Only Two At The Top

Despite coach Brian Foster in Wilmington with his Wife Kim and son Zack who remained hospitalized after and auto accident last weekend the Firebirds did not allow the Hunt offense to score  so you could say the Birds had a rather good night beating Hunt 35-6.

Rocky Mount moved the ball at will against Fike putting up 47 points and the first team defense giving up only 7 points.  Both Rocky Mount and Southern Nash stand 2-0 in the Big East.  The Firebirds stand 8-0 while Rocky Mount is 7-1.  The Gryphons have won  eight straight conference games their last lost occurred on October 28th 2014 when they lost 28-21 to Southern Nash.

If you recall Rocky Mount had the ball down inside the ten yard line with less than a minute to play and got a holding call plus an unsportsmanlike penalty on the bench which took away any hope in that loss.  Since then however the Gryphons have learned from their mistakes and are 23-4.

Nash Central's win over over Northern Nash is their first conference win since?  It's been a while.  There is no doubt Nash Central now 5-3 1-1 in the Big East will be heading for the playoffs this season.  The question on Northern Nash 5-3 1-1 has been can they score enough to win.  Both are tied for third.  It has been a while since all four Nash County schools are ahead in the standing of both Fike and Hunt 0-2.

  Fike's 4-4 0-2 two conference losses are to both leaders Rocky Mount and Southern Nash.  They just might have a say it in their three remaining games.  Hunt 3-4 0-2 is having a terrible season.  They are struggling to score and can't stop anybody.  Looks like they may have a hard time winning a conference game and I doubt that has ever happened before.

When the NCHSAA decided to add a week to the season it help every team eliminate  that three games in eight days but it probably helped Rocky Mount more than anyone else.  The third game in that eight days would have been the trip to Southern Nash.  Now they get a full week to prepare for what should be the championship game or at least give the winner a game lead with two to play.

There is a high school makeup game Monday night.  North Edgecombe 6-0 come to Rocky Mount Academy 3-4.  The Warriors should roll 44-6.

Bishops Throw A Shutout

The Battling Bishops of  North Carolina Wesleyan traveled to Greenboro Saturday a week after having homecoming cancelled because of Hurricane Matthew and the Bishops didn't like to have to celebrate homecoming in Greensboro used and abused Greensboro College by the tune of 44-0.

The Bishops took the opening drive to the Pride five yard line before fumbling but the defense created a 3 and out and then the scoring spurt begun.  Chris Richardson got the Bishops on the board at 4:51 of the first with a 25 yard field goal.   Veon Bryd getting running action with the injury to Gerrell Patton scored on a one yard dive with 10 :59 to play in the half.   It took  a minute and a half before Adrian Minondo scored from 13 yards out and the score was 17-0.  The 2:10 mark Deandre Gillis scampered ten yards to balloon the score to 24-0.  The Bishop D who dominated the entire day gave the offense one more shot before the half and with no time left Chris Richardson nailed his second field goal to make the half time score of 27-0.

The Bishop D just maybe the greatest day ever in Wesleyan history as the Pride were held for the day to  51 yards rushing and only 29 passing for a total offense on the day of 80 yards.  The Bishops led by Adrian Minondo 23 carries and 123 yards and Veon Byrd 13 totes and 106 yards. For the day the Bishops rushed for 349 yards and passed for 167.

The second half was almost a repeat of the first as Minondo scored from two yards out at 10:18 of the third.  Second team quarterback Donielle Totten got a touchdown pass to Malik Adams for 26 yards still in the third quarter.  Chris Richardson rounded out the Bishops scoring with his third field goal  from 30 yards with 6:50 to play in the game.

The Battling Bishops evened their record to 3-3 and 2-1 in Conference USA South.  They return home next Saturday October 29th with a 1pm kickoff either Averitt.

Showdown Is Set

I don't care who you pull for having a week off in the middle of conference play has to be unnerving not knowing how a forced layoff will effect your team.  Both Southern Nash and Rocky Mount took care of business to set up the battle for first place next week.

