Rocky Mount posts first playoff shutout in 45 years

How historically significant was Rocky Mount's 28-0 playoff win over Union Pines last Friday night?

It was the first time in since 1962 that a Rocky Mount football team had posted a shutout in postseason play. Strange, you would have thought it would have happened at least once more since then, but it hasn't.

Here is a look back at all 38 playoff games Rocky Mount has played since September 1953 - the first month football was played with players attending the S. Tillery St. campus. Rocky Mount has a winning record in playoff action: 21-17:

2007: Rocky Mount 28, Union Pines 0

2006: Western Alamance 41, Rocky Mount 37

2006: Rocky Mount 32, Hertford County 16

2006: Rocky Mount 65, Gray's Creek 14

2005: Western Alamance 30, Rocky Mount 10

2005: Rocky Mount 21, Beddingfield 20

2005: Rocky Mount 21, SW Edgecombe 7

2005: Rocky Mount 35, Northern Vance 18

2004: JH Rose 15, Rocky Mount 13

2004: Rocky Mount 40, Middle Creek 7

2004: Rocky Mount 45, Cape Fear 20

2003: Jack Britt 24, Rocky Mount 17

2002: Wakefield 41, Rocky Mount 33

1997: Cary 9, Rocky Mount 7

1996: Richmond County 26, Rocky Mount 3

1990: EE Smith 24, Rocky Mount 14

1990: Rocky Mount 15, New Bern 3

1985: Terry Sanford 31, Rocky Mount 21

1981: Terry Sanford 27, Rocky Mount 7

1981: Rocky Mount 21, Seventy-First 6

1981: Rocky Mount 28, Enloe 13

1979: JH Rose 36, Rocky Mount 7

1979: Rocky Mount 28, Jacksonville 27

1979: Rocky Mount 35, Pine Forest 14

1977: East Mecklenburg 28, Rocky Mount 9

1977: Rocky Mount 25, Pine Forest 22

1977: Rocky Mount 20, Jacksonville 13

1977: Rocky Mount 14, Goldsboro 13 (OT)

1976: Eastern Wayne 10, Rocky Mount 7

1973: Sanford Central 28, Rocky Mount 0

1973: Rocky Mount 9, EE Smith 7

1964: W-S Reynolds 14, Rocky Mount 6

1963: Rocky Mount 14, W-S Reynolds 13

1963: Rocky Mount 42, Greensboro Page 0

1962: Rocky Mount 20, W-S Reynolds 6

1962: Rocky Mount 21, Myers Park 6

1961: Garinger 21, Rocky Mount 0

1959: Garinger 13, Rocky Mount 6

Tyler has great day in loss

Jason Tyler continued to pile up the passing yards for West Hills Community College (Ca.) last Saturday, but his Falcons lost a heartbreaking 29-28 decision to College of the Sequoias last Friday.

The former Gryphon signal caller was 36 for 67 for 422 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn't enough as West Hills' kicker missed a field goal in the final seconds that would given it the victory.

Tyler will conclude his freshman season as quarterback Saturday when West Hills hosts Delta College.

The Football Series: Rocky Mount vs. Northern Nash

These two old rivals have been facing each other in football since 1969. Friday, they will meet for the 39th time - this time at Death Valley. Rocky Mount holds the series lead at 21-17 and has won the last four meetings.

The Gryphons can tie a record in the series with a win Friday. RMHS can win for the fifth straight meeting - something Northern did from 1985 to 1989.

Rocky Mount has posted five shutouts in the series - including the last three contests. The Knights have never recorded one.

Strangely, no one in the series scored 30 points or more for the first 17 meetings until Northern did the trick with a 34-14 victory in 1986.

And in case you're wondering who has scored the most points in the series, Rocky Mount leads 763 points to Northern's 634.

Here's all the games. I will try to add a significant fact about some of the games!

• 2006 - RM won 54-0 - (NN only picked up three first downs in this one)
• 2005 - RM won 21-0 - (Kendrick Dean's fake handoff fooled NN on an 86-yd. KO)
• 2004 - RM won 40-0
• 2003 - RM won 21-14 - (Stephon Virgil's 90-yard punt return for a TD was big)
• 2002 - NN won 47-6 - (NN won this one going away - played at Nash Central)
• 2001 - NN won 48-13 - (RM led 13-0, but NN took over in the second period)
• 2000 - NN won 48-28 - (NN piles up 23 first downs en route to the victory)
• 1999 - NN won 21-20 - (NN racked up 455 total yds. in the win)
• 1998 - RM won 21-7 - (RM's Gary Cobb returned an INT for a TD)
• 1997 - RM won 28-12 - (Linwood Silver's 99-yd. KO return broke this one open)
• 1996 - RM won 39-12 - (RM's Roman Kelley tosses four TD passes)
• 1995 - RM won 14-12 - (RM recorded two safeties in this contest)
• 1994 - NN won 54-31 - (RM gave up a record 523 yards rushing to NN)
• 1993 - NN won 28-12
• 1992 - RM won 13-7 OT
• 1991 - NN won 21-19
• 1990 - RM won 35-7
• 1989 - NN won 20-18
• 1988 - NN won 21-6
• 1987 - NN won 13-10 OT
• 1986 - NN won 34-14 - (NN picked off six Tim Kilpatrick passes in this one)
• 1985 - NN won 14-12
• 1984 - RM won 20-7
• 1983 - RM won 21-14
• 1982 - NN won 21-13
• 1981 - NN won 21-16
• 1980 - RM won 21-18
• 1979 - RM won 21-14
• 1978 - RM won 22-0
• 1977 - RM won 23-6
• 1976 - NN won 20-6
• 1975 - NN won 18-6 - (Craig Smith led NN to a win - the coldest NN-RM game ever!)
• 1974 - RM won 21-7
• 1973 - RM won 28-16
• 1972 - RM won 21-6
• 1971 - NN won 14-8
• 1970 - RM won 21-12
• 1969 - RM won 20-0

Hahula moves up RMHS scoring list

Now that junior kicker Nick Hahula has added scoring touchdowns to his repertoire as a fullback in coach B.W. Holt's Wing-T offense, he is quickly moving up Rocky Mount's all-time football scoring list.

