One Busy Holt!

Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt has been pretty busy lately, despite not having to get his team ready for the state finals.

Holt was in Bowling Green, Ky. late last week visiting his grandaughter (Maggie) and her family (son Stu is running backs coach at Western Kentucky), then he flew back to North Carolina Friday night.

He drove to Winston-Salem Saturday morning to see the 3-A and 3-AA state title games, then Sunday, he and wife Barbara will be in Charlotte for the Carolina Panthers' game with the Denver Broncos (they are season ticket holders).

While Barbara will head back to Rocky Mount, Holt will travel down I-85 to check out his player Whit Barnes and the N.C. team at the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas game practices. Holt and N.C. head coach Gary Fowler (Clayton) go way back, he says.

Then he will return to RM later in the week for his school duties - including a meeting of the NEW 6 football coaches to vote on the All-Conference team (look for the release of that team Friday - right here on this blog!)

Then it's back to Spartanburg Saturday for the Shrine Bowl game at Wofford College.

This man, at age 64, has more energy than I had at age 14!

Seeing the price of gas drop to sub-$1.60 a gallon levels doesn't hurt either!

West Rowan wins 3-A state title

My NCHSAA 3-A state championship poll voters were a little off, so it seems, as West Rowan claimed the NCHSAA 3-A state football title with a convincing 35-7 win over West Craven Saturday at BB&T Field in Winston-Salem.

In my poll results, only three percent of you chose West Rowan to win it all. Congrats to that small group for getting it right

Too bad the 65 percent who chose the Gryphons were wrong!

From reports I got Saturday (I saw the games in Raleigh at Carter-Finley Stadium) - mainly from WCTI TV 12 sports anchor Brian North, it may have been the setting, the overwhelming desire to get their coach a title for his retirement present or just plain nervousness that put West Craven in a hole from the very beginning of its game with West Rowan.

An 88-yard TD run on the very first play from scrimmage for West Rowan could do that!

Barnes is in S.C. practicing for Shrine Bowl

Rocky Mount senior center Whit Barnes reported to camp Saturday for the N.C. squad that will face South Carolina in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas in Spartantburg, S.C. this Saturday.

The game will be played at Wofford's Gibbs Stadium. Kick-off is at 1 p.m.

Clayton head coach Gary Fowler will guide the Tar Heel squad.

The game will not be on live TV, but it will be tape-delayed by ESPNU and can be seen on a rotating basis starting Jan. 9.

Rocky Mount-West Craven slideshow

Free-lance photographer David Hahula, father of RM athlete Nick Hahula, took about 100 shots for the Rocky Mount Telegram Friday night of the Gryphon fans, sideline action and halftime festivities during last Friday's West Craven football playoff game.

As a salute to the biggest crowd I have ever seen attend a Gryphon football game at the RMAC in its 22 seasons as Rocky Mount's home field, check out this slideshow by clicking here!

Rocky Mount takes broom out on Hertford County

AHOSKIE - Rocky Mount's varsity basketball teams made their longest road trip of the regular season Tuesday evening and came home with victories.

They traveled to Hertford County and came back with a 65-61 triumph in boys play and a 57-43 win in girls action.

The Gryphons rallied from a sluggish 24-6 deficit after the first period to end the first half up 36-30. The game was tied at 45-all starting the fourth quarter.

Junior Tashawn Mabry led all scorers with 28 points, followed by senior point guard Alonzo (Bobo) Sharpe with 22.

The Gryphons remained unbeaten on the season at 5-0.

The Lady Gryphs moved above .500 (3-2) for the first time this season after handing Hertford County a 57-43 defeat.

RMHS trailed 11-9 after the first period, but it outscored the Lady Bears 20-7 in the second quarter to take a 29-18 lead at intermission.

Dyonna Battle led Rocky Mount with 15 points. Danita Whitaker had 14 and Alexis Farmer added 10.

Lady Gryphons will play in the Nash County Christmas Tournament

While Rocky Mount's boys basketball team will be playing in the GlaxoSmithKline Invitational in Raleigh over the Christmas holidays, the Lady Gryphons will be taking the court in the annual Nash County Holiday Basketball Tournament to be held Dec. 22-23 (Monday-Tuesday) at Nash Central High School.

Rocky Mount is the defending girls champion. RMHS won the boys title last year also.

