Tarboro 4th Round and The NFL

Before we get started on the NFL picks for this week let's look at what the Tarboro Vikings matchup Friday with Wallace Rose Hill.

Tarboro Vikings 12-2 @ Wallace Rose Hill 13-1:  This is a matchup of two giant 1-A schools that their toughest competition during the entire season was their non conference schedule as there is no other team in each one's league that could push either one this season.

WRH's lone loss was to Clinton who lost for the first time last week in the 2-A playoffs.  They lost 35-21.  Tarboro's two losses were to Northern Nash and Southern Nash in a 96 hour span.   I am looking at this deal if Clinton played Southern Nash could they beat them?  I doubt it. Could Clinton beat Northern Nash? Maybe. So my question is who played the tougher schedule.  They falls Tarboro's way.

Wallace Rose Hill rushes for 263 yards per game while the Vikings 294.  WRH passes for 82 while Tarboro 23 yards. WRH total  yards per game of 345 while Tarboro 317.  WRH scores 39.7 per game while Tarboro scores at a pace of 37.7.  Wallace Rose Hill gives up 7.9 points points per night while the Vikings yield 6.1.  This games sure looks like a 7-6 type eastern final.

I see no reason at all not to pick the Vikings.  One thing worries me about this outing.  East Carteret went for a 4th and 8 and 4th and  2 on their own 20 twice and the Vikings stop them.  All the Vikings got were two field goals.  The Vikings had trouble in round three moving the ball.  Why will it be easier in round four against a better team.  My Pick is WRH 13-7

Now the NFL

Last week 10-5 running my record for the year 129-62.  Now the picks
Raiders @ Chiefs  best game of the week against two teams from AFC west and both will make playoffs.  Chiefs 23 Raiders 21

Steelers @ Bills   Steelers 27 Bills 23

Bronco's @ Titans. Can't see Denver scoring enough to win Titans 20 Bronco's 17

Redskins @ Eagles I think Redskins are better.  30 Redskins  23 Eagles

Cardinals @ Dolphins  Dolphins recover from last week's disaster. Miami 27 Cardinals 24

Vikings @ Jaguars Minnesota D will hold Jags down. Vikes 26  Jags 17

Texans @ Colts. Looks like Colts getting hot at right time. Colts 24 Texans 23

Chargers @ Panthers.  It will be first time that I have seen Philip Rivers under quarterback since NC State.  The last time Chargers were in Charlotte was 2004 Rivers was a rookie and never got off the bench.  How lucky can a guy be for my favorite two teams playing each other Will be pulling for Philip Rivers  to have a great day win or lose.  Chargers 35 Panthers 33

Bengals @ Browns.  Browns had a week to rest to try to win their first.  Interstate rival might do the trick.  Cleveland 26 Cincy 23

Bears @ Lions Lions surging  Detroit 36 Bears 24

Jets @ 49'ers  San Fran may win one.  SF 22  Jets 29

Saints @ Bucs Buc's showed me some defense at San Diego. Tampa 33 Saints 23

Falcons @ Rams just can't score enough to win this one Atl 23 Rams 17

Seahawks @ Packers No reason Packers win this game except Seattle sometimes flops on the road. Looks like Russell Wilson getting healthy Hawks 26 Packers 23

Cowboys @ Giants Giants have defense to win this game but do  they have the offense to beat Boys. Giants 23 Dallas 21

Ravens @ Patriots Ravens could win  this game but Pats take them down  New England 26 Ravens 20

How Great Can A Matchup Be

Havelock High School is playing in the seventh  Eastern Final in the last eight years.  Rocky Mount is playing in their fourth in the last ten years.  One state title resides in Rocky Mount while Havelock has won three titles since 2011.  These kind of matchups don't happen that often.  There is one good thing that this game is in Havelock.  They have won 44 straight road games with not counting state championship games because of the neutral site.