With his 10 points scored in last week's big NEW 6 Conference win over Wilson Fike (a 2-yard touchdown, a PAT, a 32-yard field goal - the game-winner), he has scored 181 points in his varsity career, which moved him past Linwood Silver into the No. 3 spot on the career scoring list.

He needs nine more points to jump past current Virginia Tech player Stephon Virgil into the No. 2 position on the list.

Hahula, who had never scored a varsity touchdown before this season, has seen the end zone five times to go with his 109 point-afters and 14 field goals.

Remember, he has another season to go, so he may blow away the current record - held by the school's all-time leading rusher, Demetric Marshall.

Rocky Mount's All-Time Football Scoring List

1. 228 pts., Demetric Marshall (38 TDs rushing), 2005-06

2. 188 pts., Stephan Virgil (14 TDs rushing, 10 TDs receiving, 2 TDs Int. returns, 3 TDs KO returns, 2 TDs punt returns), 2001-04

3. 181 pts., Nick Hahula (109 PATs, 14 FGs, 5 TDs rushing), 2005-07-G10

4. 180 pts., Linwood Silver (26 TDs rushing, 2 TDs receiving, 2 TDs punt returns), 1995-97

It's a boy!!

Congratulations to former Rocky Mount assistant coach - now Northern Nash head football coach Chad Smith and his wife Hannah for the birth of their second child, a son - Ashton Dean Smith.

He was born in the wee hours Friday morning weighing seven pounds, 10 ounces and measured 20 1/2 inches. Mother and son are doing well.

Chad, along with their first-born Hunter, will no doubt be molding these boys into fine offensive linemen one day - just like their dad use to be!

Hahula's FG keeps Gryphons unbeaten

Rocky Mount junior kicker Nick Hahula bangs through a 32-yard field goal with 1.1 seconds left in the game to beat Wilson Fike 16-13 on a wet and muddy Buddy Bedgood Stadium field Friday night. The victory assured the Gryphons (10-0, 4-0) of no less than a tie for the NEW 6 Conference championship.

Sophomore back Marquavis Alston led all rushers with 120 yards on 21 carries.

For the first time in 55 years of Rocky Mount football, it has recorded four straight seasons of 10 victories or more.

For the record, Gryphon teams have now gotten a share or won outright four conference titles this fall.

Photo/Wilson Daily Times' Scott Jones

RMHS vs. 2007 Opponents

Here are the football series records for Rocky Mount versus all 11 of its 2007 season opponents.

Wilson Fike has been on RMHS' schedule the most times. They will meet for the 54th time Friday night at Buddy Bedgood Stadium.

Vs. Northampton-East: RM leads 1-0

Vs. Wilson Hunt: RM leads 15-10 (RM has won last six meetings)

Vs. Northern Vance: RM leads 3-1

Vs. J.H. Rose: RM tied 22-22

Vs. Hertford County: RM leads 4-0

Vs. Southern Wayne: RM leads 1-0

Vs. SW Edgecombe: RM leads 9-1

Vs. Southern Nash: RM leads 15-4

Vs. Nash Central: RM leads 5-0

REMAINING SCHEDULE

Vs. Wilson Fike: RM leads 28-23-2 (RM has won last five meetings)

Vs. Northern Nash: RM leads 21-17 (RM has won last four meetings. Neither team has ever won more than four games in-a-row in the series)

ECU schedules N.C. Wesleyan ... again!

Die-hard N.C. Wesleyan sports fans might just remember this date: Nov. 27, 1989.

That Monday evening, the Battling Bishops men's basketball team took on East Carolina University at Minges Coliseum and came away with a shocking 70-69 victory .... a little Div. III school knocking off a Div. I institution.

As if we weren't high enough after winning a Div. III baseball national championship five months earlier.

Former Northern Nash star forward Marvin Macklin put the Bishops on his back and guided them to the most unlikeliest of victories.

I was there, as were about 60-70 other Wesleyan fans who trekked over to Greenville in hopes of seeing an upset - and we got it. As a Wesleyan alum, I can't remember anything, at the time, being more joyous. We were beside ourselves!

The look on Don Scalf's face, the man who started the men's hoop program at NCWC, was priceless. One for the ages, most Wesleyan fans would say. That team, coached by Bill Chambers, went on to post a 20-6 record.

Well, NCWC has found itself on East Carolina's schedule once again.

The two programs will hook up for the first time since 1991 on Tues., Nov. 20 at a now-bigger Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. The Pirates lead their series 3-1.

I'm ready for another upset!

It could be time for the Gryphons to win the Wachovia Cup!

Rocky Mount High is having one of its best fall varsity sports seasons ever. And that's the kind of start you have to have if the Gryphons are to claim the Wachovia Cup for overall sports excellence in the NEW 6 Conference. They've come so close to winning it the last two years - only to bow out to Wilson Fike in the final days of the spring sports season.

Already, RMHS' girls volleyball team, boys soccer team and girls tennis team have won their respective NEW 6 Conference titles.

The varsity football team, under B.W. Holt, is well on its way to a second league title in three years. The boys cross country team finished second in the league at last week's conference championship, while the girls cross country team placed fourth.

Though JV sports don't count in the Cup standings, how about a shout-out for the RMHS JV football team, coached by Chris Lee and Kent Cox. The Baby Gryphs are 8-0 on the season and have won an amazing 19 straight games - dating back to Wilson Fike game in 2005.

RMHS' volleyball team has made the third round of the state playoffs which will give the school statewide Wachovia Cup points. The boys soccer team will start its state playoff run next week.

The 'FATS' will converge in Greenville this week!

Unknown to most area prep sports fans, there has been more going on between old rivals Rocky Mount and Greenville Rose the past few years than just games on the football, soccer and baseball fields and the basketball courts.