Here are the pairings for the event:

Dec. 22

• 2 p.m. -- Northern Nash girls vs. Rocky Mount girls
• 4 p.m. -- Southern Nash boys vs. Nash Central boys
• 6 p.m. -- Southern Nash girls vs. Nash Central girls
• 8 p.m. -- Bunn boys vs. Northern Nash boys

Dec. 23

• 2 p.m. -- Girls consolation game
• 4 p.m. -- Boys consolation game
• 6 p.m. -- Girls championship game
• 8 p.m. -- Boys championship game

Admission to the event will be $8 each day.

Stat Crunch: West Craven vs. Rocky Mount

(14 GAMES EACH)

POINTS SCORED

553 - Rocky Mount

515 - West Craven

POINTS ALLOWED

113 - Rocky Mount

173 - West Craven

RUSHING YDS.

551-3,797 - Rocky Mount

370-1,769 - West Craven

PASSING YDS.

77-139-5 1,531 - Rocky Mount

228-381-8 3,575 - West Craven

TOTAL OFFENSE

690-5,328 - Rocky Mount

751-5,344 - West Craven

TURNOVER RATIO

+9 (13/22) - Rocky Mount

+23 (12/35) - West Craven

TOP PASSER

1,418 - Collins Cuthrell, Rocky Mount

3,546 - Brett Mooring, West Craven

TOP RUSHER

975, 16 TDs - Marquavis Alston, Rocky Mount

294, 2 TDs - Tyree Dawson, West Craven

TOP RECEIVER

48-1,129, 9 TDs - Keith Strickland, Rocky Mount

66-1,272, 12 TDs - Erik Highsmith, West Craven

TOP DEFENDER

91 tackles - Chris Pittman, Rocky Mount

109 tackles - Justin Bryant, West Craven

Rocky Mount football records at a glance

Rocky Mount's football team needs 24 more points to set the school record for points scored in a season. RMHS currently has scored 511 points. School record – 534, 2004.

Junior Marquavis Alston needs 83 yards to become the first Rocky Mount running back to record two 1,000-yard seasons in rushing (1,576 in 2007). Until Alston came around, no sophomore had recorded a 1,000-yard rushing season, and his is about to become the first junior to do so, too.

Every 1,000-yard rusher in RMHS history, astoundingly, has been a senior up to Alston's appearance in the varsity lineup in 2007. Only Linwood Silver in 1996, as a junior, got close. He had 993 yards that season - one that ended with a playoff loss at Richmond County (26-3).

Another 108 yards of total offense will give RMHS its fourth straight season of 5,000 total yards or more. The 2007 team has the school record – 5,558. The current squad has 4,892. (5.219, 2005; 5,509, 2006; 5,558, 2007). Every year B.W. Holt has been at RMHS, the team has set a school record in that category.

Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt, in his sixth season at RMHS, recorded Gryphon win No. 70 Friday night. He is 70-12 and his career coaching record now stands at 320-112-2 in 39 seasons.

Senior kicker Nick Hahula has made 198 PATs (198/239, .828) in his career – which ties him for second in state history with Shon Rouser (East Duplin, 1995-98). The all-time leader is Albemarle’s Tyler Lewis (2000-2003) with 350. Hahula has scored more points than any football player in RMHS history (198 PATs, 24 field goals, 17 rushing TDs, 1 receiving TD, 1 2-pt. conversion run – 380 points). This season, this is his scoring breakdown: 65 PATs, 8 field goals, 11 rushing TDs, 1 receiving TD, 1 2-pt. conversion run – 163 pts.

Rocky Mount sweeps Goldsboro in hoop openers Tuesday

GOLDSBORO - Rocky Mount basketball was successful on both varsity fronts Tuesday evening as both the boys and girls teams opened play for the 2008-09 season.

The Gryphons, playing without several players who are still on the football field, got into a track meet with the homestanding Cougars, but they left with a 94-86 win.

Junior All-American candidate Tashawn Mabry led the Gryphs with 37 points.

On the girls side, senior Dyonna Battle led all scorers with 23 points as the Lady Gryphons beat Goldsboro 66-48.

The Lady Gryphons led 13-12 after one quarter, but used a 12-3 run to start the second quarter and extended their lead to 23-15. The margin grew to 36-25 at the half and was up to 50-35 after three quarters.

The home folks will get to the see the teams for the first time this season Thursday when Southeast Raleigh makes a trip to RMHS. The varsity girls will start play around 6 p.m. followed by the boys around 7:30.

