Another Friend Gone

I have been kicking around this world in sports radio and TV since 1971.  Along the way I have crossed paths with many a person in the radio and TV business.  I spent 18 months in Roanoke Rapids when a group of Ahoskie Business men opened a radio station there in 1974,  Working in radio or any media organization it is much like a fireman, policeman that your job gets in your blood and it will be there for ever.  I like so many others have had a hard time escaping the haunting of radio, TV even after I quit full time and I have continued part time in sports announcing or anything related to it.

It was 1974 and as we were about to put WPTM on the air a gentleman who was a supervisor at J P Stevenson 3rd shift was hanging around wanting to be a salesman part time.  His name was Earl Telliga.  Long after the Stevens plants shut down Earl has been in radio.  1989 I had a sales job where I set my own appointments and from 6am to 10 everyday I was the Morning man on the Murfreesboro FM station and after I got off went and sold my goods unrelated to radio.  When I left the radio job Earl Telliga took my place in Murfreesboro and he has been there ever since. Near 1999 he became station manager and morning man until the day he died.

I have done over the years several games on the radio from the football field in Roanoke Rapids.  The first time I ever did a game on radio I sat beside their PA announcer.  That guys name was Earl Telliga.  43 years he did Roanoke Rapids PA and never missed one game.  I have been doing games both on radio, TV and PA and I have missed several games for some reason over the years.

Last weekend Earl passed from this world after he learned in the summer of 2015 he had Colon Cancer.  He worked the morning show right to the end.  The older I get my friends keep leaving this earth and another one has gone to the press box in the sky.  Earl was 78.  He had started in radio at the age of 16 working at WCBT radio in Roanoke Rapids  and gets 62 years credit in the business.  If I ever do another game from the press box in Roanoke Rapids it will not be the same hearing that nasally voice no longer.  So Long good friend.

Today my children are giving me a Christmas present as we are going to Charlotte to see the Carolina Panthers play the San Diego Chargers.  I  follow the Chargers because of Philip Rivers.  If I can make any kind of personal link with any professional I follow them closely.  Once Rivers retires I will not care one thing about the Chargers but this is only the second time San Diego has played in Charlotte since Rivers began playing professional football.

That was 2004 his rookie year and he never got off the bench as the third string quarterback.  I was there when they opened the gates and during warm ups he and second string quarterback Doug Flutie played a game.  Each stood on the 40 yard line and threw 10 balls aiming to hit the cross bar on the goal post.  Flutie not all that big of a player had to take a running start to fling the ball 50 yards never hit the cross bar once while Philip smacked it four  times standing rather flat footed.  Of course that made my day just seeing him do that and the Panthers won the game 17-7.  I will be in Wolfpack Red hoping that Philip goes 30-35 510 yards and 5 touchdowns and no interceptions .  I don't care if they lose I want Philip to have a great day since this will be the first time I have seen him play in person since N C State.

Is it time to go yet?

Never Give Up

Under three minutes to go in the game down 17-10 and after a failed fourth down and eight produced only four yards those unfaithful fans that don't believe in the Gryphons  started heading to the exit for the long drive home.  The far side line Ram fans started heading out joyous of their fifth trip to the state finals in six years.  It could get no worse the Rams have a fourth Down at the Gryphon one yard line with 30 seconds to go another score puts the game out of reach.

The Gryphons in fact held on four straight downs inside the five yard line to give a staggering offense  25 seconds and one more chance.  Enter number 31 Detrelle Revis who's only offensive play of the night will stand as maybe the greatest play in Gryphons history. Split out as the flanker on the left side Revis streaked straight up the field and caught the defender standing at the 10 yard line flat footed and Shabios Lynch toss was on target to a wide open Revis who out ran the entire Havelock secondary 99 yards to cut the lead to one with 18.5 seconds.

Enter number 41 Chase Miller listening to the Havelock fans cheer block that kicked egged the Ram Fans to get louder and smacked the tying points on the board.  Three passing plays put Havelock into position to try to win on a 41 yard field goal.  The kick started out straight and true but was ten yards short but many Havelock fans and players went wild thinking they had made it but  overtime.