This is truly what matchups in the playoffs are suppose to be and I will continue to plea for the state to drop one playoff game.  Both of these teams finished second in their conference and both won the playoff rematch with the conference champions. If you go to the NCHSAA website ten football conferences are classified as 3-A.  There are those that are in split 4A/3A or 3A/2A but only 17 conferences listing 3A.  There are a total of 100 schools listed as 3A.  64 make the playoffs.  There is no pride in making the playoffs.   Let's cut the playoff field back to 32 when you know the top two from each full 3A conference makes it and in some cases only one from a split league get in.  Let's drop one game and only invite the best overall record of  all others to make a 32 team field.

Neither of these two teams had to worry if they were going to make the playoffs as Havelock comes in 13-1 while Rocky Mount 12-2.  The only Ram loss was to West Craven 12-1.  Rocky Mount two losses were to Middle Creek 14-0 and Southern Nash 12-1.  It is of note the Edenton Aces who the Gryphons beat in Edenton are still alive in the 2A playoffs.

Havelock has scored 573 points in 14 games for a 40.92 points per game average.  The Gryphons counter scoring 451 or 32.21.  The Rams have rushed for 3087 yards on the season but Friday night only got 96 in the game and still scored 24 points.  That 3087 works out to a 220 yards per game rushing.  Rocky Mount have  hit  for 4026 or a 287 yards per game average rushing.  The Rams add 192 (2896 yards passing to their repertoire while the Gryphons another 75 1132.  Per game Havelock moves the ball on average 412 yards while the Gryphons 368.

The other side of the ball the Rams have been stingy giving up only 151 or 10.78 per game.  The Gryphons  counter attack on defense with a defense that has given up 251 or 17.92.  A guessing man that I am the winner will struggle to get to 20 in this game.

These two have played one like opponent and that is Rose High.  The Rams won 30-25  on September 9th at Rose while Rocky Mount won 66-41 on September 16th at Rose.  What does it tell you about  either of these teams?  If I'm Rocky Mount I'm worried the Rams defense must be good holding Rose to 25.  We thought we did a great job holding them to 41.  If I'm Havelock I see a Gryphon team that can score.

This is a must see game because I can tell you Havelock respects the Gryphons if for no other reason we  carry the state championship banner that Havelock wants back.  The Gryphons  are not heading like last year to a team already trying on ring sizes because they thought they were a shoo in for the state championship.  This last decade Havelock has gotten back to being a football program like they were from the 60's on until they were put in 4A..  They have that walk that all of us see in Carolina and Duke basketball.  They are a football program. They walk the walk and talk like champions.  Why miss a game like this?

Injury Update: It was not a pleasant site to see a Gryphon lying motionless on the field of play looking as if it was a severe injury and even hauled to a local hospital during anytime in any ones life but especially on a sports field.   Good news to report Rajah McGowen passed all the test at the  hospital and has been cleared to play again Friday night.  Thanks very much for the care he received on the field which helped make sure that Raj didn't have any further injuries.

Collision Course

Last year at this time the Rocky Mount Gryphons were celebrating a second round win over North Johnston.  Only a few minutes remained and word came that Morehead had upset previously unbeaten Havelock and the trip to Havelock avoided.  At the time what the Gryphons didn't know was they were going to be jumping on a Wildcat in Eden Morehead but were able to get out with their football life still alive to play another day.

This season Havelock lost their regular season matchup with conference foe West Craven so as far as the football world saw was that Havelock was on the back burner much like the Gryphons faced in their regular season loss to Southern Nash.  Both West Craven and Southern Nash received all the state wide attention with both schools going undefeated during the regular season. 

Both were able to seek revenge from their regular season losses to the conference champions.  I guess the Rocky Mount blowout of Southern Guilford  at Guilford shines a light a lot brighter on all of us who have complained about this year's seeding process that matches up the top two teams in a conference 12-0 Southern Nash against their arch rival Rocky Mount 10-2 in the second round.  After the aftermath of the rout of the Storm there is no doubt that the Southern Nash Rocky Mount game should have been a third round match up.  Anyone who attended the Gryphon game Friday night saw that the Firebirds would have advanced as easily as the Gryphons.

