Rocky Mount-J.H. Rose football game postponed

GREENVILLE - J.H. Rose has moved its varsity football game with Rocky Mount from Friday to Monday due to wet field conditions at Percy Daniels Field.

The game has been rescheduled to Monday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.

The JV football game between the two schools has been postponed.

Rocky Mount vs. J.H. Rose - The Series

GREENVILLE - Rocky Mount and J.H. Rose will meet for the 47th time on the gridiron Friday (7:30 p.m.) at Percy Daniels Field.

And after all these years between the old foes, the series is tied at 23-23. Only Rocky Mount rival Wilson Fike has played the Gryphons/Blackbirds more times (54 meetings).

The Rampants ended a two-game Gryphon winning streak last year when Rose senior kicker Warren Harvey delivered a 50-yard field goal with two minutes left to give them a 16-13 win.

ROCKY MOUNT-ROSE SERIES

2009 - Rose win, 16-13
2008 - RM win, 36-0
2007 - RM win, 17-7
2006 - Rose win, 45-21
2005 - Rose win, 35-20
2004 - Rose win, 15-13 (Playoffs)
2004 - RM win, 42-33
2003 - Rose win, 49-28
2002 - Rose win, 35-15
2001 - Rose win, 28-21
2000 - Rose win, 30-14
1999 - Rose win, 23-6

1998 - RM win, 33-14

1997 - Rose win, 45-3

1996 - Rose win, 21-7
1995 - Rose win, 49-20

1994 - Rose win, 35-6

1993 - Rose win, 19-14

1992 - Rose win 42-16

1991 - Rose win, 29-6

1990 - RM win, 35-28

1989 - Rose win, 21-6

1988 - Rose win, 24-6

1987 - Rose win, 27-10

1986 - RM win, 10-7

1985 - RM win, 23-7
1984 - RM win, 21-0
1983 - RM win, 21-14
1982 - RM win, 13-7
1981 - RM win, 26-6
1980 - Rose win, 36-22
1979 - Rose win, 36-7 (Playoffs)

1979 - RM win, 21-14

1978 - RM win, 22-20

1977 - RM win, 17-7

1976 - RM win, 23-8

1975 - Rose win, 20-14

1974 - Rose win, 14-0

1973 - RM win, 32-9

1972 - RM win, 14-0

1971 - RM win, 21-7

1970 - RM win, 28-20

1969 - RM win, 28-20

1964 - RM win, 34-14

1963 - RM win, 35-0

1953 - RM win, 26-0

Picture poster pefect

This is a commemorative graphic of Terrell Hudgins, whose No. 19 jersey will be retired by Elon University Saturday before his family and close friends. His entire Gryphon family will be there in spirit to honor this special athlete.

At the college level, the only other Gryphons/Blackbirds I am aware of who have had their uniform number retired are UNC basketball great Phil Ford (No. 20) and former N. C. Wesleyan baseball star Greg Clark (No. 8). Three-sport Rocky Mount standout Danny Talbott, who played both baseball and football in Chapel Hill, has had his football number honored at UNC's Kenan Stadium.

A GRYPHON GLIMPSE - Ed Moore

Rocky Mount's first soccer coach Ed Moore

Most Rocky Mount High School soccer fans know that both the girls' and boys' programs have been consistent winners the past few years - winning conference titles and going deep into the state playoffs.

But it was not always that way. Just ask Ed Moore.

Moore was not only one my college classmates at N.C. Wesleyan, he was also the very first boys and girls soccer coach at RMHS. Moore, prior to graduation from NCWC, was a pretty good soccer player himself who had gotten his prep experience all over the nation as a Marine brat. He finished his high school career at Lejeune High before coming to Wesleyan.

He was recruited by former RMHS AD Walt Wiggins to get the two soccer programs off the ground.

And he did.

"I spent four great years at RMHS," said Moore recently. "(I) started coaching the boys in the fall of 1982, and the girls in the spring of 1983. Who knew it would be the beginning of a long career? That's where I developed a love for coaching! It's truly where my passion lies.

"I have fond memories of my time at RMHS, and I'm thrilled to hear that the programs have grown into something great," Moore said. "I'd love to hear where many of my former players are now.

"I imagine they are in their mid-forties. The time flies!"

Moore now lives in Texas and is still coaching, for the time being.

"I moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in 1993," he added. "I started coaching a couple of boys' teams in the local select league. Now I coach a group of girls who are seniors. I plan to retire after this group graduates."


(A Gryphon Glimpse is a regular series of posts featuring former Rocky Mount High School athletes or coaches.)

Elon to retire No. 19 jersey of Terrell Hudgins next weekend

By Elon Sports Information

ELON-- Former Elon Phoenix standout receiver Terrell Hudgins will be honored with the retirement of his jersey prior to Elon’s Oct. 2 game against the Samford Bulldogs announced the Elon Department of Athletics. The ceremony will take place on the field before the scheduled 1:30 p.m. Family Weekend kickoff.

“The retiring of a jersey is one of the highest honors that any athlete can be afforded,” said Director of Athletics Dave Blank. “Here at Elon, this recognition has never been taken lightly, as Terrell will be just the sixth student-athlete in any sport to have his jersey retired. “Terrell had an outstanding football career on the playing field and left an unforgettable impression on our football program, the school and this community. We could not be more excited or proud to announce the retirement of Terrell Hudgins’ No. 19 jersey.”

Hudgins, who will appear on Thursday night’s Elon Football Live radio show from The Fat Frogg in Elon, becomes the fourth football player in the history of the program to have his jersey retired. The others are running back Willie Tart, running back Bobby Hedrick and tight end Richard McGeorge.