Rocky Mount's Goodwin signs with UNC, NN's Joyner inks with ECU

About 16 months ago, both Northern Nash pitcher Tyler Joyner and Rocky Mount outfielder Brian Goodwin, as rising juniors, announced their verbal commitments to play college baseball.

Last week, they stayed true to their word by putting it in writing.

Both, now seniors, signed national letters of intent to those schools.

Joyner, who grew up an East Carolina sports fan, signed with the Pirates and head coach and Rocky Mount resident Billy Godwin.

Goodwin, a lifelong UNC Tar Heels devotee, inked with Mike Fox’s boys in blue in Chapel Hill.They are the first Nash County players to sign with a Div. I baseball program in the same year since Rocky Mount’s Carter Harrell and Paul Jenkins both signed with UNC in 2001.

The two, longtime friends and adversaries, just couldn’t wait until the national signing date (Nov. 12) to come around.

“I was just waiting for the day that I could sign,” said Joyner, a 6-foot, 180-pound lefty who has topped out at 91 miles an hour but consistently throws in the high 80s. “I knew back then that ECU was the place for me. It was just a matter of time for me to make it official.

“I had no intention of going anywhere else,” he said. “It’s the perfect place for me. Coach Godwin has been just great through out the whole process. He was just a phone call away whenever I needed information, or wanted something, he was right there. He’s a great coach and I can’t wait to play for him.”

Goodwin, the MVP of the NCHSAA 3-A state championship series for the Gryphons, says joining the Tar Heels is like being with family.

“They (the coaches and players) just make you feel welcomed, like you’re at home,” said Goodwin, a 6-1, 181-pound All-American who played in two national All-Star games (Aflac, Under Armour) last summer. “I never got that feeling anywhere else. They took a deep interest in me from the beginning and they never stopped staying in touch with me. They let me know that I was really wanted.

“And there’s nothing not to like about the program at UNC,” said Goodwin, who batted .473 for the Gryphons last season to go with his state-leading 15 doubles, 45 runs scored and 21 RBI. “They’ve been to the World Series the last two seasons, they will have a great new baseball park when I get there and the school is fantastic.”

Goodwin is in line to become Rocky Mount’s career leader in hits, stolen bases, doubles and triples this coming season.

Joyner has been a cornerstone of the Knights’ program the last two seasons. A two-time All-NEW 6 Conference performer, he has compiled a career record of 20-6 with 261 strikeouts and an ERA just below 1.50. Northern’s most successful seasons in the last decade have come during his tenure (54-25 over the last three seasons).

With all the official stuff behind him, he knows he has to concentrate on being a better athlete for his team this coming season and for the future as a Pirate.

“I’m really working hard to get stronger and gain more control of my pitches,” said Joyner, who not only credits people like former Babe Ruth coach Travis Ward, former Northern head coach Al Carter and current Knights coach Eddie Loesner for his success, but he put his dad Ricky at the top of the list. “My dad was my first coach and he instilled the basics of baseball in me. He put me on the road to success.”

Goodwin, who is moonlighting as a starting defensive back and kick returner for top-ranked Rocky Mount football team, gives much of the credit for his good fortune on the diamond to Rocky Mount head coach Pat Smith and his assistant coach Jason Battle.

“Coach Smith took me under his wing in the ninth grade and taught me more about the mental side of the game,” he said. “He is always encouraging me to be the best player I can be.“Coach Battle has made me a better outfielder with the drills he’s taught me. He’s helped me a lot on playing my position in center field.”

Both have aspirations of being starters as freshmen when they hit campus in Greenville and Chapel Hill, respectively.

But for now, Goodwin has his sights on another state championship ring and Joyner would be glad to deny him with one for himself.

Rocky Mount will welcome the Cardinals to town Friday

Rocky Mount's luck started off right when the NCHSAA 3-A football playoff pairings were released Saturday evening.

The Gryphons were fortunately to secure the draw with West Craven for the No. 1 seed in the 3-A East pairings. That means as long as it wins, RMHS will play at the RMAC until state title contest!

Yes, there will be no trip to Western Alamance this year - thank goodness!

The Jacksonville Cardinals will come to town Friday as the Gryphons' first playoff opponent. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

We have a history with Jacksonville, but it's been a while since we faced the Cardinals. The 1981 4-A state champions, with former Rocky Mount head coach Ray Durham at the helm, have not faced the Gryphons since 1987.