There is no upset that can avoid it but Rocky Mount will travel to Havelock Friday night to play the game that should have been played last year.  It will be for the Eastern Regional 3-A title.  It will be the first time Rocky Mount has played in the Eastern Regional  two years in a row since 07/08.  Neither of those games were good news for the Gryphons losing at Western Alamance 36-50.  If you remember down 44-38 the Gryphons were driving very late when a pick six ended the Gryphon run.  A year later ahead 19-14 and running out the clock a fumble near the Eagle 20 yard line gave West Craven time to march down the field and score with only seconds to play to win 22-19

I have complained over the conference play that the Gryphons were playing in cruise control waiting for the other team to wilt under the pressure of playing the defending state champs.  I have heard from many in attendance that have told me that they felt Southern Guilford actually looked intimidated in pregame and certainly after a few hits by the Gryphons buckled to the pressure being applied by the now Gryphon team that is not waiting for you to wilt but are playing at a level to make you wilt.

There will be no intimidation in the trip to the town that is all Marine Corp.  Funny isn't it but as late as eleven years ago these two were in the same conference with each other and both struggled being the smallest schools in 4A.  Now that both are on equal footing with schools their own size they have both had amazing decade of football.

We all around here are prideful of the success of our conference having had someone in our conference to play in the Eastern finals now 2016, 2015 Rocky Mount, 2013 Hunt 3AA, 2012, Hunt 3AA 2010 hunt 3AA, Southern Nash 3AA 2009, Rocky Mount 2008 and Rocky Mount 2007.  Very impressive right?  Havelock themselves have played in the State championship game 2014, 2011-2013 three time state champions.

There will be no intimidation in this game.  This will be a matchup of two of the best programs going in the state of North Carolina.  You are crazy if you are not there to see it. Oh, by the way do you see who is out west South Point is still alive.

Tyquan Lewis Named Big Ten Lineman Of The Year

What is it about certain areas produce items better than others.  North Carolina is the Sweet potato capital of the world.  Northern Nash Produces runners who run long distances fast.  Rocky Mount has fast runners in short distances.  Tarboro High produces very good football players.  Already with three players on NFL rosters looks like a fourth is on the way.

Tyquan Lewis a junior defensive end from the Tarboro Vikings was named the Big Ten defensive lineman of the year.  What did he do to earn such an award.  Had 27 total tackles, 7.5 sacks of the quarterback, 10 of his tackles were for a loss on the play by the runner and he caused three fumbles.   Other than that Tyquan had an ordinary year for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Will he turn pro now a junior next spring when the NFL holds it's next draft?  If he decides to turn pro he will join three other Tarboro Vikings living the NFL life in one way or the other.  Todd Gurley Running back of the LA Rams the 2015 NFC offensive rookie of the year. Shaun Draughn 5th year backup running back on the San Francisco 49'ers and Takoby Cofield and offensive lineman who right now is on The practice Squad of the Oakland Raiders but is on injured reserve.  Have you noticed that all these guys play for California teams.  I guess if Lewis goes pro next spring he will get drafted by San Diego.

 The sports world has changed over the years how players prepare for competition about as much as cell phones have changed the world of communications.  The push-up was a big part of my high school sports life.  I don't know how far back weight lifting goes for football but hardly anyone who played basketball or baseball lifted weights in my day.

We have all been told weight lifting strengthens muscles but at an alarming rates today's athletes go under the knife for the failure of the body to endure the physical beating taken day in and day out.  Thus this past Thursday during the NCHSAA Board of Directors meeting they took steps to protect high school pitchers from sometimes the coach who only has one pitcher and he over works him.  More it is protecting the pitcher from himself and family who are looking for the free college ride.

The B of D put pitch counts limits on all pitchers for this coming baseball season.  No longer will you hear of a pitcher who pitches 150 pitch complete game.  The limit has been put at 105 pitches.  Even more impressive is that any pitcher who pitches  105 pitches in one game will have to rest for four days which in essence will create a world of one pitched games per week.  

If a pitcher tosses more than 76 pitches he must rest for three days.  61-75 two days rest and 31-45 one day.  Any pitcher  pitching less than 31 pitches can pitch on consecutive days.  As the season goes along teams with the most capable pitching will surely have advantage over those with only average pitching.  Scoring should go up from this ruling.