“This is an honor that only three other players at Elon have ever had,” said Hudgins. “To have it done the season after I left means a lot to me and I am very grateful for all of the support I received at Elon. There are a lot of people who helped make this possible – my coaches, my teammates and the administration – and I thank them for everything they did to help me.”

Hudgins, a member of the Phoenix football team from 2005-09, graduated as the holder of 19 NCAA, Southern Conference or Elon records. He is the all-time NCAA Division I leader in career receiving yards (5,250), career receptions (395), career 100-yard receiving games (28) and career 1,000-yard receiving seasons (4). Four of the records broke by Hudgins during his illustrious career belonged to the legendary Jerry Rice, including the receiving yards mark which Hudgins surpassed at Western Carolina in 2009.

Hudgins twice led the nation in both receptions per game and receiving yards per game. As a sophomore in 2007, Hudgins averaged 10.6 catches per contest and 134.0 receiving yards per outing. He then averaged 10.3 grabs and 136.1 yards per game as he helped the Phoenix to a 9-3 campaign and the program’s first-ever FCS Playoff appearance in 2009.

In 2009, Hudgins finished second in the voting for the Walter Payton Award that is presented to the top player at the FCS level. He also earned Elon’s Stein H. Basnight Award as the top male athlete at the university in both 2007-08 and 2009-10.

During his four seasons in the maroon and gold, Hudgins collected first-team all-league honors from the SoCon's coaches three times and from the league's media all four years. He was named the SoCon Player of the Week on three occasions and the league's player of the month twice. Hudgins was a three-time first-team member of the Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America Team, a two-time AP All-American and a two-time first-team All-America pick by The Sports Network.

Stated Elon football coach Pete Lembo, “It was a pleasure to coach and mentor Terrell for four years. I hold him in the highest regard. He was a great wide receiver, but more importantly he is one of the most genuine and sincere people I have ever been around. He made, and continues to make, a tremendous, positive impact on the university community. Terrell is passionate about football and about Elon – and that was clear every time he stepped on the field. By the time he was a senior, he developed a strong work ethic in practice and became a vocal leader on our 2009 team. His contributions, both in terms of productivity on the field and leadership behind the scenes, were key ingredients to the revitalization of our football program and first-ever trip to the FCS playoffs last year."

To watch a video of Hudgins on his thoughts about his jersey being retired, click here!

Cobb has big play in upset of Iowa

Arizona senior Travis Cobb

"You sing a song, you win a Grammy" were the words of rock singer Don Henley on the 1990 Grammy Awards telecast. He won a Grammy for Best Male Rock Performance just minutes after he perfomed the song "End of the Innocence" live on stage.

I thought of that moment after senior Arizona receiver Travis Cobb's performance Saturday night. I wrote a blog post about his upcoming game just 48 hours before his team's contest with ninth-ranked Iowa, then he followed it up with a huge play on a national stage to help his squad pull off an upset win.

The former Gryphon (Class of 2005), who had little success on the gridiron as a receiver and much more on the diamond (batted .294, scored 20 runs as a second baseman his senior season) in his prep days, returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown - part of the Wildcats' 34-27 late triumph over the Hawkeys before the homefolks in Tuscon. It was the only matchup Saturday of two ranked teams.

He closed the evening with 148 yards in returns, caught a pass for four yards and had two carries for seven yards.

It looks like the now 14th-ranked Wildcats, a 10-spot jump from last week, will likely compete with Oregon, Stanford and USC for the Pac-10 title.

And speaking of Stanford, another Gryphon alum had to watch some carnage from the sidelines in Palo Alto a little later that evening.

Wake Forest redshirt freshman Whit Barnes, currently a third-string offensive lineman there, had to watch Andrew Luck and the Cardinal demolish the Deacons 68-24.

Follow the Gryphons on WZAX Jammin 99.3 FM tonight!

PINETOPS - If you can't make it to the football game pitting Rocky Mount and SouthWest Edgecombe Friday evening, then listen to it online or, if you're in the area, on the radio.

WZAX Jammin 99.3 FM will be carrying this game as part of its "Game of the Week" series. Two more Gryphon football games will be carried later this season.

Paul Andre and Bob Maloney will bring you all the action.

So tune in at 99.3 FM beginning at 7 p.m., or listen online by clicking right here!

Another coach about to join Holt and the boys

Former Rocky Mount head football coach B.W. Holt paid a visit to the Gryphons' sideline last Friday night against Hertford County at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex. Holt saw his former squad win 21-20.  (Photo/David Hahula)

If Providence Day (3-0) should upset Charlotte Catholic (4-0) Thursday evening, one more North Carolina high school head football coach will join the coveted 300-career victory club.

Bruce Hardin will join a gathering of seven head football coaches, including former Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt, should his Providence Day team beat another club member in Charlotte Catholic's Jim Oddo and his Cougar squad on the road.

Hardin got a great majority of his wins while coaching at Kannapolis Brown.

Also close to the mark is Murphy's David Gentry. He needs just three more wins to reach that coveted milestone.

Here are those seven current members with their total victories going into this football season:

N.C.'s Winningest High School Football Coaches

1. Bob Paroli (387 at six schools, including Douglas Byrd and Fayetteville 71st)
2. Jack Holley (380 at three schools, including Wallace-Rose Hill)
3. Tom Brown (352 at Bunker Hill and Maiden)
4. B.W. Holt (321 at six schools, including Starmount, Rocky Mount)
T5. Jim Oddo (305 at Charlotte Catholic)
T5. Daryl Allen (305 at Ahoskie/Hertford County)
7. Babe Howell (301 at Sylva-Webster/Smoky Mountain, Avery County).