There are underground fan factions representing both schools - and we call ourselves the Rose High Fats and the Rocky Mount High Fats - two fans-based groups who love their beloved high school teams and follow them everywhere. And when it comes to sports trivia about these respective schools, nobody has it on these two groups!.

We decided last month that the two factions were going to have a face-off to see who knows the most about our respective sports teams (records, little-know facts, etc.)!

A special competition between these rival groups will take place this week at an undisclosed eatery in Greenville (if we told you where, we'd have to kill ya!).

We will let you know which team wins - the Rampants or the Gryphons!

And may the best bunch of FATS win!

RMHS players honor Holt for milestone win

Who better to honor Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt for his 300th career victory than the guys who got him to that milestone, his current Gryphon players.

They recently presented him with a large framed jersey specially printed with the 300th victory, the historic date and score and it was signed by every varsity player. Holt came to Rocky Mount with 251 wins and RMHS' players got him his last 49.

Photo/David Hahula

How the top football teams in the state fared Friday

Here are the results from Friday's games among the Associated Press' Top 10 teams in each classification:

4A
1. Charlotte Independence (7-1) beat Charlotte Providence 43-7.
2. Richmond County (8-0) beat Fayetteville Byrd 45-12.
3. Wilmington Hoggard (7-0) beat Wilmington Ashley 41-21.
4. Garner (8-0) did not play.
T5. Scotland County (8-0) beat Fayetteville Seventy-First 27-3.
T5. West Charlotte (7-1) did not play.
7. Matthews Butler (6-2) lost to East Mecklenburg 22-21.
8. Greensboro Grimsley (7-1) lost to Greensboro Page 24-23.
9. Hope Mills South View (9-0) beat Fayetteville Pine Forest 33-0.
10. Wake Forest-Rolesville (8-0) beat Raleigh Wakefield 17-0.

3A
1. Western Alamance (9-0) beat Yanceyville Yancey 42-12.
2. Rocky Mount (8-0) beat Southern Nash 37-7.
3. Belmont South Point (8-0) beat Gastonia Forestview 35-16.
4. SouthWest Edgecombe (5-2) lost to Nash Central 35-32.
5. Anson County (7-2) lost to Concord 38-27.
6. Kernersville Glenn (7-1) lost to Winston-Salem Carver 17-7.
T7. North Gaston (7-1) beat Shelby Crest 30-10.
T7 Charlotte Catholic (7-2) beat Charlotte Garinger 35-0.
T9. Hickory (7-0) did not play.
T9 Asheville Roberson (7-1) beat Enka 36-7.

2A
1. Reidsville (8-0) beat Eastern Guilford 67-10.
2. Shelby (7-1) beat Kings Mountain 41-14.
3. Jacksonville Northside (8-0) beat East Duplin 34-28.
4. South Columbus (8-0) beat Pender County 42-14.
5. Mt. Pleasant (8-0) beat North Stanly 42-8.
6. Southern Vance (7-1) beat Roanoke Rapids 43-15.
7. Southwest Onslow (7-1) beat South Lenoir 27-7.
8. West Davidson (7-1) beat Thomasville Ledford 21-14.
9. Pittsboro Northwood (7-1) beat Burlington Cummings 42-28.
10. Burlington Cummings (4-4) lost to Pittsboro Northwood 42-28.

1A
1. Thomasville (8-0) beat Siler City Jordan-Matthews 29-22.
2. Warsaw Kenan (8-0) beat Dunn Midway 37-14.
3. Mt. Airy (8-0) beat Kernersville McGuinness 38-0.
4. Plymouth (8-0) beat Williamston 52-13.
5. North Duplin (7-0) beat Princeton 33-13.
6. Ayden-Grifton (7-1) beat Seven Springs Spring Creek 64-7.
7. Siler City Jordan-Matthews (5-2-1) lost to Thomasville 29-22.
8. Polk County (8-1) beat Avery County 26-6.
9. Wallace-Rose Hill (6-2) beat Salemburg Lakewood 14-7.
10. West Montgomery (6-2) beat North Moore 56-0

RMHS-SouthWest Edgecombe Highlights - WNCT-TV9

Thanks to WNCT-TV9's and Touchdown Friday's Brian Bailey, here are highlights from Monday night's NEW 6 Conference football battle between the Cougars and the Gryphons - played before almost 5,000 fans at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex.

The Gryphons, thanks to a key defensive play by Brian Goodwin and Jacobi Jenkins in the final two minutes, prevailed 15-12.

Rocky Mount now leads the series between the two schools 9-1 with RMHS holding a 6-0 edge at home.

SW Edgecombe vs. Rocky Mount - The Series

FYI, here is the all-time football series between SouthWest Edgecombe and Rocky Mount.

Rocky Mount leads the series 8-1, and is 5-0 at home vs. SWE. The two teams will play in their NEW 6 Conference opener at the RMAC Friday. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Ironically, in their previous NEW 6 regular season meetings, the two have not played on a Friday night. Both contests were played the following Monday after the scheduled games were postponed due to inclement weather.

Their lone recent Friday hookup was in the 2006 playoffs when all fans had to worry about was cold weather. The Gryphons advanced to the third round after a 21-7 victory over the Cougars:

ROCKY MOUNT vs. SOUTHWEST EDGECOMBE

1987: Rocky Mount 21, SW Edgecombe 18
1988: Rocky Mount 28, SW Edgecombe 0 (First-ever game played at the RMAC)
1989: Rocky Mount 40, SW Edgecombe 7
1990: Rocky Mount 15, SW Edgecombe 12
1991: Rocky Mount 24, SW Edgecombe 21
1992: Rocky Mount 12, SW Edgecombe 8
2005: Rocky Mount 24, SW Edgecombe 7
2005: Rocky Mount 21, SW Edgecombe 7 (3-A playoffs, 2nd round)
2006: SW Edgecombe 21, Rocky Mount 16

Tyler leads West Hills to its second win

COALINGA, Calif. - Former Rocky Mount Gryphon quarterback Jason Tyler had perhaps his best overall performance of the season as the freshman threw for three touchdowns and ran in two more in helping West Hills Community College defeat non-conference opponent Modesto Junior College 45-28 last Saturday afternoon.