The Gryphons had little resistance when they had the ball as they scored four of the first five times they had the ball. The Gryphons for the game rushed for 433 yards on 49 carries. Deangelo Collins carried the load in the first half rushing for 114 yards.  BJ Sanders out of action against Nash Central didn't carry the ball until the third quarter finishing with 130 yards.  Mckenzy Wright 4/7 82 yards passing and Shabios Lynch 4/4 29 yards passed for 111.

Fike got 211 total yards on 106 rushing on 35 tries while passing 2-12 105 yards.  Down 35-0 at the half Fike took the second half kickoff scoring on a Kenny Johnson one yard dive.  Syquan Hutchinson caught a 64 yard bomb for Fikes second score.

Rocky Mount took the opening kickoff and marched down the field scoring at 7:26 of the first on a three yarder by Deangelo Collins. A quarterback sneak gave Mckenzy Wright a score at 1.26 of the first.

The Gryphons third score came on maybe the prettiest play of the year as the Gryphons looked to be running the option as Wright faked a pitch to Charlie  Williams who acted as if the pitch has gone over his head instead it went to Detrell Revis on the reverse and he promptly went 53 yards for a score at 7:49 of the half.  Charlie Williams got in the act at 2:16 scoring the Gryphons fourth td of the half.  The defense didn't want to get left out scored on a sack fumble recovered by Sherrod Green for point 34.  Maybe trouble on the horizon as kicker Chase Miller was injured on his fifth extra point and did not play in the second half.

Once Fike scored on their opening drive on the second half the Gryphons responded on an 80 yard drive finished off by a one yard dive by B J Sandrrs at 4:59 of the third.  Sanders scored again getting a 50 yard gallop to finish off the Gryphon scoring.  The fourth quarter belonged to the clean shirts as Rocky Mount goes to 2-0 in Big East play beating  Fike 47/14

Southern Nash with all the difficulty that  coach Brian Foster family has had this week started slow but picked up the pace to defeat Hunt 35-6

I am not sure this is a major surprise but maybe the score as Nash Central wins a conference game besting Northern Nash 22-16

Other scores.

Shocked to see all three Edgecombe County schools play and all three win
Tarboro 52 Riverside 8
SouthWest Edgecombe 21-FarmVille 17
North Edgecombe 48 Northampton 8
Rocky Mount Academy 44 Grace Christian 6
South Creek 26 Rocky Mount Prep 8

Another Critical Week

Last Week went 6-2 on college picks to run my record to 51-18.  We are at the point in the season where every game now has an effect on Bowl Games.  As long as you have only lost one conference game you are still in the running for the division title.  A division title gets you in the conference championship game.

North Carolina Wesleyan 2-3 @ Greensboro College 1-5:  Their five losses Greensboro has given up 228 points.  Their record shows three losses but as far as the Battling Bishops are concerned they have all been to heavy weights.  Bishops 38 Greensboro 17

ECU 2-4 @ Cincinnati 3-3:  There  is no doubt the Pirates ship is sinking having lost four in a row after winning their opening two.  Doubt they break losing streak in Ohio.  Would love to see the Pirate defense improve.  Bearcats 33 Pirates 27

NC State 4-2 @ Louisville 5-1:  I don't know if I have  ever seen the Wolfpack  defense play any better than they did against the Tigers.  It is a pity Rocky Mount High  School has a better kicker than the Wolfpack.  If D plays as well this week Pack has a chance Louisville 26 NC State 24


North Carolina 5-2 @ Virginia 2-4:  V Tech loss last week puts the Heels right back in the division lead.. Virginia is much improved since first couple of weeks but not to the Tar Heels level Carolina 44 Virginia 21

  Duke 3-4 @ Georgia Tech:  There is just something about Duke that they seem to be able to make other teams play poorly.  Has not led to a win every week but the Devils have been in every game most of he time.  Duke 27 Georgia Tech 24

Miami 4-2 @ Virginia Tech 4-2:  Both teams have had moments this year that they look like title contenders.  They both have two losses that they looked lost.  I have a feeling Blacksburg is a good place for a Gobbler win.  Va Tech 30 Miami 24

Syracuse 3-4 @ Boston College 3-3:  All of a sudden the Orange are scoring points. BC hasn't scored much but defense has played well.  Have a feeling the Cuse wins on the road. 38 -27

Let's Get Back To Football

There is sometimes good on weekends when games are rained out and families get a chance to get away from football which every family involved with football has been non stop football since the first of August.  Coach  Brian Foster at Southern Nash was looking foward to that type weekend last  week in Myrtle Beach.  But what transpired just may interfere with his Southern Nash Firebirds preperations this week.