A GRYPHON GLIMPSE - Arizona senior Travis Cobb

This is the first of a series of posts following past Gryphon athletes who are still performing on the college stage.

Today were are looking at former Rocky Mount baseball and football player Travis Cobb. He is a senior wide receiver/kick returner for the University of Arizona Wildcats football team.

The Wildcats have gotten out to a 2-0 start (huge wins over Toledo and the Citadel) and are ranked 24th in the lastest Associated Press poll.

Through two games, Cobb (6-1, 180) has caught five receptions for 45 yards, and run twice for 20 yards. He has returned three kickoffs for 79 yards, with a 39-yarder for his season high.

But he and his Wildcat teammates will face their biggest challenge so far this season when they entertain No. 11-ranked Iowa in Tuscon Saturday evening.


(A Gryphon Glimpse is a regular series of posts featuring former Rocky Mount High School athletes or coaches.)

Rocky Mount vs. SouthWest Edgecombe - The Series

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

Rocky Mount leads the series 10-2. The two teams will play Friday evening in Pinetops. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

ROCKY MOUNT vs. SOUTHWEST EDGECOMBE


1987: Rocky Mount 21, SW Edgecombe 18
1988: Rocky Mount 28, SW Edgecombe 0 (First-ever game played at 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
2007: Rocky Mount 15, SW Edgecombe 12
2008: Rocky Mount 7, SW Edgecombe 0
2009: SW Edgecombe 28, Rocky Mount 14

Get Rocky Mount-SouthWest Edgecombe football tickets in advance

Get your tickets in advance for $6!

If you don't want to wait in line to buy tickets at the gate at Friday night's Rocky Mount at SouthWest Edgecombe varsity football game, then get them in advance!



Rocky Mount will sell advance tickets to the game both Wednesday and Thursday during school hours at the athletic office in the Rocky Mount High student commons. Tickets are $6 each.

See athletic director Mike Gainey.

Other items available for sale in the athletic office include:

• Athletic Season passes - $100.00

• Letterman Jackets - $160.00

• State Basketball Champions T-shirts - $10.00

• Assorted Booster Club items

• State Basketball Championship watches - $50 (limited supply)



FRIDAY NIGHT PREVIEW: Hertford Co. vs. Rocky Mount

Here is a capsulized look at the Hertford County Bears, Rocky Mount's football opponent Friday evening!

HERTFORD COUNTY

LOCATION: Ahoskie
HEAD COACH: Scott Privott (second season)
CONFERENCE: Northeastern Coastal
CLASS: 3A
COLORS: Navy/Gold/White
MASCOT: Bears
2010 RECORD: 3-0, 0-0
2009 RECORD: 13-1; 6-0
SERIES with ROCKY MOUNT: RM leads 5-1
LETTERMEN RET: 25
OFF. STARTERS: 3
DEF. STARTERS: 4
OFF. FORM: Spread
DEF. FORM: 4-3

STRENGTHS: "We have a very strong junior class. We will be extremely good on the offensive and defensive lines."

WEAKNESSES: "Our skill people will be very young."

2010 OUTLOOK: "We hope to contend for a conference championship."

2010 SCHEDULE

Aug. 20 - GATES COUNTY (E) (won 21-20)
Aug. 27 - BERTIE (won 25-12)
Sep. 3 - NASH CENTRAL (won 21-20)
Sep. 10 @ Rocky Mount
Sep. 17 - TERRY SANFORD
Sep. 24 - NORTHEASTERN*
Oct. 1 - @ Edenton Holmes*
Oct. 8 - @ Currituck*
Oct. 15 - PASQUOTANK*
Oct. 22 - open
Oct. 29 - FIRST FLIGHT*
Nov. 5 - @ Bertie*

*Northeastern/Coastal 3-A/2-A Conference games

UNUSUAL STAT: Hertford Co. has allowed over 231 yds. per game, but only has gathered 206 yards per game itself.

KEY SENIORS:

DONTEZ TYLER (DE, 6-4, 225) He had 5 fumble recoveries returning one for a score in 2009. College prospect.

D'ISAAC JORDAN (DE, 6-1, 220) He had 5 fumble recoveries returning one for a score. College prospect.

PETEY BOONE (QB, 6-2, 180) - 9-22-2 178 yds, 4 TDs; 197 yards rushing on 34 carries 3 TD's

BRANDON WARREN (K/P, 6-3, 220) College prospect.

JUSTIN WATSON (WR/S, 6-1, 170) College prospect.

TIM LASSITER (DT, 6-0, 270).

KEY JUNIORS:

BLADEN GATLING (OT, 6-5, 300).

KENDALL SCOTT (OG, 6-0, 260).

First AP polls of the high school football season

Three Twin Counties teams are ranked in the first Associated Press high school football polls of the 2010 season.

In the 3-A ranks, undefeated Southern Nash (3-0) received 44 points to land in the No. 8 spot. West Rowan holds down the No. 1 position.

In the 2-A poll, Edgecombe County can bost having two of the top three teams in the state. SouthWest Edgecombe (3-0) received two first place votes (I would hope from the Rocky Mount Telegram and the Wilson Times) and 100 total points - good enough for the No. 2 spot. Reidsville, the team that knocked the Cougars out of last year's 2-AA state playoffs, is No. 1.

Defending 2-A state champion Tarboro, which survived its trip to Death Valley last week, is in the No. 3 spot with 80 points. The Vikings did get one first place vote.