Jacksonville's last great season came in 1994 as it lost in the 4-A state finals to Shelby Crest 28-7 in Chapel Hill - which I witnessed. That defeat came just hours before North Edgecombe, with Raymond Cobb, won its first 1-A state title, 7-6 over Murphy - in a fog bank, as those who were there will remember.

RMHS is 3-4 all-time against the Cardinals. Here are the series' scores:

1987 - JAX wins 7-6 (playoffs)

1979 - RM wins 28-27 (playoffs)

1977 - RM wins 20-13 (playoffs)

1968 - JAX wins 10-6

1967 - JAX wins 26-20

1966 - JAX wins 13-6

1965 - RM wins 7-0

Below are Jax's 2008 results. The Cardinals were 2-9 this past season, but got to drop their season-opening endowment game loss at Kinston. They will be coming into Rocky Mount on the high of a victory - 27-15 over White Oak. Jacksonville has been outscored this season 361-138.

2008 CARDINALS SCHEDULE

Aug. 22 - @ KINSTON - L, 28-6
Aug. 29 - SOUTHWEST ONSLOW - L, 25-7
Sep. 5 - @ NORTHSIDE-JAX - L, 41-7
Sep. 12 - @ HAVELOCK - L, 34-10

Sep. 19 - RICHLANDS - L, 51-7
Sep. 26 - ASHLEY - L, 14-10
Oct. 3 - LANEY - W, 26-24
Oct. 17 - @ NEW HANOVER - L, 42-3

Oct. 27 - @ WEST BRUNSWICK - L, 35-21

Oct. 31 - @ HOGGARD - L, 52-14
Nov. 7 - WHITE OAK - W, 27-15

2008 NCHSAA Football Playoff Pairings

(All records are based on 10 games. Teams that played an endowment game were allowed to drop a loss in a non-conference game).

CLASS 4-AA EAST

(10) West Johnston (7-3) at (7) Apex (8-2)
(15) Southern Pines Pinecrest (6-4) at (2) Wilmington Hoggard (9-1)
(11) Raleigh Wakefield (7-3) at (6) Lumberton (8-2)
(14) Durham Jordan (6-4) at (3) Wake Forest-Rolesville (9-1)
(9) Raleigh Millbrook (8-2) at (8) Garner (7-3)
(16) Raleigh Sanderson (5-5) at (1) Fayetteville Jack Britt (9-1)
(12) Raleigh Enloe (6-4) at (5) Raleigh Leesville Road (8-2)
(13) Raleigh Broughton (6-4) at (4) Hope Mills South View (7-3)

CLASS 4-AA WEST

(10) Charlotte Zeb Vance (6-4) at Huntersville Hopewell (7-3)
(15) Charlotte Myers Park (5-5) at (2) East Forsyth (10-0)
(11) Northwest Guilford (6-4) at (6) Richmond Senior (7-2-1)
(14) North Mecklenburg (6-4) at (3) West Charlotte (8-2)
(9) West Forsyth (8-2) at (8) East Mecklenburg (8-2)
(16) West Mecklenburg (5-5) at (1) Charlotte Independence (10-0)
(12) Davie (7-3) at (5) Matthews David Butler (9-1)
(13) Providence (6-4) at (4) Charlotte Garinger (4-6)

CLASS 4-A EAST

(10) Smithfield-Selma (6-4) at (7) Apex Middle Creek (4-6)
(15) Cary (4-6) at (2) Southeast Raleigh (9-1)
(11) Fayetteville Pine Forest (5-5) at (6) Durham Hillside (9-0-1)
(14) Raleigh Athens Drive (4-6) at (3) Southern Durham (8-2)
(9) New Bern (6-3-1) at Fayetteville Douglas Byrd (8-2)
(16) Fayetteville Terry Sanford (4-6) at (1) Fuquay-Varina (10-0)
(12) Northern Durham (5-5) at (5) Wilmington New Hanover (6-4)
(13) Fayetteville Cape Fear (5-5) at (4) Greenville Rose (6-4)

CLASS 4-A WEST

(10) South Caldwell (5-5) at (7) Winston-Salem R.J. Reynolds (6-4)
(15) North Davidson (5-5) at (2) Asheville A.C. Reynolds (9-1)
(11) South Mecklenburg (6-4) at (6) East Burke (7-3)
(14) Watauga (5-5) at (3) Boiling Springs Crest (7-3)
(9) Lumberton Purnell Swett (7-3) at (8) Fayetteville Seventy-First (9-1)
(16) Gastonia Ashbrook (4-6) at (1) Winston-Salem Mount Tabor (10-0)
(12) High Point Central (6-4) at (5) Greensboro Page (7-3)
(13) Fayetteville Westover (5-5) at (4) Chapel Hill (8-2)