Tyler, who started for the Gryphons for two seasons, completed 25 of 40 passes for 392 yards and four scores. He ran in two more - both 1-yard touchdowns. He had 19 yards on seven carries.

His touchdown tosses covered 57, 18 and 29 yards for the now 2-3 Falcons. West Hills piled up 491 total yards.

"This team has improved each and every week," said Tyler to the Coalinga Record, the weekly newspaper that covers West Hills. "We knew we were supposed to beat Modesto. The important thing is that we improve also. We have two weeks to prepare for Fresno City. To our team that translates into two more weeks of developing into a championship team."

Rocky Mount Telegram features Holt

The Rocky Mount Telegram sports department honored Rocky Mount
head football coach B.W. Holt in Monday's sports section with a beautiful pictorial page commemorating his 300th career coaching victory - a 49-7 win over Southern Wayne on Sept. 28.

To check it out, click here!

Gryphs stay put at No. 2; SWE falls into tie at No. 4

Here is the latest Associated Press 3-A high school football poll. Rocky Mount stayed planted in the No. 2 spot, but mysteriously, the SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars, the Gryphons' next opponent (Oct. 5), dropped to a tie for fourth despite their 28-14 win over Tarboro last Friday.

Belmont South Point, a 31-0 winner over East Gaston Friday, leap-frogged the Cougars and left them in a tie for No. 4 with Asheville's T.C. Roberson.

Here is the complete 3-A poll:

Class 3-A

W-L Pts LW

1. Western Alamance (12) 6-0 147 1
2. Rocky Mount (3) 6-0 138 2
3. Belmont South Point 5-0 94 4
T4. Asheville Roberson 5-0 88 5
T4. SW Edgecombe 5-0 88 3
6. Anson County 5-1 51 7
7. Charlotte Catholic 4-2 49 6
8. West Rowan 5-0 38 10
9. North Gaston 4-1 36 8
10. Northeast Guilford 4-1 22 9

Others receiving votes: Kernersville Glenn 20, Hickory 14, Eastern Alamance 10, Kannapolis Brown 9, Greensboro Dudley 8, Wilson Hunt 7, Hertford County 6.

Postgame pictures from Holt's 300th victory

Thanks to David Hahula, we've got some shots from the postgame activities after Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt watched his Gryphons give him his 300th career victory with a 49-7 triumph over Southern Wayne.

By the way, don't pay attention to the scoreboard. It didn't work right the entire second half of the game. It, at one time, read "50-1" and the "50-7" score on it in the picture, of course, isn't right either. In fact, at one point, the scoreboard clock began ticking upward instead of downward! Iwas stuck on 1:42 when the game ended.

(To enlarge your view of each picture, just click on it!)

Hudgins plays big in Elon's win over Liberty

ELON - Redshirt sophomore All-America Terrell Hudgins had his best night ever as a receiver while helping Elon beat Liberty 42-14 Saturday.

The former Gryphon quarterback caught a school-record 16 passes for a career- best 218 yards and four touchdowns. With true freshman Scott Riddle (Eastern Randolph) delivering him the ball, Hudgins caught a 32-yard score in the first period, a 24-yard scoring strike in the second, a 15-yard TD as time ran out in the third and a 29-yarder for a score with about nine minutes left in the game.

Riddle was 33-of-39 for 368 yards. The Phoenix is now 2-1 in the season with Appalachian State coming to town this Saturday.

Already this season - in just three games, Hudgins has 38 receptions for 453 yards and six touchdowns.

When the NCAA stats were released Monday, Hudgins leads the Southern Conference and the nation in both receiving yards (151.0 per game) and receptions (12.7 per game). He was also named Monday as the Southern Conference Player of the Week and the Sports Network National Player of the Week.

Tyler shines in another West Hills loss

West Hills College (Calif.) is 0-3 so far this season, but its freshman quarterback Jason Tyler is doing his best to get the Falcons a win.

Tyler, who threw for more than 2,000 career yards as the Gryphons' signal caller, was 27-for-51 for 322 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-23 loss to College of San Mateo last Saturday. San Mateo is ranked as the No. 4 JUCO in Northern California.

Next up for the Falcons is a contest with winless Hartnell College in Salinas.

Gryphs solidly in second spot in AP 3-A poll

The Associated Press released its N.C. High School Football polls tonight and Rocky Mount maintained its No. 2 spot in the rankings, but the Gryphons did receive three first-place votes.

Guess who has jumped into the No. 3 spot - NEW 6 foe SouthWest Edgecombe. I watched the Cougars run all over Southern Vance Monday evening in their makeup game from last Friday. SWE nearly had three 100-yard rushers, and it mixed in the pass as well - including a 31-yard TD pass on a fourth-and-nine!

Losses by North Gaston (No. 3), Kannapolis Brown (No. 4) and Hertford County (No. 5) opened the way for the Cougars to grab the No. 3 ranking.

Here is the 3-A Poll:

W-L Pts LW

1. Western Alamance (16) 5-0 186 1

2. Rocky Mount (3) 5-0 168 2

3. SW Edgecombe 4-0 108 6

4. Belmont South Point 4-0 105 8

5. Asheville Roberson 4-0 100 9

6. Charlotte Catholic 3-2 55 10

7. Anson County 4-1 41 —

8. North Gaston 3-1 36 3

9. Northeast Guilford 3-1 34 7

10. West Rowan 4-0 32

Others receiving votes: Kernersville Glenn 30, Kannapolis Brown 29, Hertford County 26, Eastern Alamance 23, Hickory 22, Wilson Hunt 13, Monroe Sun Valley 7, Greensboro Dudley 6, Asheville 6, Winston-Salem Parkland 4, Winston-Salem Carver 3, Franklin 3, East Rowan 2, Gastonia Forestview 2, Southern Lee 2, Jacksonville 1, Currituck County 1.