North Edgecombe was an honorable mention vote getter in the 1-A poll (No.13) after a 22-14 defeat to SouthWest Edgecombe for its first loss of the season.

Class 3-A

1. West Rowan (11) (3-0) 134 1
2. Fayetteville Byrd (2) (3-0) 82
3. Asheville (1-0) 79 4
4. Charlotte Catholic (1) (3-0) 68
5. Marvin Ridge (3-0) 65
6. Eastern Alamance (3-0) 53 5
7. Lenoir Hibriten (3-0) 51 2
8. Southern Nash (3-0) 44
9. Shelby Crest (2-0) 43
10. Northern Guilford (2-1) 40 6

Others receiving votes: Belmont South Point 28, Hertford County 15, Havelock 9, South Johnston 8, Northeast Guilford 8, Weddington 6, Charlotte Latin 5, Charlotte Country Day 4, South Brunswick 4, Kannapolis Brown 4, Asheboro 4, Wilson Hunt 4, Western Alamance 4, Anson County 3, Lawndale Burns 2, Franklin 2, Waynesville Tuscola 1.

Class 2-A

1. Reidsville (10) (3-0) 128 1
2. SouthWest Edgecombe (3) (3-0) 100 2
3. Tarboro (1) (3-0) 80 4
4. Lincolnton (3-0) 76
5. Shelby (2-0) 52 8
6. Polk County (3-0) 40
(tie) Kinston (3-0) 40 9
(tie) Newton-Conover (2-0) 40 4
9. East Duplin (2-0) 35 3
10. Boonville Starmount (3-0) 32

Others receiving votes: Thomasville 32, East Bladen 28, Burnsville Mountain Heritage 17, Canton Pisgah 16, Salisbury 12, Jacksonville Northside 10, Catawba Bandys 6, Winston-Salem Carver 6, East Lincoln 4, Whiteville 3, Charlotte Berry Tech 3, Siler City Jordan-Matthews 3, Roanoke Rapids 3, South Iredell 2, Black Mountain Owen 1, North Brunswick 1.

Class 1-A

1. Albemarle (7) (3-0) 128 4
2. Wallace-Rose Hill (6) (2-0) 103 8
3. Southwest Onslow (1) (3-0) 97 2
4. Pender County (2-0) 67 6
5. Plymouth (3-0) 62
6. Avery County (3-0) 61
7. Hendersonville (2-0) 57 10
8. Swain County (2-1) 40
9. Manteo (2-0) 29 5
10. Mt. Airy (1-2) 16 1

Others receiving votes: Hobbton 15, Murphy 13, North Edgecombe 13, Kernersville McGuinness 12, Williamston Riverside 12, Warsaw Kenan 10, East Surry 9, West Montgomery 9, Monroe 6, Chocowinity Southside 6, Robbinsville 5.

The Trip to Beulaville

Except for an occasional trip down I-40, I had never made a stop in Duplin County before last Friday night.

But there I was - standing at the home of East Duplin football - Charles R. Powers Stadium, the site of the first-ever meeting of the Gryphons and the Panthers.

And immediately, I had feelings that I was in Pinetops.

East Duplin's colors are navy blue, light blue and white - the same as SouthWest Edgecombe's. A huge light blue panther paw was painted at midfield, with smaller versions placed around the periphery of the field. As you may know, a panther and a cougar are pretty much one in the same.

Fans of East Duplin arrive early at their home games. They were filing in an hour before the game.


And the Panther fans have an unusual tradition.


Like doting parents seated behing the backstop at their kids' Little League baseball games, fans actually plop down their canvas folding chairs and sit two yards behind each end zone.

Yes, a line of seated patrons the width of the football field at both ends of the gridiron.

A two-foot barrier drawn on the field beyond the end line defines this unusual seating arrangement. Several of these fans are kinda up in age. I'm sure many of them are someone's grandparents.

I'd be scared to death to run a fade route through the end zone and run into these guys!

And fans are close to action even from the stands.

For as long as I have been attending Rocky Mount games, this is the fifth different road venue I can remember that had no track surrounding the playing field. The old version of Durham County Stadium (where the Gryphons have played Northern Durham, Hillside and defunct Durham Senior High), and fields at Goldsboro and Southern Wayne.

And I know you old time RMHS fans remember playing Greenville Rose at ECU's then-called Ficklen Stadium.

East Duplin has been a 2-A powerhouse for years led by head coach Brian Aldridge. Aldridge has head coached a combined 25 years at East Duplin and Whiteville — at East Duplin from 1985 to 1989 and 1993 to the present, and at Whiteville from 1990 to 1993 (he was replaced there by current Roanoke Rapids head coach Russell Weinstein who left the head job at Tarboro to coach the Wolfpack). Aldridge has a career coaching record of 223-81-1.

But this will be the last season on the sidelines for Aldridge, or should I say, in the press box.

Unusually, Aldridge, 54, calls his offense from the press box on a headset - the only coach from his staff stationed up top. He announced that this would be his last season and he will retire from teaching at the end of the school year.

But this is not the first time Aldridge has announced his retirement. The Aldridge family was hit with tragedy in late 2006 when its youngest daughter was killed in an automobile accident.

After the 2007 season, he decided to call it quits. But after a six-week period over Christmas, he, with the support of his family, decided to come back to the program.

East Duplin went 8-6 in 2008 and 12-1 in 2009, but he has decided to call it quits for good after this season.

A member of N.C. football coaching royalty is waiting in the wings to be his replacement.
Battle Holley, son of the state's winningiest coach Jack Holley (Wallace-Rose Hill, South Columbus, Tabor City), brought Kinston back to prominence in football the last few seasons.