CLASS 3-AA EAST

(10) Wilson Fike (8-2) at (7) Asheboro (8-2)
(15) Winterville South Central (5-5) at (2) Greensboro Dudley (10-0)
(11) Western Guilford (6-4) at (6) Erwin Triton (8-2)
(14) Southeast Guilford (7-3) at (3) Jamestown Ragsdale (10-0)
(9) Wilson Hunt (4-6) at (8) Northeast Guilford (5-5)
(16) Western Harnett (4-6) at (1) Harnett Central (10-0)
(12) Spring Lake Overhills (4-6) at (5) West Brunswick (6-4)
(13) Trinity (4-6) at (4) Northern Vance (6-4)

CLASS 3-AA WEST

(10) Sun Valley (7-3) at (7) Mooresville (8-2)
(15) Hickory (6-4) at (2) Kings Mountain (8-2)
(11) Asheville T.C. Roberson (6-4) at (6) Charlotte Olympic (8-2)
(14) Hickory St. Stephens (6-4) at (3) Anson (8-2)
(9) Winston-Salem Parkland (4-6) at (8) Asheville Clyde Erwin (6-4)
(16) Northwest Cabarrus (4-6) at (1) Charlotte Catholic (9-1)
(12) Waxhaw Marvin Ridge (6-4) at (5) Gastonia Forestview (8-2)
(13) Lake Norman (6-4) at (4) Kannapolis Brown (9-1)

CLASS 3-A EAST

(10) Havelock (8-2) at (7) Washington (7-3)
(15) Bertie (5-5) at (2) West Craven (10-0)
(11) South Granville (7-3) at (6) SouthWest Edgecombe (8-2)
(14) Nash Central (5-5) at (3) Kinston (9-1)
(9) Wilson Beddingfield (8-2) at (8) Oxford Webb (8-2)
(16) Jacksonville (2-8) at (1) Rocky Mount (10-0)
(12) Hope Mills Gray¹s Creek (5-5) at (5) Eastern Alamance (9-1)
(13) Eastern Wayne (5-5) at (4) Hertford (9-1)

CLASS 3-A WEST

(10) Western Alamance (8-2) at (7) High Point Andrews (7-3)
(15) South Rowan (5-5) at (2) Belmont South Point (10-0)
(11) R-S Central (7-3) at (6) Asheville (7-3)
(14) Gastonia Hunter Huss (6-4) at (3) Waynesville Tuscola (9-1)
(9) Monroe Parkwood (7-3) at (8) Statesville (8-2)
(16) Franklin (5-5) at (1) West Rowan (10-0)
(12) North Buncombe (7-3) at (5) Newton Fred T. Foard (8-2)
(13) West Iredell (6-4) at (4) Winston-Salem Carver (9-1)

CLASS 2-AA EAST

(10) Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons (6-4) at (7) Ledford (8-2)
(15) Richlands (5-5) at (2) Marshville Forest Hills (8-2)
(11) South Brunswick (8-2) at (6) East Duplin (8-2)
(14) Central Davidson (5-5) at (3) Orange (7-3)
(9) North Pitt (6-4) at (8) Southern Guilford (7-3)
(16) West Stanly (4-6) at (1) Reidsville (10-0)
(12) Mayodan McMichael (8-2) at (5) West Stokes (8-2)
(13) Eastern Guilford (7-3) at (4) Pittsboro Northwood (9-1)

CLASS 2-AA WEST

(10) Mount Pleasant (7-3) at (7) North Surry (4-6)
(15) South Iredell (4-6) at (2) East Henderson (10-0)
(11) Salisbury (6-4) at (6) Canton Pisgah (8-2)
(14) Forest City Chase (4-6) at (3) Lenoir Hibriten (9-1)
(9) North Lincoln (7-3) at (8) Lincolnton (8-2)
(16) East Rutherford (4-6) at (1) East Lincoln (10-0)
(12) Catawba Bandys (5-5) at (5) Ashe County (8-2)
(13) Black Mountain C.D. Owen (4-6) at (4) Shelby (8-2)

