Battling Bishops Win First

Any team that has success at some point in time have to make adjustments in order to move forward in getting better as a football team.  The first major move for coach Jeff Filkovski was made bringing a more speedy back to be the main ball carrier as Gerrel Patton got the share of carries and it paid off.  Patton carried the ball 26 times gaining 141 yards and when the running game works it opens up the passing game as Nathan Gardner tossed three touchdown passes for 331 yards as Wesleyan races out to a late third quarter lead of 28-0 and brings home a 31-13 victory over Shenandoah.

The opening drive the defense forced a three and out and gave the offense great field position an at 11:48 of the first Nathan Gardner had a three yard toss to Brandon Leak and with Chris Richardson's kick lead 7-0

The lead grew to 14-0 at the 5:07 mark in the half as Gardner found tight end Ben Dorfman for a 23 yard strike.  The score stayed 14-0 at the half.

Gerrel Patton got in the act as the Bishops took the second half kick off and stretched the lead to 21-0 after a nine yard score with 11:53 to play in the third.  Not satisfied the Bishops pushed the lead to 28 zip Gardner connected to Trey Lancaster with 5:06 to go in the third.

Shenandoah scored late in the third and again with 12:43 to play on two passes and cut the lead to 28-13.  The Bishops put the game away after a Chris Richardson 26 yard field goal with 7:50 to go.

Shenandoah passed for 353 yards for the game but see this.  The Bishops held Shenandoah to-16 yards rushing.  The Bishops  stymied all attempts by Shenandoah to run the football.  Included in the rushing attempts are the sacks on the quarterback.

Gardner was 19-29 331 yards and three touchdown tosses to three different receivers Leak, Dorfman and Landcaster.  The Bishops are now 1-2 on the season with another road game next week before returning home on October 1st.  Shenandoah lost for the first time this season 2-1.

66

Let's get the bad news out of the way.  Rose high ran wild against the Rocky Mount Gryphons rushing for 282 yards.  Rose completed 13 passes on the night covering 253 yards to give them 535 yards on the night.  They put 41 points on the board but on this night the Gryphons run the Rampants out of the stadium putting up  66 points and a 66-41 win.

The opening Rampant drive took five plays that covered 90 yards and just two minutes twenty nine seconds into the game it looks like the Gryphons are over matched but then the Gryphons had their turn. Six plays Rocky Mount responded to take a 7-6 lead on a 17 yard pass from McKinsey Wright to  Deangelo Collins . The only three and out of the first half the Gryphons got their second chance with the ball and  the first play of the second quarter Deangelo Collins scored on a four yard run to spike the lead to 14-6.

55 seconds later Artavious Richardson picked off his second int this season and for the second time this year takes it to the house 35 yards and the Gryphons lead 21-6.  Almost the rest of the quarter belonged to Rose on the legs of BJ Harris and two touchdown passes to tie the score at 21.  Harris rushed for 289 yards on the night.  The Gryphons marched down the field and got  a 27 yard field goal on the last play of the half from Chase Miller.

The Gryphons made a statement on the second play of the third quarter as BJ Daniels-Sanders scampered 83 yards to give RM a 31-21 lead.  The only three and out of the second half gave Detrell Revis a chance to field a punt and 56 yards later the Gryphons lead 38-21. The Gryphons  were just getting started . Rose fumbled the kickoff at the 19.  Donomesion Brown swept around the right end but was hit at the six the ball flew into the end one where KJ Edwards fell on it for a Gryphon TD making  it 45 -21 only four minutes and nineteen second into the third quarter.  Less than three minutes later Mckensy Wright tossed a 15 yard strike to K J Edwards and the Gryphons had scored 28 points in the 3rd quarter.

Rose down 31 didn't die as they scored three times more but the Gryphons were not done either as backup quarterback Shabios Lynch scored from 13 yards out and Charlie Williams added a 67 yard run to give the Gryphons a 66-41 plastering of Rose.

Three Gryphons rushed for more than 100 yards.  BJ Daniels-Sanders 7-139, Deangelo Collins 13-125, Charlie Williams 6-101.  The Gryphons rushed for 471 yards and for good measure 115 passing. The Gryphons and Rampants had 1119 total yards and 107 points.

Other action:
Southern Nash 21 Tarboro 10
Northern Nash 48 Goldsboro 13
Nash Central 43 Beddingfield 28
RM Prep 66 Kestral Heights 0
SWE 27 Bertie 20
Hunt 37 Curtituck 12
RMA wins by forfeit over Cary Christian
North Edgecombe 50  Weldon 0
South Creek 50 Northeast Carolina Academy 6

Vikings -Firebirds High Light Action

The schedule just might be unfair to Tarboro 3-1 in this one as they will finish up their third game in eight days.    Wish this could have been the first game of the three.  The 3-1 Tarboro Vikings invade unbeaten Southern Nash 4-0.  Southern Nash will be fresh while Tarboro playing third game in eight days. I wonder did playing twice in three days effect the Vikings in their loss to Northern?  If it did ?