Trivia question for RM football fans

- RMHS senior Emmanuel Davis

Rocky Mount junior Brian Goodwin took the opening kickoff in the Hertford County game Friday 85 yards for a score.

The question is, who was the last Gryphon to perform that feat (a kickoff return for a score) and who was it against?

I'll give you a hint ... it was in 2005 and it was an 86-yard kickoff return for a score. (Use some internet resources because the answer can be found online!)

I'll give you until Thursday evening to guess. Just register your guess under the comment section of the blog below!


DAVIS PLAYS REALLY BIG: How big was the play of senior linebacker Emmanuel Davis in the game the Bears?

Can you spell H-U-G-E?

He recorded a career-high 21 tackles. He now leads the Gryphons in total tackles with 50. He also leads the squad in pass deflections (two).

Junior Chris Pittman is second with 37, followed by senior Ezra Hudgins with 31. Junior Nick Harrison leads the team in sacks with five, junior Zack Williams is tops in interceptions with two and junior Torey Lee is the fumble recovery leader with two.

LANE GETS IN: Senior kicker John Lane finally got some playing time in the Hertford County game.

The lanky former homeschooler got to launch Rocky Mount's only punt of the night and it went 38 yards with no return.

Time for No. 300?

If there ever was a time Rocky Mount football fans should hit the road, it's this week as the Gryphons will travel to Dudley to face the Southern Wayne Saints Friday.

A piece of N.C. prep sports history will be on the line along with an unblemished non-conference slate. Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt will be going for career win No. 300.

Should the Gryphons (5-0, ranked No. 2 in the AP 3-A poll) pull off the victory over the 2-3 Saints, Holt (299-109-2) would become just the sixth N.C. high school football coach to join the 300-win club.

The milestone is considered the benchmark among high school football coaches across the country.

Make plans to make the 53-mile trip Friday night to possibly see a bit of prep football history in the making!

Tyler passes for over 400 yds. in JUCO loss

On Saturday, Sept. 8, former Gryphon quarterback Jason Tyler had a career day - but it was not enough to get his West Hills CC (Ca.) team a win as the Falcons fell to Allen Hancock College 41-24.

Tyler, who is listed at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, was 38-for-59 for 403 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. His TD passes were 31 and 51 yards - both coming in the fourth quarter. The Falcons fell to 0-2 with the loss.

"The team has made a lot of strives to be where we need to be and we are taking a lot of steps forward and not back," Tyler told the Coalinga Record, the weekly newspaper that covers the Falcons.

In West Hills' season opener the week before, Tyler had 200 yards passing in a loss to Foothills JUCO.

A new Gryphon has been born

Rocky Mount swim coach Kelley Tyndall and her husband Chris welcomed Ayden Lane Tyndall into the world last Friday afternoon at 4:43 - weighing 7 lbs. and 14 oz., born just hours before Rocky Mount's big win over J.H. Rose.

Mother and son came home on Sunday and are doing fine.

What memories this future Gryphon will be told of the weekend of his birth!

Father Chris and uncle Jonathan will inform him that the night he was born, the Gryphons pounced on rival Greenville Rose. Both Tyndalls played football for Rocky Mount.

And Grandpa Bernie, along with Chris and Jonathan, will give Ayden a blow-by-blow recap of the East Carolina Pirates' exciting last-second win over UNC!

Bernie and Chris, as most of you know, are longtime members of Rocky Mount's football "Chain Gang." and ECU alums. Jonathan is a sophomore at ECU.

Two RMHS football records set Friday

While Rocky Mount was ending J.H. Rose's 39-game winning streak Friday night, the Gryphons unknowingly saw two records set.

When senior Darius Hagans fell on Nick Hahula's fumble in the end zone for the Gryphons' first touchdown, Rocky Mount scored in its 78 straight game - beating the 77-game streak it set from a 14-0 blanking to Northeastern in 1991 to a 24-0 shutout to Wilson Hunt in 1999.

The Gryphons have not been shutout since the 2001 season-opener - a 24-0 loss to Hunt. By the way, RMHS, during that streak, has scored in double figures in its last 58 games.

Kicker Hahula also became the school's all-time leader in field goals made - and he did it in exciting fashion.

With time running out in the first half Friday, he and the rest of the field goal unit hustled onto the field as he managed to get his 27-yarder through the uprights as the clock expired.

Hahula now has 11 career field goals - topping the 10 Barrett Bodiford made from 1995-97.

RMHS head coach B.W. Holt, who picked up career win No. 298 in the process, also moved up one more spot on RMHS' football coaches all-time victory list. One more win will tie him with 60's coaching marvel Chris Carpenter - who led Rocky Mount to state titles in 1962 and 1963. Holt has won 47 games in his four-plus seasons as the Gryphons' coach.

Walt Wiggins is the school's all-time winningest coach with 105 victories.

Longest Team Scoring Streak –

78 games, (2001, 24-0 loss vs. Hunt; to G4, 2007 season)

77 games, (1991, 14-0 loss vs. Northeastern; to 1999, 24-0 loss vs. Hunt)

Most Field Goals made (Career) –

11 (11/21), Nick Hahula, 2005-07-G4

10 (10/24), Barrett Bodiford, 1995-97

Most RMHS Varsity Coaching Victories –

105, Walt Wiggins, 1970-82, 1993 – 14 seasons (105-46-2, .691)

63, George Kelley, 1983-92 – 10 seasons (63-41, .606)

48, Chris Carpenter, 1959-64 – 6 seasons (48-14-2, .762)

47, B.W. Holt, 2003-07-(G4) - 5th season (47-10, .825)

Rocky Mount-J.H. Rose stat box (17-7 Gryphon win)

Rocky Mount 17, J.H. Rose 7

1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total
J.H. Rose 0 0 7 0 7
Rocky Mount 7 3 0 7 17