CLASS 2-A EAST

(10) North Brunswick (6-4) at (7) Southwest Onslow (8-2)
(15) Whiteville (4-6) at (2) Northside (Jacksonville) 10-0)
(11) Clinton (6-4) at (6) Northwest Halifax (8-2)
(14) Greene Central (4-6) at (3) Elizabeth City Northeastern (10-0)
(9) Kill Devil Hills First Flight (7-3) at (8) Franklinton (6-4)
(16) Pasquotank (4-6) at (1) Tarboro (10-0)
(12) Edenton Holmes (5-5) at (5) Goldsboro (8-1-1)
(13) Newport Croatan (4-6) at (4) Bunn (9-1)

CLASS 2-A WEST

(10) Monroe (8-2) at (7) Bessemer City (8-2)
(15) Graham (4-6) at (2) Newton-Conover (9-1)
(11) Wilkes Central (6-4) at (6) West Bladen (6-4)
(14) Providence Grove (5-5) at (3) Burnsville Mountain Heritage (9-1)
(9) Brevard (6-4) at (8) Lexington (7-3)
(16) Burlington Cummings (4-6) at (1) South Columbus (10-0)
(12) Red Springs (6-4) at (5) West Davidson (8-2)
(13) Maiden (6-4) at (4) Boonville Starmount (8-2)

CLASS 1-AA EAST

(10) Pamlico (6-4) at (7) Hampstead Topsail (9-1)
(15) Gates (2-8) at (2) East Bladen (10-0)
(11) Southeast Halifax (6-4) at (6) Pender (6-4)
(14) Rocky Point Heide Trask (3-7) at (3) Louisburg (10-0)
(9) North Johnston (5-5) at (8) Newton Grove Midway (9-1)
(16) Wallace-Rose Hill (2-8) at (1) Warsaw James Kenan (10-0)
(12) East Columbus (5-5) at (5) Ayden-Grifton (8-2)
(13) Dixon (4-6) at (4) Camden (9-1)

CLASS 1-AA WEST

(10) Kernersville Bishop McGuinness (6-4) at (7) East Surry (8-2)
(15) West Wilkes (2-8) at (2) Murphy (10-0)
(11) West Columbus (5-5) at (6) Siler City Jordan-Matthews (9-1)
(14) Avery (2-8) at (3) Hendersonville (10-0)
(9) Polk County (7-3) at (8) West Montgomery (7-3)
(16) East Wilkes (2-8) at (1) Thomasville (10-0)
(12) Swain County (5-5) at (5) Cherryville (4-6)
(13) South Stokes (3-7) at (4) Albemarle (10-0)

CLASS 1-A EAST

(10) Perquimans (6-4) at (7) Robersonville Roanoke (4-6)
(15) Rosewood (2-8) at (2) Creswell (8-1)
(11) Northampton-West (5-5) at (6) Cape Hatteras (4-5)
(14) Pinetown Northside (2-8) at (3) Williamston (6-4)
(9) Jamesville (4-5) at (8) Manteo (5-5)
(16) Lejeune (2-8) at (1) Jones (10-0)
(12) Northampton-East (4-6) at (5) Plymouth (8-2)
(13) Mattamuskeet (3-6) at (4) Weldon (9-1)

CLASS 1-A WEST

(10) Hayesville (5-5) at (7) Hobbton (7-3)
(15) South Davidson (3-7) at (2) Elkin (9-1)
(11) Alleghany (4-6) at (6) North Duplin (5-5)
(14) North Stokes (3-7) at (3) Robbinsville (9-1)
(9) Rose Hill Union (6-4) at (8) South Stanly (7-3)
(16) Chatham Central (2-8) at (1) Mount Airy (10-0)
(12) Princeton (4-6) at (5) Lakewood (6-4)
(13) Rosman (3-7) at (4) Cherokee (8-2)

RMHS senior fall athletes to be honored tonight

Rocky Mount (9-1, 4-0) will go for its third NEW 6 Conference football title in four years tonight when the Gryphons host longtime rival Wilson Fike (8-2, 3-1) in the year's regular season finale.

Fike was Rocky Mount's traditional regular season-ending opponent for decades, but the two haven't faced one another in a regular season finale since 1988. Both were 4-A schools back then. Fike. Fike went to the 3-A ranks in 1993.

Before the start of the game, senior athletes in volleyball, cross country, girls tennis, boys soccer and football, along with their parents, will be honored.