If Southern is going to be as good as I think they are then they must win this game.  Tarboro will give the Firebirds  all they want but I think three games in eight days will give the Firebirds the edge.  A close loss for Tarboro against a 3A school would not be a bad loss but a loss by the Firebirds would be.  Southern Nash 34 Tarboro  13

The last 30 years the only time Rocky Mount 3-1 has beaten  Rose is when they have been super good and even then Rose 1-2 had to be having a down year.  So far this season this is not a typical year for the Rampants.  Their only loss the Gryphons scored 25 on Middle Creek who has only given up 17 in  their other three game.  I believe in history and to this point the Gryphons have not quite convinced me they are super. Only time will tell about that.  Still I'm taking Rocky Mount 31-28

Beddingfield 1-2 at Nash Central 3-1:  Another fascinating game this week..  Beddingfield will not be easy for the still growing Bulldogs. Nash Central 26 Beddingfield 21

Northern Nash 2-2 at Goldsboro 0-4:  Goldsboro having trouble scoring and for the most part the Knights defense has been hard to score on.  The key in this game will be which offense can help out their D and I think it will be The Knights. The Tarboro game might be bad news for the rest of the Big East if the Knight offense starts scoring and the defense only gets better.  Northern Nash 26 Goldsboro 7

SouthWest Edgecombe 0-4 at  Bertie 1-2:  If the Cougars are getting better even though their record doesn't show it  then this could be a win.  The Falcons are for the taking.  Cougars 33 Bertie 13

North Edgecombe 3-0 at Weldon 0-2:  The clock should run in the second half.  Warriors 53 Weldon 6

Rocky Mount Prep 1-3 at Kestral Heights 0-2: Tough one to call. Kestral Heights 26 RMP 20

NorthEast Carolina Prep 0-3 at South Creek 0-4:  Two winless teams but I believe the quality of South Creeks schedule is better than NECP. South Creek 30 NECP 18

Cary Christian 1-3 at RMA 4-0 :  Does it seem to you that the first part of  the Eagle schedule is their easy part.  Got to Win these games.  RMA 56 Cary Christian 6

Last week went 7-1 on picks But missed the Northern/Tarboro game which was a pick from a couple weeks back to be 26-8 on the year.

Better Start Than Last Year

Going into the Sunday night NFL game I was 10-3 and looking for an outstanding start to this NFL season as compared to last year's 6-10 beginning.  Missed all three the Sunday night game and the doubleheader on MNF to finish 10-6 for the week.  I think anybody who can get 12 right every week had better know the name of a bookie and cash in.  Let's see where week two leads.

Jets 0-1 @ Bills 0-1:  Jets are the better team and probably should be 1-0 after losing by a point to Cincy.  Jets 24 Buff 16

49'ers 1-0 @Panthers 0-1:  Are the Forty Niner's that good to shutout and dominate the Rams.  I just hate it when teams on their last drive that need a field goal to win or tie try to run the clock out to keep the other team from getting the ball back with any time left in game.  Panthers should have been trying to score a touchdown instead of running the clock out.  I don't think Niners are that good.  Panthers 27 Niners 13

Cowboys 0-1 @ Redskins 0-1:  One of these two will be 0-2 after this one and it will be the Redskins.  Dallas 26 Skins 20

Bengals 1-0 @ Steelers 1-0:  Biggest question here is are the Jets that good that Cincy winning in New York is really good or are the Skins that bad that made Steelers look that good.  Pitt 26 Cinn24

Saints 0-1 @ Giants 1-0:  I hate this game.  Are the Saints able to score 35 again they will win.  This is a road game.  Giants 20 Saints 17

Dolphins 0-1 @ Patriots 1-0:  The Pats will not lose at home to Miami.  New England 33 Fish 20

Chiefs 1-0 @ Texans 1-0:  I think Chiefs might be in running for Super Bowl.  KC 27 Houston 23

Titans 0-1 @ Detroit 1-0:  Lions will go to 2-0  30-22

Ravens 1-0 @ Browns 0-1:  Home game for Browns and I don't see where that is any advantage to them.  Baltimore  26 Cleveland 20

Seahawks 1-0 @ Rams 0-1:  I understand limiting Todd Gurley to a few carries in the preseason but none at all.  Rams looks like being TV stars had gone to their head.  Hawks win here 22 Rams 16

Jags 0-1 @ Chargers 0-1:  Jags are improved.  Worse thing to happen to Chargers  is to be leading in the fourth.  Lost six games last year after leading in fourth quarter and they have one already this year.
Chargers 26 Jags 17

