The AM 1390 Radio Team

Here's your AM 1390 Sports radio team for 2008! (click on picture to enlarge)

Posing with the new banner that will be displayed at each football game this season, (from l-r) are Grant Johnson, Wes Bradshaw, Tony Doughtie and me (Charles Alston).

Grant, hot off his first base duties on the state champion Gryphon baseball team, will provide research and assist Bradshaw while he toils away his daylight hours as a freshman at East Carolina. Bradshaw will handle the play-by-play duties and Doughtie will be the broadcast's color analyst. I will provide statistics and historical insight to the broadcast.

I expect this team to be a winner this season, just like the product we so often get on the field.

(Photo/David Hahula)

Johnson leaves the Gryphon nest!

Britt Johnson has left the fold.

Johnson, part of one of Rocky Mount athletics' first families (Don, Wanda, Britt, Will and Grant have overall been active with Gryphon athletics for the last 12 years), won't be wearing any navy blue and gold the coming school year.

No more stomping on the Gryphon sidelines for him.

The 2007 East Carolina graduate and former Pirate football walk-on is now in the real world - you know - job, bills, taxes, etc.

Johnson has accepted a teaching position at Nash Central High School. He will teach physical education and coach JV baseball and assist in varsity football (special teams and wide receivers).

There is no doubt, the Bulldogs' center will have little trouble getting the ball back to the punter after Johnson's tutelage. Britt nearly knocked me out with a sampling of his long snapping abilities last fall.

And they don't call him "Baseball Britt" for nothing. When his teams hit the field, no matter where he is, winning will be the goal. The boy hates to lose.

Good luck in your new endeavor, Britt ... at least until the Gryphons invade the Dawg Pound on Oct. 31!

Happy Birthday, Coach!

To answer the question, from the Beatles' 1967 song,

"Will you still need me,
Will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?"

- the answer is a big affirmative!

Rocky Mount head football coach B.W. Holt turned 64 years young on Tuesday.

Happy Birthday Coach! We wish you many, many more! We will keep on feeding you and we certainly need you!

2008 NEW 6 Conference Football Master Schedule

(Scrimmages are subject to changes. Schools are allowed up to seven hours of scrimmage time. More scrimmages will be added to the schedule as announced. All regular season games are at 7:30 p.m.)

Tuesday, Aug. 12

South Johnston @ Northern Nash

North Lenoir @ Wilson Fike (Scrimmage)

Seventy First @ Rocky Mount (practice-scrimmage)


Thursday, Aug. 14

South Johnston @ Rocky Mount (practice-scrimmage)

Friday, Aug. 15

Rocky Mount, Wilson Fike, Northern Nash @ RM Football Jamboree, 4 p.m. (Scrimmage)
SW Edgecombe @ Tarboro Jamboree (Scrimmage), 6 p.m.
Nash Central @ Wakefield (Scrimmage) - moved to Sat.
Southern Nash @ North Johnston (Scrimmage) , ppd.


Thursday, Aug. 21

Havelock @ SW Edgecombe (Scrimmage)

Louisburg @ Southern Nash (Scrimmage), 6 p.m.


Friday, Aug. 22 (Regular season starts)

East Forsyth @ Rocky Mount
DH Conley @ Wilson Fike
Nash Central @ Tarboro
Northern Nash @ Beddingfield
Southern Nash, SW Edgecombe - open


Thursday, Aug. 28

Rocky Mount @ Wilson Hunt


Friday, Aug. 29

Southern Nash @ Bunn
Nash Central @ Smithfield-Selma
SW Edgecombe @ West Craven
DH Conley @ Northern Nash
Wilson Fike - open


Thursday, Sept. 5

Wilson Hunt @ Wilson Fike
Tarboro @ Northern Nash
Warren County @ Southern Nash
Beddingfield @ Nash Central
SW Edgecombe @ North Edgecombe


Friday, Sept. 12

Northern Nash @ Hertford County
Wilson Fike @ Eastern Wayne
Southern Nash @ Beddingfield
Rocky Mount @ JH Rose
Farmville Central @ SW Edgecombe
Wilson Hunt @ Nash Central


Friday, Sept. 19

Northern Nash @ Bertie
CB Aycock @ Wilson Fike
Hertford County @ Rocky Mount
Wilson Hunt @ Southern Nash
Nash Central @ Washington
SW Edgecombe @ Southern Vance


Friday, Sept. 26

Tarboro @ SW Edgecombe
North Johnston @ Southern Nash
Southern Wayne @ Rocky Mount (Homecoming)
Wilson Fike @ Wilson Hunt
Bunn @ Nash Central
Southern Vance @ Northern Nash

Thursday, Oct. 2

Rocky Mount @ Northern Vance, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 3

Wilson Fike @ Beddingfield
Northern Nash, Southern Nash, Nash Central, SW Edgecombe - open


Friday, Oct. 10 (NEW 6 Conference action starts)

Northern Nash @ Rocky Mount
Wilson Fike @ SW Edgecombe
Southern Nash @ Nash Central


Friday, Oct. 17

Rocky Mount @ SW Edgecombe
Nash Central @ Wilson Fike
Southern Nash @ Northern Nash


Friday, Oct. 24

Rocky Mount @ Southern Nash
Northern Nash @ Wilson Fike
Nash Central @ SW Edgecombe


Friday, Oct. 31

Rocky Mount @ Nash Central
Wilson Fike @ Southern Nash
SW Edgecombe @ Northern Nash


Friday, Nov. 7

Wilson Fike @ Rocky Mount
SW Edgecombe @ Southern Nash
Nash Central @ Northern Nash

Cary knocks out RM; goes on to win Jr. Legion title

KINSTON - Rocky Mount's Post 58 Junior American Legion baseball team had the same fate as Rocky Mount's varsity football team last season.