Havelock took three plays to score while the Gryphons use a sweep left by DeAngelo Collins to tie. The second overtime series both teams kicked field goals to tie at 27 after double overtime.  The Rams scored in three plays but the snap on the 34th point was low and the kick sailed wide left.  Sherrod Green who took  a helmet to the knee missed about most of the fourth quarter but his only carry of over time was his longest run of the night as he scores on the first play and ties the game.

Enter Chase Miller who already on this night is the MVP at that point two field goals,  three extra points and several punts which keep the Rams bottled up plus his kickoffs which none were returned out past the 25.  The kick is right down the middle and the Gryphons are headed to Winston Salem next Saturday to have a rematch with South Point.

The Havelock defense bottled up the Gryphon Rushing attack holding the Gryphons to 66 yards rushing.  Lynch was 3-5 for 113 yards .  Havelock put the whole load on quarterback Corey Cooper rushing 24 times 71 yards while rest of team had 47 yards.  Cooper was 8-15 for 102 yards.

The Gryphons got a 27 yard field goal at the 5:27 mark of the first quarter to start the scoring. Havelock scored their first points came at 11:53 of the second quarter Corey Cooper scored from two yards out to give the Rams a 7-3 lead.  The Gryphons took the lead back at 2:32 of the half when Shyheim Battle picked off a Cooper pass and returned it to the house to give the Gryphons a10-7 halftime lead.

A Rocky Mount 3 and out started a Ram drive that produced the tying field at 4: 51 in the third.  A Havelock punt rolled dead  at the Gryphon one foot line and on the second play running an option Lynch was hit behind the line and Destin Flyod scooped up the ball to give Havelock the lead with five minutes to play.

There are fans who left early have no idea who won the game but the Gryphons pull a Houdini and live to play another State Championship 34-33 over Havelock.

Long John Weather Tonight

People talk about global warming an  I believe in it but not because of a hole in the atmosphere but because today 6 billion people at 98.6 degrees each is the big problem.  Growing up in Ahoskie we always played Williamston the ninth game of the season so it was either the last Friday night in October or the first Friday night in November.  Whenever we played at Williamston it was always freezing.  Most said it was the wind blowing off the Roanoke River.  What ever the reason that game you had better have your long johns on.

The weather forecast for today and tonight is 43 for a high today and by dawn Saturday 23 degrees.  I would suspect by the time the sun goes down in will be in the 30's  and maybe freezing by the end of the game.  In the old days I wore two pair of socks, two pair of pants and as many coats and sweat shirts that I could get on.  Sounds like old times tonight.

Both Tarboro and  Rocky Mount have rather lengthy trips to Teachey and Havelock.  Both need to bring their A games in order to advance to next week's State Championship weekends.  This is the time of year it only seems fair that to advance you need to play your best.  All four teams Wallace Rose Hill and Havelock along Tarboro and Rocky Mount are playing at championship caliber level.

I think in order for the Vikings to win they will need to pass some in order to open up the run.  High school football in the recent future has become a passing world.  Teams that pass 15-20 times a game generally are not physical teams because the pass makes you a more passive team because blockers are backing up in protection over power driving foward.


When Rocky Mount played West Craven in 2008 West Craven passed a lot.  There is a big difference between the Gryphon football teams of 2007/08 that made the Regionsl finals.  Those two years speed was the the primary Gryphon strength.  The 15/16 Gryphons have as much speed as 07/08 but I believe the recent Gryphons have a lot more power.  Power and speed will out do the other team with speed only as the night wears on.

Looking at last year during the playoffs Rocky Mount trailed in four of the five playoff games but beat down every team as the game wore on.  Look at this year they wore down Southern Lee trailing by two touchdowns in the third quarter.  Against Southern Nash they had no answer for Sherrod Green who they did not see as a running back in the first meeting in fact he spent time in the sidelines in the first meeting with an ailing shoulder.  Last week from the opening play Southern Guilford was no match for Rocky Mount speed or power.  All of this power stuff will go right out the window with a couple of lost fumbles.