Tampa 1-0 @ Cardinals 0-1:  I think Tampa is the team that Carolina must beat to retain the South dominance.  Cardinals help Panthers  Ariz 26 Bucs 23

Falcons 0-1 at Raiders 1-0:  Look at for the Black and silver this year they just might get over 500 and a playoff spot.  Oak  36 Falcons 26

Colts 0-1 @ Broncos 1-0:  Colts have no defense.  Denver has a better offense than last season bad news for INDY  Den 27 Colts 20

Packers 1-0 @ Vikings 1-0:  I know that the Vike's offense is going through changes with new QB but they win at home  Vike's 33 Packers 27

Eagles 1-0 @ Bears 0-1:  This is a toughie.  Bears 23 Eagles 20

Northern Finally Clips Tarboro

Recent past when Tarboro has been a contender for state titles they have either manhandled Northern Nash or won all close battles.  Northern has shown with the exception of one quarter to have a stout defense.  Their offense has not supported the defense until tonight.

Northern defense again held tough and Tarboro had a struggle to move the ball on the Knights defense.  Tonight the offense did just enough to score three times while Northern defense held the Vikings to two scores and the Knights pull off their best win in the Randy Raper era beating Tarboro 19-12.  Both teams having played last Friday will be back in action this Friday.

The Rocky Mount Gryphons started their month and a half road trip by making a stop in Edenton NC in a beautiful riverside/sound side town that in their  history would have to be considered a football town much as Tarboro.  In other words they love their football in Chowan County.

The Aces showed me while standing on the sidelines last season in Rocky Mount to be well coached but were overwhelmed by the Gryphon size and speed.  So after three straight home games Edenton could be a place to spring an upset and they almost did.

Despite adversity the fourth quarter belonged to the Gryphons once again and they stand at 3-1 just like last season.  Their loss against Middle Creek once again like last year doesn't seem so bad the way Middle Creek has dominated other 4A schools this season.  Hertford County is much improved as is the Aces.  I don't care who you are and who you play when they slap you in the face how you react tells the Gryphon faithful this year's team has all kinds of possibilities again this year.

I don't know if falling behind 13 to zero when your recent history would be crossing the fifty yard line was a major offensive drive could be no more than here we go again.  Nash Central sent a message loud and clear to those Big East Conference members who have already mark a W in the win column on the calendar where Nash Central's name was placed.

Chris Lee has sent a message to his players that when you are down there is no reason to be out.  No longer will it be acceptable to pack it in at anytime just because things are not going our way.  The Bulldogs  were picked last in the Big East and their 3-1 start seems to set notice last is not going to happen.

Southern Nash has started the way every team would love to do.  4-0 and teams from the recent past like South Johnston  were left in the wake of the aircraft carrier Firebirds.  Depth on offense along with plenty of size  and to this point in the season the Firebirds haven't had any adversity to deal with steam rolling their way across the goal line.

They so far have scored 43 per game but you had better not miss that the Firebird defense has allowed just seven per game.  If you don't give up many points you don't have to score a whole lot to win.  Looks like the Firebirds are ready to see what a Thanksgiving football game feels like.

ECU Looking For Another Pillage

There history says that after a Big Four win the next week you can look for a downer for the Pirates but this week is another Power Five team that looks ripe for the taking.  The Pirates have Virginia Tech still to come and should they pop both the Gamecocks and Gobblers that would be three wins to be top 20 or better.

ECU 2-0 @ South Carolina 1-1:  Might be a good time to play the Gamecocks with a new coach in town and just losing their first conference game.  I like what I see in the Pirates so far as Coach Montgomery has brought energy to the program.  I am right on the edge on this one.  I think somehow or other South Carolina wins this one SC 28 ECU 26

ODU 1-1 @ N C State 1-1:  Looking into the Pack schedule this could be the last game all year in which they are favored.  Doeren and company had better win this one.  Pack 42 ODU 13

James Madison 2-0 @ North Carolina 1-1:  Do you realize that the Dukes have scored 80 in a game already this year.  They won't come close to that in Chapel Hill.  Carolina 38 JMU 13

Duke 1-1 @ Northwestern 0-2:  After Wake manhandled the Devils and Northwestern can't beat anybody I don't know how to call this game.  I bet that Duke plays like a team on a mission.  Duke 27 Northwestern 21

North Carolina Wesleyan 0-2. @ Shenandoah 2-0. Another tough loss for the Battling Bishops 30-23

Delaware 2-0 @ Wake Forest 1-1:  There is no team that improved more from week one than the Demon Deacons.  I have a hard time playing a team that their nickname is a hen especially a Blue Hen.  Have you ever seen a blue hen?  This will not be a runaway.  WF 26- Delaware 21

Last week the eastern part of North Carolina was in hysteria when N C State came to Greenville.  The other major D 1 player out west Appalachian State host their first ever Power Five team in Boone.  I doubt if you are heading northwest of Winston Salem the roads will be backed up for miles.