JHR RM
First downs 7 13
Rushes-yards 27-61 43-206
Passing 71 38
Comp-Att-Int 7-16-0 4-8-0
Fumbles Lost 1 1
Penalties-Yards 3-35 5-25
Total Plays-Yds 41-132 51-244

SCORING SUMMARY

1st quarter
RM – Hagans 1 run (Hahula kick), 8:27 (7 plays, 50 yds.)
2nd quarter
RM – FG 27 Hahula, :00.0 (3-38)
3rd quarter
JHR – Muldrow 2 run (Harvey kick), 7:00 (2-10)
4th quarter
RM – Alston 62 run (Hahula kick), 6:15 (3-67)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing – JH Rose: L. Muldrow 11-34 (TD); K. White 12-17; T. Turnage 3-11; M. Joyner 1-0; T. Merritt 2-(-2). RM: Marquavis Alston 12-100 (TD) ; Nick Hahula 11-46; Jacobi Jenkins 2-32; Derek Hagans 9-20 (TD); Hiawatha Bunn 9-8.

Passing – JH Rose: Merritt 4-10-0 56; White 3-6-0 15. RM: Bunn 4-8-0 38.

Receiving – JH Rose: Muldrow 3-44; Waller 2-13; Hobbs 1-10; Staton 1-4. RM: Jacobi Jenkins 2-41; Wilkins 1-10; Hagans 1-(-13).

DEFENSIVE STATISTICS

Tackles:
#32 – Emmanuel Davis – 11
#41 – Chris Pittman – 8
#56 – Ezra Hudgins – 8
#55 – John Wells – 5
#61 – Jermaine Fields – 4
#8 – Jacobi Jenkins – 4
#24 – Brian Goodwin – 4
#23 – Atarius Farmer – 3
#34 – Matthew Coburn – 3
#90 – Nick Harrison – 2
#42 – Dedrick Silver – 2
#53 – Brandon Dennis – 2
#52 – Aaron Barnes – 2
#44 – Nick Hahula – 1
#4 – Hiawatha Bunn – 1

Sacks:
#90 – Nick Harrison – 1
#55 – John Wells – 1
#41 – Chris Pittman – 1
#61 – Jermaine Fields – 1

Fumble Recoveries:
#61 – Jermaine Fields –1

Interceptions:
None

Pass Deflections:
#90 – Nick Harrison – 1
#56 – Ezra Hudgins –1
#42 – Dedrick Silver –1

Blocked Kicks (Punt/FG)
None

Special Teams Touchdowns:
None

KICKING

PATs
2-2– #44 Nick Hahula

Field Goals
1-1 – #44 Nick Hahula (27 yds.)

Touchbacks:
1-4 – #44 Nick Hahula

Punting:
5 – #11 Chris Berry (144 yds., 28.8 avg.)

Could the Gryphons repeat 2004's performance?

Rocky Mount's 3-0 start has earned it two top 10 rankings in two different high school football state polls.

The Gryphons, who will host J.H. Rose (ranked No. 3 - 4-A AP, NCPreps.com polls) Friday evening, are ranked third in the first Associated Press 3-A football poll of the season and ninth in the NCPreps.com 3-A Baker's Dozen.With Independence High losing last weekend, Rose and Thomasville now share the title of being the high school teams with the longest winning streak at 39 games.

Rocky Mount was the last team to hand the Rampants a loss, ironically. On Oct. 8, 2004 in Greenville, RMHS quarterback Terrell Hudgins led the Gryphons to a 42-33 victory over Rose.

Hudgins played perhaps the best game of his career as he ran for 145 yards and four touchdowns, and he passed for 215 yards and threw a 74-yard scoring pass to Wayne Noble.

Rose leads the series between the two Eastern football powers 22-21. Rocky Mount dominated the series in the 70s and 80s, but since 1990, the Rampants have only loss three times to the Gryphons (1990, 1998, 2004).

Could we see a repeat of 2004 Friday night? We could - and it could be another shootout!

AP 3-A POLL

1. Western Alamance (9) 3-0 131
2. Charlotte Catholic (2) 2-1 80
3. Rocky Mount 3-0 79
4. Kannapolis Brown 3-0 78
5. North Gaston (1) 2-0 60
6. Hertford County 3-0 48
7. Monroe Sun Valley 3-0 45
8. SouthWest Edgecombe 2-0 41
9. Northeast Guilford 2-0 40
10. Belmont South Point 2-0 38

AP 4-A POLL

1. Charlotte Independence (12) 1-1 148

2. Matthews Butler (3) 2-0 129
3. Greenville Rose (1) 2-0 103
4. Richmond County 2-0 73
5. Wilmington Hoggard 2-0 70
6. Shelby Crest 2-0 50
7. West Charlotte 3-0 49
8. Garner 3-0 40
9. Scotland County 2-0 39
10. Winston-Salem Mt. Tabor 3-0 25

Terrell's No. 1 fan!

Dr. Barbara Holt, wife of RMHS head football coach B.W. Holt, was showing her support of Elon's No. 19 on the sidelines Friday night at the RMHS-Northern Vance football game. Of course, the jersey is of former Gryphon, now All-America Phoenix receiver Terrell Hudgins.

Holt purchased the jersey at Elon University's bookstore during one of her many trips to the couple's Bristol, Tn. retreat. Hudgins made his redshirt-sophomore season debut Saturday in the Phoenix's 28-13 loss to South Florida before some 34,000 fans at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

But Hudgins had a great day - latching onto a personal-high 14 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown (26 yards). He came up one reception short of the school record of 15.

Tyler expected to start first game at West Hills CC

Former Rocky Mount quarterback Jason Tyler seemingly has made the best of his cross-country journey to West Hills Community Collge in California.

According to reports from his father Rossie and the local newspaper covering West Hills, The Coalinga Record, Tyler, who listed at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, will be under center when the Falcons hit the field for their season opener Saturday at home against Foothills C.C.

Sadly, Tyler's former teammates who went with him to the California school, C.J. Ford and Demetric Marshall, have left the program. Ford is reportedly headed to St. Augustine's in Raleigh while Marshall's destination is not known.

