as the boys.  They lost opening  night and have reeled off four straight wins since.  One of those four was win number 500 for Grover Battle.

Southern Nash has played only one game so far and it was a win over Corinth Holders.  The girls were not as fortunate as they were beaten by CH.

Basketball years ago started December 1st.  That way it avoided splitting Thanksgiving break and then another break at Christmas.  We are suppose to live in a modern world.  It is time for all schools to go to year round.  It can't be done half the system in year round  and the other half the old fashion.

The Journey Is Only Part Of The Way Done.

The Rocky Mount Gryphons have played the first three weeks of the playoffs all at home and there is still two more weeks for who ever survives next week.  Simply too many games.  Just suppose you were Morehead who had played the first three on the road and if they had beat the Gryphons would have played one more before Chapel Hill.

The Gryphons displayed their entire game plan in all three.  Let's pound pound pound and see how things look in the fourth quarter.  Morehead deployed the passing game designed to give their backs the ball outside the tackle box area because of their thirty rushing attempts only ten snaps went to the backs for eight yards.  The quarterback had twenty carries for ninety yards.

Many of those tosses by the Panthers the Gryphons had men in place to make defensive plays but it was hard to stop them when many times they went for it on fourth down.  Hard to believe the stats that the Gryphons held them to 204 yards on only 29 pass attempts.  Seemed like they passed a lot more.

The trio of Gryphon backs with the most carries over the playoff  Haul have done the job which has to give the Gryphon blockers credit that on the final offensive play the Gryphons run up the middle practically untouched.  There are times when you need to loosen up eight men in the box Forest Bell was perfect passing the ball.  The Gryphons averaged 9.3 yards per play on 48 plays.  The defense held the Panthers to 302 yards on 59 plays or right at five yards per play.  Morehead wanted to control the ball and they did but they could not stop the Gryphons when their defense was on the field.

It was the largest crowd at the new school's football field.  I do have to question where the Rocky Mount band was? The Morehead crowd was their early except for their band that didn't arrive until middle of the second quarter.  The Gryphon crowd didn't get seated until the end of the first quarter.  The Panther cheerleader were the best we have seen all year.  They cheered base on what was happening and they had the crowd cheering with them.  Once the band got there they never stopped playing.

This third round game shows you how some where you have to play defense.  Morehead gave up 35 points two games in a row and they just could not score enough points to keep winning.  This was the best game I've seen in a while. The next question for the Gryphons is can they keep out scoring further foes for two more weeks?

This Monday in order to be State Champions in football the Gryphons need two wins in eleven days as the 3A championship is Friday night in Chapel Hill at 7:30pm.   Ooh so close.