But the younger Holley's wife is an East Duplin alum and has always wanted to return her home town area. Holley resigned as head coach at Kinston this summer and took an assistant position with the Panthers.

You want to bet Holley won't be East Duplin's next head coach?

And there is a connection between the elder Holley and Rocky Mount. Former Rocky Mount head coach and AD Walt Wiggins played college football with Holley in the early 60s at Guilford College.

Noble, Spartans open on ESPN3 tonight

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The 70th season of Norfolk State football kicks off tonight as the Spartans will travel to face Division I FBS power Rutgers. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. from Rutgers Stadium, and the game will be carried on ESPN3 (formerly ESPN360).

The Spartans enter the 2010 season with 14 starters returning from last year’s 7-4 team, which gave the Spartans their second winning season in three years. Included among the 14 returning starters are seven All-MEAC performers from 2009.

Former Rocky Mount High School offensive lineman Kendall Noble (No. 78) will be one of those returning starters. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound redshirt junior is back after starting all 11 games last season at left tackle. Noble (RMHS Class of '07) has started NSU's last 22 games. He was a second-team All-MEAC selection last season.

Rutgers welcomes back 14 starters from last season’s 9-4 team which won its fourth straight bowl game. Despite losing two first-round NFL draft picks, the Scarlet Knights have high hopes for the 2010 season with six starters back on both sides of the ball as well as both kickers.

MEDIA COVERAGE
• TV: ESPN3.Com (Play-by-Play: Dave Popkin; Color: Drew Henson)
• Radio: NSU Sports Network, WNSB Hot 91.1 FM, WXTG 1490 AM The Game (Play-by-Play: Chris Park; Color: Ross Gordon)
• Audio Stream: Click here (or click “Live Audio” link under Inside Athletics tab)
• Live Stats: www.scarletknights.com

THE SERIES
• The teams have played once before, with the No. 13 ranked Scarlet Knights winning 59-0 on Sept. 15, 2007 at Rutgers Stadium.
• After a competitive first quarter, Rutgers scored 42 points in the second quarter to take a 45-0 lead into halftime. Rutgers scored once each in both the third and fourth quarters to wrap up the win.
• Despite the loss, head coach Pete Adrian pointed to the Rutgers game as a key in propelling the Spartans to an 8-3 finish - their first-ever winning record in Division I play - which included a runner-up finish in the MEAC.

QUICK HITS
• NSU was given the No. 25 preseason ranking in Lindy’s College Football Preview magazine, marking the first time NSU has achieved a preseason national ranking of any kind.
• NSU is 33-35-1 in season openers.
• The Spartans are 4-1 in season-openers under Pete Adrian.
• This marks the fi rst time since 1990 since NSU has not opened the year at home in the traditional Labor Day Classic against Virginia State. The LDC will resume in 2011.
• NSU is 3-6 all-time in ESPN-televised games, including a 1-1 mark on Thursday nights.
• This will be NSU’s third game against a Division I FBS opponent. The Spartans lost at Rutgers in 2007, and dropped a 38-3 decision at Kentucky in 2008.

NOTE

Noble had a brother, Wayne Jr., who also started for the Gryphons (defensive back) and played his college ball at Winston-Salem State with current Ram and Gryphon alum Nazir Levine. There had been talk that Levine and Kendall Noble would reunite on the offensive line as Levine, a Shrine Bowl participant after his fine career at RMHS, considered transferring to NSU. But Levine decided to finish out his career at WSSU.

RMHS to host Big East Basketball hoop tournament

After five years on the road, Rocky Mount won't have to travel anywhere this winter for the 2010-11 Big East Conference Basketball Tournament.

After trips to Nash Central, SouthWest Edgecombe, Wilson Fike and Wilson Hunt, the league's sixth tournament, with both girls and boys teams participating, will be held at Rocky Mount beginning Monday, Feb. 14. The boys will open play that evening in the quarterfinals, while the girls will start up the following night.

Wilson Fike is the defending boys and girls tournament champion.

Big East (NEW 6) 3-A Conference Basketball Tournament venues

2011 - Rocky Mount
2010 - WIlson Hunt
2009 - SouthWest Edgecombe
2008 - Wilson Fike
2007 - Nash Central
2006 - Rocky Mount

Shots of new RMHS under construction

A lot has gone on since the March groundbreaking at the Bethlehem Road site of the new Rocky Mount High School campus.

David Hahula recently took these pictures of the progress on the campus. They are moving right along to the July 2012 completion date.

Click on each shot to enlarge!

Wards hosting golf tournament to help fight Lupus

The disease Lupus first affected me and my family when my mom was diagnosed with it in 1968. She was told she might live three more years - tops.

With improving research with medication, she beat those odds and lived another 23 years before the side affects of treating the disease took their toll on her body and she passed in 1994.

I was saddened to hear recently that Jackie Ward, mom of former area athletes Jeremy Ward (RMHS baseball, Wake Forest/Long Beach State, MLB signee) and Travis Ward (NN baseball, Nash Co. Babe Ruth baseball coach), had been diagnosed with the disease as well.

In tribute to her and the millions who suffer from the still very obscure disease. the Wards' family business, Rocky Mount Recyclers, is hosting a golf tournament this fall to help raise funds to help fight this disease.

It will be hosting the 1st Annual Reaching for the Green Golf Tournament on Oct. 23. It will be held at Rocky Mount's Donald Ross-designed Benvenue Country Club and will benefit the Piedmont Chapter of the Lupus Foundation.