To read the article on Tyler and West Hills' scrimmage, click here!

RMHS' Langston headed to Shrine Bowl

Although the 2007 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas won't announce its player rosters for another two months or so, one Rocky Mount High student knows that he will be on the field at Wofford College's Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C. on Dec. 15.

Rocky Mount senior Braden Langston is one of two high school student trainers in the state selected to assist the North Carolina squad in the 71st edition of the contest. The son of Joe and Brigitte Langston, the 18-year-old has been a student trainer under longtime head Gryphon trainer Bernie Capps for four years.

Langston, who was born and raised in Rocky Mount, will join Wilson Hunt student trainer Pam Hughes on the North Carolina sideline.

"This is such an honor because I was one of two out of 95 in the state to be chosen for this opportunity," said Langston, who has narrowed his college choices for next year to East Carolina, Barton College and Elon University. "It really feels good to know that I was chosen to be one of two students that gets to take care of the best high school football players in North Carolina. I just hope we don't have any serious injuries."

Fellow RMHS student trainer Addison Teachey got Langston interested in being a student trainer.

"Addison called me up one day before we started our freshman year to come out with him to the football field, and out I came," said Langston, who professes a love for not only football, but golf and track, too. "We fell in love with student training and Mr. Capps has been a wonderful role model for us."

As a N.C. Athletic Trainer associate, he has attended training camps in Greensboro the last four summers. Of the eight who were in the camp's advanced class, Langston and Hughes were ranked as the top two.

He was also chosen to serve as a student trainer at this past summer's N.C. Coaches Association East-West All-Star Football Game. Nothing could have been better for him than to work with the East team where fellow Gryphons Kendall Noble and Nazir Levine were starters.

But as luck would have it, he was assigned to the West squad instead.

"The first varsity sport I ever watched was Rocky Mount football," said Langston, who will likely take his skills to the college football sidelines.

"The team was pretty good, but when I saw guys getting hurt, I wanted to be on the sidelines and help them out. When I was asked to come out and work on the sidelines, it was like I had found my career in athletic training."

Three Gryphon fall sports teams are ranked

Rocky Mount's football, girls tennis and boys soccer teams are all currently ranked in the Top 10 in statewide polls.

The football team is third in the most recent NCPreps/Rivals.com 3-A poll. The girls tennis team is 10th in the North Carolina High School Tennis Coaches Association 3-A poll, while the boys soccer team is sitting in the No. 8 spot in the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association 3-A Boys Soccer poll.

Here are all three polls:

NCPreps/Rivals 3-A Football Poll

1. Western Alamance (1-0)
2. Charlotte Catholic (1-0)
3. Rocky Mount (1-0)
4. A.L. Brown (1-0)
5. Hertford Co. (1-0)
6. Concord (0-0)
7. NE Guilford (0-0)
8. North Gaston (1-0)
9. SW Edgecombe (0-0)
10. Sun Valley (1-0)
11. Dudley (1-0)
12. T.C. Roberson (1-0)
13. NW Cabarrus (1-0)

(Honorable Mention): Andrews, T.W. (0-0), Anson County (1-0), Asheville High (0-0), Franklin (1-0), Glenn (1-0), Harnett Central (1-0), Hickory (0-0), Olympic (1-0), South Point (0-0), SE Guilford (0-0), West Iredell (1-0), West Rowan (1-0)

NCHSTCA 3-A Girls Tennis Poll

1. Hickory
2. Ragsdale
3. Charlotte Catholic
4. Union Pines
5. Wilson Fike
6. Burlington Williams
7. T.C Roberson
8. Rocky Mount
9. Southwest Guilford
10. Southern Alamance

N.C. Soccer Coaches Association 3-A Boys Soccer Poll

1. Lake Norman
2. Jacksonville
3. Western Guilford
4. T.C. Roberson
5. Forestview
6. Rutherfordton-Spindale Central
7. Asheville
8. Union Pines
9. Charlotte Catholic
10. Rocky Mount
11. SW Guilford
12. Western Alamance
13. Hickory
14. Wilson Fike
15. Glenn
15. Porter Ridge

Sinclair matches RMHS return stat of 2006

- RMHS senior Donovan Sinclair

As offensive-minded as Rocky Mount's 2006 football team was, it only recorded one punt return for a touchdown the whole season.

Senior Anthony Smith scooted 60 yards on a punt return to paydirt at Wilson Hunt at a crucial time in that 21-7 Gryphon win. RMHS had trailed 7-0 at halftime and it could have been 10-0 if not for a certain blocked field goal attempt.

Rocky Mount tied it on an 86-yard scoring jaunt by Demetric Marshall, and Smith's return got the Gryphons their first lead.

Friday night, lightning sorta struck again in the Gryphons' favor. Senior Jacobi Jenkins blocked a key extra point attempt by Hunt that kept the game tied late at 20-all.

Guess who also registered that key FG block last season against Hunt? None other than Jenkins, who has received a scholarship offer from East Carolina.

Minutes later, senior Donovan Sinclair delivered an electrifying 65-yard punt return with 1:09 left in the game to give the Gryphons the lead. Senior Emmanuel Davis delivered the crushing block that sprung Sinclair to his dance down the sideline past his teammates for the score - matching last year's team's lone punt return TD.

Rocky Mount's Tom Suiter, Football Friday

- Rocky Mount's Tom Suiter

Since Rocky Mount native son Tom Suiter started "Football Friday" on Raleigh's WRAL TV5, haven't you high school football fans ever wondered how he and his staff can put together a show of highlights so quickly after the players have left the field?

Most games end around 10 p.m., and yet, come 11:35, he and his crew have clips from 25-to-28 games from the Triangle eastward ready to show you.

Suiter, who grew up just blocks away from Rocky Mount High, has detailed the events that go on every week to get "Football Friday" on the air.

Click here to read his WRAL.com blog entry about producing "Football Friday." .

Holt at 295 and counting ...