Game time is 7:30 p.m.

In Gryphon personnel news, junior back Marquavis Alston and senior offensive lineman Torey Lee have received medical clearances and will both play in tonight's game.

Wilson Fike is Rocky Mount's oldest rival - having played it every year but one (1999 - cancelled due to Hurricane Floyd) since 1957.

The two schools will play for the 51st time Friday with RMHS leading the series 27-21-2. The Gryphons have won the last six contests in the series.

Here are those scores:

2007 - RM wins 16-13

2006 - RM wins 61-0

2005 - RM wins 41-8

2004 - RM wins 31-14

2003 - RM wins 36-15

2002 - RM wins 34-14

Rocky Mount's last loss to Fike was a 21-12 defeat in 2001.

Former Gryphon gets weekly honor from MEAC

Norfolk State redshirt freshman Kendall Noble was named Offensive Lineman of the Week in the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference)Tuesday after the Spartans' 49-12 league win at Howard Saturday.

Noble blocked for a unit which totaled 342 yards of offense (186 rushing, 156 passing). He graded out at 82 percent on his assignments to lead a solid offensive line effort. The Spartans (3-6, 2-4) produced 20 first downs, did not commit a turnover for the first time in six games and did not yield a sack for the second straight week while maintaining a time of possession advantage of nearly eight minutes.

Noble, playing at 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, was a three-year starter at Rocky Mount. He was a two-time All-Conference performer and played in the NCCA East-West All-Star Football Game after his senior season.

Noble is a kinesiotherapy major. His brother, Wayne Jr., also a former Gryphon, is a redshirt junior defensive back at Winston-Salem State. The two siblings will face each other in Winston-Salem on Nov. 22.

AP 3-A Football Poll - Nov. 3

Rocky Mount senior Brian Goodwin (24), chased by Bulldogs Tavon Mosley (39) and Zollie Perry (56), takes a punt return 65 yards for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Gryphons' 35-7 NEW 6 victory over Nash Central Friday night. (click on picture to enlarge)

The Gryphons remain in the No. 2 spot in the most recent Associated Press high school football poll released Tuesday.

(Photo/David Hahula)

Class 3-A

School, Rec., Pts., LW

1. Greensboro Dudley (10) (10-0) 118 1
2. Rocky Mount (2) (10-0) 107 2
3. Belmont South Point (9-1) 88 4
4. Jamestown Ragsdale (11-0) 78 5
5. Waynesville Tuscola (10-0) 72 6
6. West Craven (10-0) 64 6
7. Winston-Salem Carver (9-1) 49 8
8. Harnett Central (9-1) 30 9
9. West Rowan (9-1) 20 10
10. Eastern Alamance (9-1)19 3

Others receiving votes: Newton Foard 7, SouthWest Edgecombe 4, Kinston 3, Charlotte Catholic 1.

Nash Central post-game musings

Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt wants families involved with his team. Their support, he believes, is vital to his squad's success.

So a little old rule didn't stop him and his coaches at Nash Central Friday night from having their traditional post-game meeting with his team - with their families and friends listening on.

Nash Central had sent word Thursday, via AD Mike Gainey, that no one would be allowed on the field at the conclusion of the game.

Holt found a way around that - bring his players to their families.

Instead of holding his post-game talk on the field, he had the entire team move over to the base of the visitors' bleachers and held his meeting where family members could come down and listen to what he and his coaches had to say to his squad.

I would have never have thought of doing that, personally, but Holt is always thinking!

Great move on you and your staff's part, Coach. I know the families appreciated it.

SPECIAL TEAMS REWARDED: It might be hard to believe, but before Friday night, the Gryphons hadn't scored a special teams touchdown since game No. 2 on Jordan Ford's game-opening kickoff return at Wilson Hunt.

And poor Brian Goodwin was due. He has so many returns this season that have almost resulted in a score. His spectacular 65-yard touchdown punt return was awesome. He had to go almost 10 yards backwards to reach the right sideline. Then, with a lane set up past the RMSH team and coaches, he, with some key blocks, tightroped it to the end zone.

And I have a trivia question for you. Prior to Hiawatha Bunn's interception return for a score, who was the last Gryphon to pull off that feat?

Need a minute - OK, take your time!

The answer: Jacobi Jenkins against South Granville in the second round of the playoffs last season (a 52-0 RMHS rout). He returned it 71 yards for a score. That was the only one in 2007.