Miami 2-0 @ App ST 1-1:  Don't know whether Miami has beaten anybody yet to be scare of them yet.  The Mountain boys give it a ride but come up short.  Miami 26 App St 23

Florida St 2-0 @ Louisville 2-0:  The college football world will be rocked after Louisville beats FSU . The Cardinals 36 Noles 33

Vanderbilt 1-1 @ Georgia Tech 2-0:   Lionel Richey and the Commodores win this one 30-20

South Carolina St 0-2 @ Clemson 2-0:  Bad week to play the Tigers after last week's mess.  Clemson 65 SC ST 10

Boston College 1-1 at Virginia Tech:  Low scoring BC against Virginia Tech and their great defensive coach.  I think they gave up 45 to Tennessee.  BC can't score enough to win this VT 24 BC 13

Virginia 0-2 @ U Conn 1-1:  I don't see the Cavs going to Huskieville and winning U Conn 30 UVA 26

Pitt 2-0 at Oklahoma  St 1-1:  I think Pitt is the sleeper team of ACC but remember they beat Penn St last week and that is like ECU beating any Big Four school.  After being embarrassed last week Okla St rebounds but just barely.  38-35

Michigan State 1-0 at Notre Dame 2-0:  Michigan State took last week off to prepare.  Irish 30 Mich St 21

South Florida 1-1 @ Syracuse 1-1:  I have thought hard on this one.  Orange 36 S Florida 32

Right here in Rocky Mount the 19th annual Viking Down East Classic.  Morehouse College 2-0 against The Vikings of Elizabeth City State 0-2.  I think this will tell you everything you need to know about this one.  The Vikings gave up 83 points last week at Fordham.  Morehouse 36 ECSU 23.

Last week went 11-3 to go with 12-3 in the first week to be 23-6 so far on the season.

Events And Places

There are times in life that an event occurs that the magnitude of that event is astounding.  I can remember growing up in the fall of 1964 Lady Bird Johnson then the First Lady of the United States hopped on a train in Norfolk and made whistle stops in Ahoskie, and I think she even stopped or maybe the ride ended in Rocky Mount.

Regardless of your political views the First Lady coming to your town is event to remember.  I had an uncle who owned a furniture store on main street right beside the railroad track and upstairs where he had all his extra furniture there were windows that we could hang out as the train stopped on main street.  Having the secret service come and frisk you and check you out in order to be there was an event in itself.

I remember the first time I got off the subway in New York City and staring at the name New York Yankees across the front of Yankee Stadium having chill bumps from all the baseball history that I was about to stand on.

There are those special moments from getting to call state championship games knowing how important it was to the teams involved and the memories that would be created from what ever that was about to happen.

Saturday right here in Rocky Mount was another one of those special days.  In all of college sports there may never be a team as dominant in it's level as the team that came to our town Mount Union.  Their winning streaks, National Titles  there is no other school in any division that is any bigger then Mount Union.  Alabama, Notre Dame all have traditions for winning football programs but none compare to Mount Union's record. Yes they have more money  and scholarships to provide their players but nobody compares to Mount Union.  Recent history Mount Union has won 158 games and lost 7.

They have not lost a regular season football game since October 22nd 2005.  After  the win over the Bishops they have won 104 straight regular season games.  Astounding is the fact that their victory over the Battling Bishops was their 110th consecutive win on the road.  Twelve times they have won the division III playoffs and we all know just last season watching Rocky Mount win the state football title there are four DIII playoff games so winning just one is not easy.

This was the first time in the short history of Wesleyan football that they had ever played a number one team.  Oddly enough since the inception of football at NCW no other team has been number one at the end of the regular season other than Mount Union.

Like Rock stars two radio stations in Alliance Ohio cover the Purple Raiders and with WHIG's Wes Bradshaw and Edward Green doing internet coverage the pressbox at Bishop Stadium was full to capacity.  Everyone in the pressbox was guessing the attendance and the average guess was around 2600 which for a normal game this was a big crowd  but personally I was disappointed there were not more there.  There were about 500 Purple Raider fans in the house.

The good news is the greatest team in the history of Division Three football came to town and when they left the Battling Bishops were not embarrassed by the score.  They were soundly beaten but not run out of the stadium.  The Bishops got a taste of what winning football is all about.  There is no doubt Mount Union is the defending champions, number one D3 team in the country.  They showed us how to act as winners and just maybe some day North  Carolina Wesleyan will be the number one team.  They got a sampling of what it takes this past weekend.