Coach Foster's wife Kim and son Zack who if you remember was the Firebird quarterback last season and is a freshman quarterback at North Carolina Wesleyan were involved in an accident somewhere near Wilmington  and both are still hospitalized in Wilmington.  You have to know that coach Foster has had a difficult week with family concerns and football team concerns for his Southern Nash team as they prepare for Hunt.

Please put the Foster family on your prayer list.

Only had one game played last week and I missed that so my pick guesses for the year stands at 49-13.

RMA 7-1 at Grace Christian Academy 3-4: Can the Eagles bounce back after being battered and bruise both mentally and physically by Southampton.  They will need to as they play Southampton again next week . RMA 36 Grace 12

Rocky Mount Prep 3-4 at South Creek 1-6:  Just might be a good week for the Jags.  26-12

Nash Central 0-1 @ Northern Nash 1-0:  Both of these teams have made great strides forward this season. The Bulldogs  no longer the automatic win on your schedule.  Northern Nash sporting the most dominant defense in the Big East.  If both teams play as they have all season then the question is will the Knight's defense shut down the potent Bulldog offense.  Then on the other side of the coin can Northern score enough to win?  My answer is yes.  Northern 20 Nash Central 13

Hunt 0-1 @ Southern Nash 1-0:  Of all the teams in the Big East the Firebirds since they have been the most impressive team in the league all season have the most to worry about with the layoff.  The layoff might be a good thing for the struggling Warriors.  A run team that is out of sync may put the ball on the ground more than normal and the Firebirds are still a run first team who at times in their history put the ball on the ground.  This is plain an simple a down year for Hunt and unless the Birds give it away should not be close.  Southern Nash 36 Hunt 12

Fike 0-1 @ Rocky Mount 1-0:  Just look at Rocky Mount this year when they hold on to the ball they are almost unbeatable and run away from the competition but when they lay it on the ground  the score is very close.  Once again will the week off hurt the Gryphons performance with the football.  Fike is a team when they are on they can beat anybody.  Homecoming goes to the Gryphons   35-14

The NCHSAA has named Friday night Hurricane relief night.  Rocky Mount will be giving to the Hurricane relief one dollar for every ticket sold at homecoming.  They will also be asking donations for the Holly Project.  As Many of you know former Gryphon Student Holly Fryar who succumbed to cancer last year has left a lasting impression on the Rocky Mount community.  The Holly Project has raised many dollars including one of the Chemo treatment rooms at the UNC Cancer Center is named in honor of Holly.  There will be a lot going on at Rocky Mount Friday night.

Keep Flipping Coins

This past week went 14-1 on the week to run my season record to 52-24.  I have never had any other week where I have never missed only one game.  The only game I missed was Pittsburgh.  What are they doing losing to Jacksonville?  Here we go with  this week's picks.

Chicago 1-5 @ Green Bay 3-2:  The best quarterback over the last five years in the NFL has been Aaron Rogers.  Not so far this year at this point he has only been average.  Without Rogers pulling his magic act Green Bay is only average. Doubt they have any trouble with the Bears. Packers 26 Bears 17

Giants 3-3 @ Rams 3-3:  I like this Giant team except for one thing Eli Manning.  I don't see the Rams can score enough to win this game Giants 23 Rams 17

Saints 2-3 @Chiefs 3-2:  The Saints have beaten the Chargers and Panthers.  Two teams with three wins between them.  I think the Chiefs are rather good.  Chiefs 28 Saints 23

Colts 2-4 @ Titans 4-2:  who knows that the Titans are 4-2.  Colts are just bumbling along and will have a hard time winning in Nashville.  Titans 30 Colts 26

Vikings 5-0 @ Eagles 3-2:  I think Eagles started out like a house on fire but they have come back to earth.  The Vikings one of the best defense's in the league will be hard for anybody to beat holding the other team without many points Viking 27 Eagles 17