Getting Paranoid

The Rocky Mount Gryphons have gone on the road  and for the second year in a row I'm back in Rocky Mount doing basketball at Wesleyan.  Once again this year the Gryphons having little trouble without me in the stands coaching  pounding the Storm of Southern Guilford 49-20.

The Gryphons kickoff was a pooch kick fumbled by the storm and recovered by the Gryphons at their 20. Charlie Williams takes it in from 8 yards out and three minutes in the game the Gryphons lead 7-0. Late in the first quarter Gryphon wide receiver Rajah McGowen took a hit and laid motionless on the field for several minutes.  His father Dominic Henderson reported to me he was taken to the hospital for a possible concussion but he passed all the test and they were waiting to be released from the hospital as I write this  at 11pm.

Now numb the Gryphons allow a blocked punt at the 20 and SG  scored in several plays and tied the score at 7 with two minutes to go in first quarter.  You may have read Last week that Coach Jason Battle said several players would now go both ways to put best possible players on the field.  Artavious Richardson the defensive end played tight end tonight and caught a pass fumbled the ball and picked up by DeAngelo Collins to scooted for a touchdown.

The next drive the Storm quarterback breaks free and goes 77 yards but the extra point is missed and it is now 14-13.  The kickoff after a penalty the Gryphons start from their own five and they take control of this game.  Carrying the ball on his first carry of the night Sherrod Greene goes 68 to up the Gryphon lead to 21-13 and he scored again with a minute left in the half from five yards out to get it to 28-13.

Receiving the second half kickoff the Gryphons ram it down the storm's throat with a 70 yard all running plays capped off by a B J Sanders 1 yard dive that took six minutes off the clock.  Southern Guilford had to commit 11 men on the line to stop the Gryphon runners Shabious Lynch found K K Edwards 20 yards in the clear on a 50 yard td toss and the lead is 42-13 with 10 minutes left.

The Clock down to eight minutes Charlie Williams broke free to cap off a 49 point night for the Gryphons.  The 2nd team D gave up a td pass on the last play of the game to make the final 49-20

The Eastern Finals will be played in Havelock a 24-7 winner over West Craven.  The Gryphons caught a break last year after the Rams lost and the Gryphons avoided a trip to Cherry Point.  The state  Championship goes through Havelock this year.

Tarboro advances beating East Carteret 13-7.  The Vikings stopped the Mariners after they had a first and five late in the game.  Their Eastern Finals goes to Wallace Rose Hill.

North Edgecombe wasn't as lucky losing at Plymouth 21-8.

Roger Taylor Invitational Tonight

High school football playoffs have been the main focus for nearly three weeks now and very little attention has been made to high school or Wesleyan Basketball.  Tonight and Saturday afternoon the Battling Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan will host the Roger Taylor Invitational named after former Wesleyan basketball star and Rocky Mount Business man Roger Taylor and a great supporter of NC Wesleyan Sports..

The tip off tonight at 6pm will feature Shenandoah University 4-1 facing Greensboro Pride 2-1.  The Battling Bishops will host Bob Jones University 2-7 in the night cap.  The Bishops 3-3 will then flip flop on Saturday afternoon at 3pm and take on Shenandoah while the 1pm game will be Bob Jones and Greensboro.

The Bishops squad this season does not have a senior on the team and only two juniors.  There is no true point guard but Adrian Moore from Plymouth a true small forward/ shooting guard has taken the role and leads the team in scoring.

If four men's basketball games is not enough on Friday and Saturday afternoon you can catch the Lady Bishops 4-2 at 7:30 Saturday night hosting Lynchburg.  The Lady Bishops are led by a trio of scorers in Alexis  Fitzgerald 13.7, Keshae Parker 12.9 and former Nash Central player Timyra Staton 12.7.

No longer do we have college football games but there is the championship game in the ACC in Orlando.  You know the game was suppose to be in Charlotte but moved.  I personally hope only 20,000 show up and the ACC loses it's butt by moving the game but they could not have any better traveling teams than Virginia Tech and Clemson.