With the Gryphons' win Friday night, head coach B.W. Holt moved to 295 victories for his career.

I have been doing some number crunching to find the all-time coaching records in the state of North Carolina. Here are the great coaches who are ahead of Holt:

TOP SIX N.C. HS FOOTBALL COACHES - total victories

1. 380 - Jack Holley (Tabor City, South Columbus, Hallsboro, Wallace-Rose Hill - 44 seasons; 380-89-9)

2. 359 - Bob Paroli (Benson, Jacksonville, Fike, Cummings, Douglas Byrd, Seventy-First - 49th season; 359-164-11)

3. 334 - Tom Brown (Bunker Hill, Maiden - 39th season; 334-108-7)

4. 305 - Daryl Allen (Ahoskie, Hertford County - 36 seasons; 305-118)

5. 301 - Babe Howell (Sylva-Webster/Smoky Mountain, Avery County - 46 seasons; 301-122-6)

6. 295 - B.W. Holt (SW Randolph, Franklinton, Starmount, Tennessee High (Tn.), West Montgomery, Rocky Mount - 38th season; 295-109-2)

Paroli, Brown and, of course, Holt are still actively coaching. Paroli is at Seventy-First and Brown is at Maiden. Holt is the baby in this bunch having just turned 63, while Paroli, I believe, is 75, and Brown is 64. Brown announced in January of 2003 that he would coach five more years - so this may be his last season at Maiden.

Northampton-East-Rocky Mount football box score

- Junior WR Keith Strickland

Game 1: Aug. 17

Rocky Mount 44, Northampton-East 0

Northampton-East 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -- 0

Rocky Mount 7-14-13-10 -- 44

NH-E
RM

First downs
5
19

Rushes-yards
32-65
41-256

Passing
5
93

Comp-Att-Int
3-8-0
4-9-1

Fumbles Lost
0
1

Penalties-Yards
3-25
9-61

Total Plays-Yards
39-70
50-349

SCORING SUMMARY

1st quarter
RM – Hagans 16 run (Hahula kick), 1:59 (5 plays, 43 yds.)

2nd quarter
RM – Jenkins 12 run (Hahula kick), 11:15 (4-55)
RM – Hahula 9 run (Hahula kick), 7:24 (5-26)

3rd quarter
RM – C. Berry 4 run (Hahula kick), 5:35 (9-29
RM – Farmer 10 run (kick failed), 1:09 (6-39)

4th quarter
RM – Strickland 49 pass from Bunn (Hahula kick), 9:10 (3-39)
RM – FG 41 Hahula, 0:29.3 (9-46)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing – NH-E: L Ashe 9-32; J. Long 9-22; J. Deloatch 4-7; J. Boone 1-3; R. Bishop 4-(-2). RM: Nick Hahula 10-85 (TD); Marquavis Alston 7-53, Derek Hagans 8-46 (TD); Jacobi Jenkins 5-20 (TD); Hiawatha Bunn 2-18; Kendrick Boulware 2-15; Jerman Flowers 2-15; Atarius Farmer 1-10 (TD); #39 2-3; #30 1-0; Chirs Berry 3-(-9)(TD).

Passing – NH-E: J.Long 3-7-0 5. RM: Hiawatha Bunn 1-2-0 49 (TD); Chris Berry 3-7-1 44.

Receiving – NH-E: J. Deloatch 1-3, L. Ashe 2-2. RM: Keith Strickland 3-92 (TD); Jacobi Jenkins 1-1.

DEFENSIVE STATISTICS

Tackles:
#56 - Ezra Hudgins – 7
#32 - Emmanuel Davis – 7
#41 - Chris Pittman – 6
#61 – Jermaine Fields - 6
#52 - Aaron Barnes – 5
#55 – John Wells – 4
#90 – Nick Harrison - 2
#75 – Jarron Battle – 2
#23 – Atarius Farmer – 2
#51 – Jordan Cooper – 1
#4 – Hiawatha Bunn – 1
#45 – Darryl Cross – 1
#42 – Dedrick Silver - 1

Sacks:
#55 - John Wells – 1
#90 – Nick Harrison - 1

Fumble Recoveries:
None

Interceptions:
None

Pass Deflections:
#32 – Emmanuel Davis – 2

Touchdowns:
None

KICKING

PATs
5-6 – Nick Hahula

Field Goals
1-1 – Nick Hahula (41 yds.)

Touchbacks:
6-7 – Nick Hahula

Punting
1 – Chris Berry (48 yds. gross, 28 yds.net)

Hahula's performance turns back clock

Got a football trivia question for you?

Who was the last Rocky Mount place kicker to lead the Gryphons in rushing in a football game?

Junior fullback/kicker Nick Hahula led Rocky Mount in rushing with 10 carries for 85 yards Friday night in its 44-0 endowment win over Northampton-East. Hahula, in addition to six touchbacks, had five PATs, a career-high 41-yard field goal and scored on a 9-yard run. But place kickers rarely carry the ball that often for the Gryphons.

Got a clue on the question?

Well, if you're around 45 years old or so and a Rocky Mount football fan, then you would remember Rodney Birth.

Birth, a member of the RMHS Class of 1979, led the Gryphons in rushing several times his senior season while also serving as the team's place kicker and punter. In his final game for RMHS (a 10-7 first-round 4-A playoff loss to Eastern Wayne in 1978), he led the Gryphs in rushing with 15 carries for only 40 yards. But it was his ability to boom punts that earned him a scholarship as a punter at N.C. Central.

He's still in the football business now as an assistant coach at CIAA member Virginia Union, where former RMHS lineman Chauncey Perry currently plays and will be a possible starter at center.

2007 NEW 6 Conference Preseason Football Poll

1. Rocky Mount (4) 22 pts.
2. Nash Central (3) 21 pts.
3. SW Edgecombe (1) 16 pts.
4. Wilson Fike (1) 15 pts.
T5. Northern Nash (1) 8 pts.
T5. Southern Nash 8 pts.