Gryphon stat notes after Game No. 10

1. One more field goal for Nick Hahula will give him a new school record. He currently holds the record – set in 2007, and tied in 2008 at seven.

2. RMHS has recorded four shutouts this season, tying the same number by the 2007 squad. The school record for shutouts in a season is 6 – set by the state championship 1963 team.

3. Rocky Mount has only allowed 64 points all season in 10 games. The school record is 51 by the 1963 team, but no team since 1985 has allowed less than 100 points in a season – possibly attainable by the 2008 Gryphons!

4. The lowest scoring average allowed for a season is 4.3 points by the 1963 team. The 2008 squad is allowing 6.4!

5. Friday, Nick Hahula passed Stephan Virgil for the second-most games played on a RMHS varsity football team – 48. The record is held by Darrius Dubose with 53. Whit Barnes is nearing the “40 Club” at 38 games played.

6. The 2008 team, against Southern Nash, set the school record for the most points ever scored in a first quarter – 135. The old record was 134 by the 2006 team.

7. In 10 games, the 2008 team still hasn’t allowed a score of any kind in the first period --- and just two TDs period in the third!

8. For the first time since 2006, RMHS has recorded over 1,000 passing yards for a season. The current squad has posted 1,224 yards through the air.

9. Senior wide receiver Keith Strickland is nearing the “1,000-Yard Club” in pass receiving. He needs just 32 more yards. The achievement has been done just twice in 55 years of football at Rocky Mount (Mike Mason, 2002; Ken Weaver, 1981).

10. If Strickland gets 106 more yards in passes, he will set the school record for yards receiving in a season. The record is 1,073 set by Mike Mason in 2002. It took Mason a school-record 64 catches to get that record. Strickland will likely do it with a bit over 40. He currently has 36 receptions - averaging an astounding 28.5 yards per catch!

Next for Strickland would be the Twin Counties record - currently held by North Edgecombe's Cornelius Young who caught passes (40) for 1,123 yards in 1993.

Barnes tabbed for 2008 Shrine Bowl

The honors continue to flow in for Rocky Mount offensive lineman Whit Barnes.

Barnes, who has verbally committed to Wake Forest, was informed Wednesday by his head coach B.W. Holt that Clayton's Gary Fowler had picked him to play on the N.C. team in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

Fowler will be the head coach of the Tar Heel squad.

Around 1 p.m. Thursday, the official word of his selection will be announced in Spartanburg, S.C., the site of the game which is set for Saturday, Dec. 20 at Wofford University's Gibbs Stadium. A video press conference announcing the game's player rosters can be linked to via http://www.shrine-bowl.com/.

Kickoff for the game is at 1 p.m.

Barnes will be the 41st Rocky Mount High player all-time to be selected for the event - being played for the 72nd year.

He will be the fourth player under sixth-year RMHS head coach B.W. Holt to play in the annual game. Preceding him were tight end Bryant Bayne (2003), defensive back Stephan Virgil (2004) and offensive lineman Nazir Levine (2006).

Nash Central vs. Rocky Mount Series

The above picture is action from Monday night's "Cold Bowl" - Nash Central at SouthWest Edgecombe. A huge second quarter by the Cougars turned out to be the difference in a 34-21 NEW 6 victory for SouthWest.

With the Bulldogs on the losing end, I expect them to be pretty angry when Rocky Mount comes calling Friday evening. Historically, this has been quite a rivalry. But on paper, the Bulldogs haven't come up with a win over the Gryphons, yet.

Here is the series with the upstart Bulldogs. Rocky Mount now leads it 6-0 after its 35-7 win Friday night. Here are the updated series numbers:

2008 - RM win 35-7

2007 - RM wins 17-0

2006 - RM wins 47-0

2005 - RM wins 21-6

2004 - RM wins 30-20

2003 - RM wins 42-14

(Photo/David Hahula)

Trot Nixon, SEAM honor RMHS baseball champs

Current New York Mets outfielder and North Carolina native Trot Nixon (front row, third from the left) was the guest speaker at the SEAM (Sports, Evangelism and Mission) Night of Champions fundraiser dinner held Thursday evening at Englewood Baptist Church.

Among the teams honored during the evening were Rocky Mount's 2008 NCHSAA 3-A state baseball championship squad. Pictured above (click on picture to enlarge it) is Nixon, a former Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indian, with several members of the Gryphon team.

(Photo/David Hahula)