Browns 0-6 @ Bengals 2-4:  Bengals are having a hard time beating anybody that is good.  That's ok this week as they play the Browns.  Bengals 27 Browns 21

Redskins 4-2 @ Lions 3-3:  Very interesting game this week between two teams that you don't  know what you are going to get each week.  Lions 33 Skins 30

Raiders 4-2 @ Jags 2-3:  Just how good are the Raiders?  The Jags are as good as they have been in at least 10 years.  I like Jax at home 26-23

Bills 4-2 @ Dolphins 2-4:  Bills are riding high set up to fall down in Miami.  Dolphins 26 Bills 20

Ravens 3-3 @ Jets 1-4:  Ravens are not the defense of years past.  Jets are the Jets of years past.  I like Jets 32-26

Tampa 2-3 @ San Fran 1-5:  Buc go to 49ers and Win 30-23

Chargers 2-4 @ Falcons 4-2:  You know the Chargers could be 6-0 tight now riding high beating Denver.  Falcons defense might let Philip Rivers have a field day.  This is how ever a west coast / east coast game.  Falcons 33 Chargers 30

Patriots 5-1 @ Steelers 4-2:  Did  Steelers look past Jaxsonville?  I think steel city could win but maybe no Ben.  Pat's 30 Steelers 17

Seahawks 4-1 @ Cardinals 3-3:  I keep waiting for the Cardinal defense to start playing.  They need to this week.  Cards 27 Hawks 23

Texans 4-2 @ Broncos 4-2:  Not much offense in Denver.  Texans are a rising team. I doubt Denver wins eight games by season ends.  Houston 23 Denver 16

NCHSAA Relents

Depending on how much flooding you may have had in 1999 or 2016 if you flooded in 99 or 16 that will depend for you which storm was worse. 1999 Floyd hit in September so in some cases three non conference games were wiped out.  Matthew hit in October right in the middle of conference play and conference determine who makes the Playoffs so in football's case Matthew hit at the wrong time.

Since so many schools east of use remain closed because that school might be a shelter or roads to get to the school are blocked in all directions where you can't even get there yet. Many schools east of us may not go at all this week.  With all of this in mind the North Carolina High School Athletic Association has extended the football season one extra week which will now end on November 11th instead of the fourth.

Extending the season an extra week will allow the Big East to drop the three games in eight days format which was schedule to start this Friday night.  The games that were to be played on the 25th will now be played on Thursday night November 10th.  This will create the natural finishing games every season the Northern Nash at  Rocky Mount, Southern Nash at Nash Central and Hunt at Fike they now be the next to last game of the season.  It also eliminates that Rocky Mount at Southern Nash the game everyone expects to determine the conference champion will not be the third game in that eight days.

The Big East football will now finish the season on November 10th with these games Rocky Mount at Hunt, Fike at Nash Central and Southern Nash at Northern Nash.  The football seedings will come out on the 12th and the first playoff game on the 18th, second round 25th, third round December 2nd, fourth Round 9th and the state championship 16th and 17th one week later than scheduled.  Because the sites were not schedule for the 16th and 17th the state chsmpionship sites are up in the air right now.

There is a major schedule conflict by moving the state championships to the 17th.  That is the day the North Caroina/ South Carolina Shrine Bowl game is scheduled.  It really is not much of a problem for most of the players who will play in the game because most will already be knocked out of the playoffs and will be available for the game.  If you are scheduled to play and your team is in the state championship games which one would you want to play in.  I would suspect 10 to 15 players on the North Carolina roster could be effected that day.

Women's Tennis indivual playoffs will start with regional starting in October 21st and 22nd.  The State chsmpionship will be October 28th and 29th..  Team first round starts Oct 25th-November 1st- November 3rd, a Regionsl Nivember 9th and State championship Nivember 12th

Volleyball seeding will come out on the 25th, first round October 26th, 2nd round October 27th, 3rd November 1st  fourth November 3rd and State Championship Nivember 5th.

Soccer seeding November 3rd.  First round November 5th, 2nd round November 8th, third November 10th, 4th November 12th and regional November 15th and state chsmpionship November 19th

Cross Country playoffs are as regularly scheduled.

Should your school make it all the was to state championship  football game is basketball who may start season without their full team.