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that is often debilitating and can affect any part of the body. This disease attacks the immune system and causes the body to produce autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue versus producing antibodies that protect the body from viruses, bacteria and germs.

One out of 185 Americans is affected by Lupus, mostly women between the ages of 15-44. More than 16,000 new cases of Lupus are reported annually across the country.

But, there are advances being made every day in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

This year brings the possible approval of the first FDA-approved drug for Lupus in more than 51 years. The tournament's goal is that this golf event will only be the beginning in our fight to help find a cure for this disease.

There are a limited number of player reservations and sponsorship packages. Listed below are the ways you can help in this fight against Lupus:

• Contributing a financial gift to the Lupus Foundation of America
• Donating a raffle prize
• Donating items for our golfer goody bags

The Wards wish to thank you for your consideration and support of the Lupus Foundation of America.

Sponsorship Packages:

Platinum (1 sponsor) $5,000

• 2 teams of 4 players
• Your company logo and name on tournament t-shirt and event banner
• Exclusive sponsorship of putting green with a 4’x8’ sign
• Exclusive hole sponsorship (hole of choice)
• Opportunity to display corporate banner on site

Gold (1 sponsor) $3,000

• 1 team of 4 players
• Your company logo and name on tournament t-shirt and event banner
• Exclusive hole sponsorship (hole of choice other than one chosen by Platinum sponsor)
• Exclusive sponsorship of driving range with a 4’ x 8’ sign

Silver (3 sponsors) $2,000

• 1 team of 4 players
• Your company logo and name on tournament t-shirt and event banner
• 2 Non-exclusive hole sponsorships

Bronze (unlimited) $750

• 2 player reservations
• Your company name on t-shirt and event banner
• Non-exclusive hole sponsorship

Additional Opportunities:

Individual Player - $125
Foursome - $475
Hole sponsorships (non-exclusive) - $125
Donation of prizes for raffle
Mulligans, red tee busters, etc. sold day of tournament

Tournament Highlights:

All players will receive:

• A fried chicken and barbeque lunch
• A tournament t-shirt
• Beverages during play and awards ceremony
• A goody bag
• Each player will be entered into a raffle for various prizes

There will be prizes awarded for 1st and 2nd place as well as contests for closest to the pin and longest drive. A putting contest will also be held prior to the tournament.

Registration - 11:00 am
Lunch - 11:30 am
Putting contest - 12:15 pm
Shotgun start - 1:00 pm

WZAX Jammin 99.3 FM changes "Game of the Week" schedule

The high school football broadcast schedule for WZAX Jammin 99.3 FM's Game of the Week" has been modified. The station has changed five games on its 12-game schedule which features teams from Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson counties.

The station has now added a trio of games involving Rocky Mount. There were no Gryphon football games on the original schedule released earlier this month. The station opened the 2010 season last Friday by airing Northern Nash at Wilson Beddingfield.

On Sept. 3, the station will carry the Tarboro-Northern Nash game from Red Oak instead of Southern Nash at Wilson Beddingfield, which had been previously scheduled.

Rocky Mount's Sept. 17 trip to SouthWest Edgecombe will now be broadcasted instead of the C.B. Aycock at Wilson Fike contest.

Nash Central at Wilson Fike on Oct. 8 has been added supplanting Wilson Beddingfield at Farmville Central. Also added will be Wilson Fike at Rocky Mount the following week (Oct. 22). Now gone is SouthWest Edgecombe at Tarboro.

On the last week of the regular season (Nov. 5), the featured game will be Northern Nash at Rocky Mount instead of Tarboro at Wilson Beddingfield.

Paul Andre will handle the play-by-play for Jammin 99.3 FM. He will be joined by Bob Maloney who will provide color commentary.

The games in red represent the new games that have been added.

For those of you out of range of the station, listen to the games on the Intenet by clicking here.


WZAX JAMMIN 99.3 FM "GAME OF THE WEEK" SCHEDULE

Aug. 27 - Wilson Hunt @ Wilson Fike
Sept. 3 - Tarboro @ Northern Nash
Sept. 10 - Wilson Hunt @ SW Edgecombe
Sept. 17 - Rocky Mount @ SW Edgecombe
Sept. 24 - Wilson Beddingfield @ Greene Central
Oct. 1 - Kinston @ Wilson Beddingfield
Oct. 8 - Southern Nash @ Wilson Fike
Oct. 15 - Nash Central @ Wilson Fike
Oct. 22 - Wilson Fike @ Rocky Mount
Oct. 29 - Northern Nash @ Wilson Fike
Nov. 5 - Northern Nash @ Rocky Mount
Nov. 12 - NCHSAA playoffs - TBA

KFC to be scoreboard sponsor

Kentucky Fried Chicken, thanks to RMHS alum James Westcott, has agreed to be the scoreboard sponsor for Rocky Mount's home football games for 2010.

KFC, which is celebrating its 70th year of doing business, is aboard for the fourth straight season and we appreciate their support.

They are so G-OO-D to our program and we can't thank them enough!

RMHS-Bertie football series

The last time Rocky Mount played Bertie in football, the Falcons got their only win in their short-lived series, 27-21.

Now, the Gryphons have avenged that loss of 30 years ago!

Here is the series lineup between Rocky Mount and Bertie which the Gryphons now lead 6-1!