Tonight the Gryphons will be taking on a team that can run or pass.  If there is one area the Gryphons have yielded the most yardage it has been through the air.  Havelock could hurt the Gryphons big time if they don't get a pass rush.  We will need to shut down the run so the pass is the big worry.  If we don't stop the run it will open up the pass.

The Coastal Conference I would call a passing league which brings on the question has Havelock seen a team with the speed and power like the Gryphons.  If they haven't the Gryphons can win.  Need to get there early because Havelock officials are expecting a huge crowd.  The stadium is similar to Gryphon Stadium so 4-5 thousand people can be seated.

Those who can't get off in time to get to the game or don't want to sit in the cold the game will be on the radio tonight on 103.7. Hope you can be there. Be loud, be proud and dress warmly. It will seem like old times.

These Are The Type Games You Practice To Play In

Good news for Gryphon fans stuck in Rocky Mount Friday night.  103.7 WTIB-FM will be broadcasting the game from Havelock.  We need for you to thank the good folks at Speight Trophies as they are sponsoring the game on the radio.

Last week went 3-0 on my high school playoff picks and so far this playoffs 12-1.  Only two teams left from this area and these are the only two games we will pick this week.

Tarboro is back in a Regional Final.  They play a team it seems they have met a lot over this decade of Jeff Craddock. I think an over riding factor in this game is Wallace Rose Hill moves up to 2A in next year's realignment.  WRH much like Tarboro can hang with many 3A schools.

Last week the Viking D saved the day in a 13-7 victory.  I don't think 13 points can win this one.  The Road ends for the Tarboro Vikings WRH 21 Tarboro 13


Rocky Mount 12-2 @ Havelock 13-1:  Looking at who these two teams have lost to you can throw the losses out the door.  The three losses these two teams have are a combined 39-3 looking at the records of West Craven, Southern Nash and Middle Creek. 

There is a beauty to watch a team stumbles  along like the Gryphons did during conference play and I think most who saw them think team attitude was a major factor.  Yes a change was made at quarterback that since the change the offense has found that mojo that had been missing.  Also the change occurred at the moment that the Gryphons were slapped in the face by Southern Lee and the Gryphons found themselves down by 14 midway of the third quarter of the first playoff game.  The entire team faced the reality that if we don't get it done now it is over.  They have been getting it done ever since.

The only loss for Havelock this season happened over two  night period as  they started their game with West Craven but the rains from  Hurricane Matthew ended the game in the middle and when finished  days later West Craven upset Havelock 21-14,  Neither of these two teams have been blown off the field by anybody. 

I think this is the biggest football game Rocky Mount has been in since Western Alamance in 2008.  I not talking about the state championship game not being big but the quality of the program we are facing.   I do admit South Point and all those teams from their conference are just as great of programs as anybody wants to meet but in this Rocky Mount/ Havelock game two teams are meeting playing at the apex of their potential during great periods in their football History.

The winner receives a trip next Saturday to BB&T Stadium for an 11:05 start in Winston Salem.  I have looked on every map site there is and I don't think there is a better way to get to Havelock than this.  Take Hwy 64 east to Highway 11 at Bethel.  Stay on 11 joined by 13 just outside Greenville and turn on 264 E bypass and go around Greenville 264 will turn left in a couple of miles but stay straight until you get to the Mall on your left and ECU on your right  take a left on hwy 43 to Vanceboro which will run you into Hwy 17 bear right and stay on 17 until the you cross the Neuse River and get in the lane getting on Hwy 70 east to Havelock.  Once in Havelock take Webb Blvd which will also show signs to enter Cherry Point.  Go about a mile and the school is on the right.  It's stadium is about the size of Our stadium.  Good traffic it will take 2 hours and 21 minutes.  Good luck with the Greenville 5 o'clock traffic around Christmas.

I could easily see this as an overtime game.  I know Havelock is playing superior football but I'm sticking with the Gryphons 24-21.

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.