This is a truly a great matchup.  I am not sure Clemson is a top four team and deserve to be in final four.  A victory over Tech will not hurt their rating  but a loss kicks them into a bowl game.  The Tigers will not push Tech around.  It would not shock me if Tech wins.  Where would Clemson go then in Bowl Games?

Just not sure Tech can stop the Tigers enough or even score enough.  Clemson wins the ACC 33 Virginia Tech 23.

Third Round Twin County Playoffs

One of the biggest problems coming from Hurricane Matthew and having to delay the state championships one week was securing the legal rights the following week to the stadiums..  The paper work has now been secured and if Rocky Mount can win two more playoff games they would play at 11:05 am on Saturday December 17th at BB&T Stadium in Winston Salem in the 3A championship game.

Two more Vikings victories by Tarboro and they play on Friday night December 16th at 7:30 in Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill for the 1AA title.  If North Edgecombe is still alive they play in Chapel Hill at 11:05 Saturday the 17th for the 1-A crown.

Week three of the state football playoffs moves into December and North Edgecombe, Tarboro and Rocky Mount still remain in the state playoffs.  Got all three games right last week and after two weeks of playoff picks stand 9-1 and 80-26 on the season.  If all three of our locals lose then it will be time to concentrate on basketball.  Will this be the last week?

North Edgecombe 11-1 @ Plymouth 10-3:  Recent history the Vikings had had great success in basketball and football on the state wide stage.  The Vikings have scored 468 points while the Warriors 469 but the Warriors have played one less game.  Plymouth is averaging 36 while North Edgecombe 39.

Plymouth has held their 13 game opponents to 17 points per game.  The boys of Leggett are holding their foes to 15.  They have played two common games Riverside from Williamston Plymouth lost 27-47 while North Edgecombe won 74-56.  Columbia played both losing 52-0 to Plymouth and 44-0 to the Warriors.

We have reached the point in every game that there will be no clear favorite but home field can be the most advantadious factor.  I do like that in the two common games that North Edgecombe has a slight advantage.   I have every reason to pick the Warriors but I think Plymouth at home is big in this one Plymouth 36 North Edgecombe 32

Tarboro 11-2 @ East Carteret 12-1:  The Mariners are winners of 11 in a row while Tarboro 8. East Carteret is rushing for 202 yards per game while the Vikings 302.  The Mariners are sending it through the air for 199 yards per game while the Vikings you might as well say they don't pass getting just 23 per game.  Every time the Mariners run they get 9.5 yards while the Vikings 9.4

The Mariners have completed 70% of their passes and get 9.8 per every pass attempt.  So that means on every play the Mariners get 9.6 yards every time they touch it.  Plymouth scores 47 per game while the Vikings have held they 13 games to just a tad over 6 points per game.  The Vikings average nearly 40 while the Mariners give up 10.  A big question in this game have the Vikings seen any body pass the way the Mariners do?

If you go by stats this game falls to the home team East Carteret with their offensive numbers.  I do however have to think back where did those two losses come from that the Vikings suffered.  They lost to Northern Nash on a Monday and Southern Nash on Friday.  I see nobody on the schedule that matches up well for East Carteret as those two..  Tarboro 26 East Carteret  22

Rocky Mount 11-2 @ Southern Guilford 11-2:  We have already talked earlier in the week about this match up and there is every indication this could be a great game.  The storm has lost to Eastern Guilford 3A 13-0 still while one of the Gryphon losses was to 4A Middle Creek 13-0.  The Storm second loss was to 3A SE Guilford 7-5 while the second Gryphon failure occurred to Southern Nash 12-1.

I think this game comes down to the turnovers.  If Rocky Mount is the team that puts it on the ground twice and lose both that is potential points that will  never be given a chance to get back and that will be hard to catch up.  Have the Storm been hit like they are going to be hit in this one and do they put the ball on the ground? Can the Storm match the Gryphon team speed?  2014 they could.

I think the Gryphons live to play another week  Rocky Mount 24 South Guilford 21