2010 - Rocky Mount 26, Bertie 7
1980 - Bertie 27, Rocky Mount 21
1979 - Rocky Mount 43, Bertie 22
1978 - Rocky Mount 19, Bertie 0
1977 - Rocky Mount 26, Bertie 6
1976 - Rocky Mount 47, Bertie 26
1975 - Rocky Mount 20, Bertie 8

But give the Bertie program great credit. It has won two state titles (1995 3-A, 2000 3-A) since the two teams last played and the Roy L. Bond Stadium, named after the late coach who led those Falcons teams to those championships, is 100 times better looking than it was the last time I traveled to Windsor for a football game.

New bleachers, a re-sodded field (thanks to baseball and assistant football coach Randy Whitaker), new scoreboard and new concession stand - all make the Falcons' refurbishhed home so inviting for visiting teams.

And there is a Gryphon walking the Bertie sideline now. Head trainer Billy McCallop, who has had several stops on the football training express (more recently Hertford County), is a Gryphon alum and learned his trade at the hands of Hall of Fame Rocky Mount head trainer Bernie Capps.

Ironically, there have been some other RMHS connections to Bertie over the years.

Former Rocky Mount principal (my principal) Elton Newbern taught there in the early sixties. Ray Durham, a former head football coach at Rocky Mount, taught and coached there before coming to RMHS in 1967 as an assistant.

Even recently-retired Rocky Mount band director Hosea Brower taught at Bertie just before coming here to lead the Gryphon Marching Band.

It just took us 30 years for us to get re-connected on the football field.


Rocky Mount 26, Bertie 7

Rocky Mount 7 6 6 7 — 26
Bertie 0 0 0 7 — 7

First Quarter
RM - Damien Richardson 1 run (Fernando Alfaro kick), 9:12

Second Quarter
RM - Miguel Valdez 67 pass from Diandre Harris (kick failed), 7:03

Third Quarter
RM - Rodquez Greene 72 fumble return (run failed), 6:24

Fourth Quarter
RM - Damien Strickland 12 pass from Tevin Taylor (Alfaro kick), 11:17
B - Pashon Cherry 66 fumble return (Johnathan Wilson kick),:47.4


RM B
First downs 10 12
Rushes-yards 30-129 49-181
Passing 3-5-0 2-2-0
Passing yards 82 14
Total yards 211 195
Fumbles lost 2 5
Penalties 6-36 5-35

Individual statistics

RUSHING – RM: Nah’jerrelle Graves 8-59, Damien Richardson 3-44, Mason King 4-29, Elijah Blount 1-5, Michael Hines 2-4, Rodquez Greene 4-(-1), Diandre Harris 2-(-4), Tevin Taylor 6-(-7). B: Corbin Rascoe 12-73, Erik Bowen 12-44, Darius Moody 9-34, Dontai Barnes 1-19, Malcolm Cherry 8-8, Dequan Perry 1-3, Johnathan Wilson 5-0.

PASSING – RM: Diandre Harris 1-3-0 67, Tevin Taylor 2-2- 15. B: Malcolm Cherry 2-2-0 14.

RECEIVING – RM: Miguel Valdez 1-67, Damien Strickland 1-12, Damien Richardson 1-3. B: Pashon Cherry 1-11, Desmon Askew 1-3.

Weekend review

Gryphon and UNC-bound senior Benton Moss got to pitch one inning of the Under Armour All-Star Baseball Game at Wrigley Field in Chicago Saturday. Playing for the East in his fifth-inning adventure, he prepares to send a pitch to home plate.

Moss, who has an astounding 23-2 career record on the mound for the Gryphons, needs just six victories to become school's career leader in wins. (Photo/Ashley Moss)


RMHS junior Nah'jerrelle Graves (32) runs through Garner's defense Saturday in the opening game of the HighSchoolOT.com Jamboree at Southeast Raleigh High School. Garner posted two late second-half scores on a 20-yard pass and a six-yard run for the Gryphons to fall 12-0.

Rocky Mount opens the regular season Friday as it renews a rivalry that's been dormant for 31 years as it travels to one-time conference foe Bertie. Game time is 7:30 p.m. (Photo/HighSchoolOT.com)

WZAX 99.3 FM High School Football "Game of the Week"

WZAX Jammin 99.3 FM will provide a high school football "Game of the Week" each Friday of the upcoming football season - beginning Friday when Northern Nash travels to Wilson Beddingfield.

The broadcast, which at last reference will include Paul Andre and Bob Maloney doing the play-by-play and color, respectively, will begin each game night's coverage at 7 p.m.

The Beddingfield faithful will happy to know that its games will be covered six times this season to lead the schools that will be aired.

Those of you who live outside the range of the station can listen online at http://jammin99.3.com

Here is the complete 2010 season's coverage. Games involving Nash County schools will be in bold.

Aug. 20 - Northern Nash @ Wilson Beddingfield
Aug. 27 - Wilson Hunt @ Wilson Fike
Sept. 3 - Southern Nash @ Wilson Beddingfield
Sept. 10 - Wilson Hunt @ SW Edgecombe
Sept. 17 - C.B. Aycock @ Wilson Fike
Sept. 24 - Wilson Beddingfield @ Greene Central
Oct. 1 - Kinston @ Wilson Beddingfield
Oct. 8 - Southern Nash @ Wilson Fike
Oct. 15 - Wilson Beddingfield @ Farmville Central
Oct. 22 - SW Edgecombe @ Tarboro
Oct. 29 - Northern Nash @ Wilson Fike
Nov. 5 - Tarboro @ Wilson Beddingfield
Nov. 12 - NCHSAA playoffs - TBA

RMHS band director retires

One faithful member of the Rocky Mount football support staff won't be on the sidelines this season.

Rocky Mount High School band director Hosea Brower has retired from Nash-Rocky Mount Schools after 20 years at RMHS and over 30-plus years of teaching music across the state.

Brower replaced the much-beloved John Sykes as the band's director in 1990 when Sykes retired and Brower came over from then-Edwards Junior High.

So the Gryphon band has had just two directors in 40 years. Too bad football coaches don't have that type tenure.

Brower will be sorely miss by the Rocky Mount faithful.

But worry not, a new man is on the job.

Dominique Reynolds, who comes to Rocky Mount High from the Richmond, Va. area, has taken over for Brower. We hope Reynolds can continue the tradition of fine marching bands at RMHS.

And one more thing.

Someone will have to teach him how "I'm so glad I go to Senior High" goes!

Hudgins watch

Former RMHS standout Terrell Hudgins had his biggest play of his short pro career with the Dallas Cowboys when he caught a 40-yard pass from reserve quarterback Matt Nichols Thursday evening.

The Cowboys (1-1), in their preseason home opener, lost to the Oakland Raiders 17-9.

Dallas will now pack its bags for a two-week stay in Oxnard, Calif. before retuning the Dallas for the start of the regular season.

If Hudgins continues to show these flashes of brilliance, how can he not make their 53-man final roster.

To watch Hudgins' catch. click here!

RMHS gridiron coaching changes

It never fails. Changes are inevitible, even in the best of high school football programs.

At Rocky Mount High, it's no different.

There have been coaching changes on second-year head coach Dickie Schock's staff. Let's look at the additions.

A.B. Whitley, the defensive coaching specialist who can sport three, count them, three state championship rings, will be helping the Gryphons stop opponents in 2010.

His influence can't hurt. After all, Rocky Mount gave up 20 points a games in 2009, almost 10 points more a contest than it did in 2008 when it allowed just 9.8 per contest.

Whitley, who helped North Edgecombe (1-A: 1994,1997), and more recently Tarboro (2-A, 2009), win state titles, has joined the Gryphon coaching staff. Whitley has also coached at Northern Nash and SouthWest Edgecombe.

How many people can claim that have had a hand in guiding five of the Twin Counties' seven high school football program?

Back in the Gryphon gridiron fold is Jason Battle, the one-time three-sport RMHS athlete who took a year break from coaching football last season.

Sadly, gone after just one season is Will Harrell. But I can't blame him for leaving. He had two motivating influences - his dad and a new school!

As mentioned in an earlier blog entry, Will will be joining his dad Clark, who is the head coach at Franklinton High School.

He will be coaching the defense for the Rams. Just like RMHS, Franklinton is also building a new campus, but it is expected to be open the next school year.

Gryphons picked to place third in Big East gridiron race

STANHOPE - Rocky Mount was voted to finish third in Big East Conference football in a vote of the league's head coaches Wednesday morning.

The vote came during the league's annual coaches' meeting held at Southern Nash High School. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.

Leading the balloting was Southern Nash. The Firebirds, who return two 1,000-yard rushers in Tracy Coppedge and Terron Huffman, received four first-place votes and gathered 24 points. Southern, which finished third in the league last season, made it to the NCHSAA 3-AA eastern finals where it lost to South Johnston in the final minutes of the game.

Coming in second was Wilson Hunt with two first-place votes and 22 total points. The Warriors, the defending conference champions, fell to Southern Nash in the second round of last year's playoffs. They return the league's second-leading rusher in senior Caleb Driver.

Southern and Hunt combined to get every first- or second-place vote by the coaches.

The Gryphons, who will face the 2010 season without the school's all-time leading rusher (Marquavis Alston) and the program's third-leading passer (Collins Cuthrell), placed third in the voting with 15 points.

One conference coach voted Rocky Mount to come in last in the league. Two voted it second and two voted it to place third. RMHS was the runner-up to Hunt in the conference race last season (7-5, 4-1) and a second-round 3-AA playoff victim to South Johnston.

Northern Nash, which won just two games last season under first-year head coach Mickey Crouch, finished one point behind Rocky Mount in fourth with 14. The Knights received four third-place nods and one coach had them fourth.

Nash Central received nine points and placed fifth, Wilson Fike, which has only three starters back for the 2010 season, was sixth with six points.


2010 BIG EAST 3-A CONFERENCE PRESEASON FOOBALL COACHES POLL

1. Southern Nash (4) - 24 pts.
2. Wilson Hunt (2) - 22 pts.
3. Rocky Mount - 15 pts.
4. Northern Nash - 14 pts.
5. Nash Central - 9 pts.
6. Wilson Fike - 6 pts.

Southern, Northern in same event Friday

Nash County will be buzzing with prep football by this weekend.

While Rocky Mount and Nash Central will open their football preseasons in the same event, so will Northern Nash and Southern Nash, but a day earlier.

The two will be playing Friday in the annual North Johnston High School Football Jamboree in Kenly.

Along with the Knights and the Firebirds, the field will include host North Johnston, South Johnston, new Corinth-Holders' JV squad, Wilson Beddingfield, North Duplin, Dixon, Rosewood, Spring Creek and Louisburg.

It's at Louisburg where former longtime Rocky Mount assistant coach Chris Lee will begin his second season as head coach.

Play is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with the teams using a round-robin format.

Southern Nash will kick off its regular season campaign with a visit to Franklinton on Friday, Aug. 20. Northern Nash will open on the same day against Wilson Beddingfield on the road.

Speaking of Franklinton High, that's the destination of former Rocky Mount assistant coach Will Harrell. Harrell, who spent one season with the Gryphons, will join his father, Red Rams' head coach Clark Harrell, on the staff and will be coaching the defense.