It lost to the team that went on to win the state title.

While Western Alamance got into the Gryphons' way, the Cary Jr. Legion team did the same to the Post 58 squad.

Post 58, the East's No. 2 seed thanks to a loss to Cary in district play, fell to Cary again 3-2 Saturday - a game it had to win to stay alive. Post 58, after falling to Cherryville 7-6 Thursday, beat Kinston 14-8 Friday to make it to Saturday's action.

Then Sunday at historic Grainger Stadium, Cary, the East's No. 1 seed, blanked Cherryville 7-0 in the early game and topped Mooresville 5-2 later in the afternoon for the 2008 N.C. Junior American Legion state championship.

Post 58 consisted of players from the Gryphons' varsity and junior varsity teams, and was coached by varsity assistant and former Gryphon Hank Jones.

These hands are record-setting!

These are the hands of Elon redshirt junior wide receiver Terrell Hudgins. The record-setting former Rocky Mount quarterback was in Spartanburg, S.C. earlier this week at the Southern Conference Football Rouser. Appalachian State was the coaches' preseason pick to win the title, while Elon got one first place vote and placed second in the voting.

Hudgins, who led all of the NCAA Division Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in receptions per game (10.6) and receiving yards per game (134.0) last year, was a First Team All-SoCon performer following his sophomore season. A five-time All-American last season, Hudgins set program records for single-game receptions (16 twice), single-game touchdown receptions (four), single-season receiving yards (1,474) and single-season touchdowns receptions (18). He also set school and league marks for single-season receptions (117) and a SoCon record for single-season games with at least 100 yards receiving (seven).

Following his sophomore season, Hudgins had piled up 2,501 receiving yards, second in school history. He was also a finalist for the 2007 Walter Payton Award.

Another former Gryphon may be on the team with him - 2007's leading tackler for the Gryphons, Emmanuel Davis. Davis will be attending Elon on an ROTC scholarship, but will be a walk-on with the Phoenix.

To watch a video of Hudgins talking about Elon and the Phoenix's chances at a title, click here.

(Photo/Tommy Fleming)

Updated NC Jr. Legion Baseball State Championship Scoreboard

Wednesday’s result

Game 1: Rowan County (West No. 2) 11, West Brunswick (East No. 3) 9

Thursday' resutls

Game 2: Cherryville (West No. 3) 7, Rocky Mount (East No. 2) 6
Game 3: Cary (East No. 1) 2, Pineville (West No. 4) 1 — 9 innings
Game 4: Mooresville (West No. 1) 4, Kinston 1

Friday

Game 5: 4:30 p.m. (LCC) — West Brunswick vs. Pineville (LOSER ELIMINATED)
Game 6: Rocky Mount 15, Kinston 8 (Kinston eliminated)

Game 7: 4:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Rowan County def. Cary
Game 8: 7:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Cherryville vs. Mooresville

Saturday

Game 9: 12:30 p.m. (LCC) — Rocky Mount vs. Cary (LOSER ELIMINATED)
Game 10: 4 p.m. (LCC) — Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8 (LOSER ELIMINATED)
Game 11: 12:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Roawn County vs. Winner Game 8
Game 12: 4 p.m. (Grainger) — Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 11 (LOSER ELIMINATED)
Game 13: 7 p.m. (Grainger) — Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11 (If Game 10 winner loses, it’s eliminated)

Notes: pairing for Games 12 and 13 will not match previous opponents against each other unless absolutely necessary (national representative has further instructions). … If three teams remain after Game 13, the winner of Game 11 automatically draws the bye in Game 14

Sunday

Game 14: 1 p.m. (Grainger) Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13 (Champions; unless one of the team’s first losses)
Game 15: 4 p.m. (Grainger) Winner Game 14 vs. Loser G

Rocky Mount Post 58 Jr. Legion team in state tournament

KINSTON - Rocky Mount Post 58 Junior American Legion baseball team has qualified for the state tournament which is being played at both historic Grainger Stadium and Lenoir Community College starting Wednesday.

The double-elimination event will see Rocky Mount, seeded No. 2 in the East in the eight-team field, facing Cherryville, the West No. 3 seed, at 12:30 a.m. at Lenoir Community College.

Rocky Mount Post 58 is coached by Hank Jones, who assisted Pat Smith in guiding the Rocky Mount Gryphons to a 3-A state title on May 31.

Here is Wednesday's complete schedule:

9:30 p.m. (LCC) — Cary (East No. 1) vs. Pineville (West No. 4)

12:30 a.m. (LCC) — Rocky Mount (East No. 2) vs. Cherryville (West No. 3)

4:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Rowan County (West No. 2) vs. SW Shallotte (East No. 3)

7:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Mooresville (West No. 1) vs. Kinston (Host)

NFLJPD camp underway at RMHS

Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt (click on picture to enlarge) talks to the kids who turned out this week for the first-ever NFL Junior Player Development Camp to be held at Rocky Mount. RMHS is entertaining about 100 campers, from rising sixth graders to rising ninth graders, on the fundamentals of football. The campers are attending the camp free of charge - thanks to the NFL and the Carolina Panthers.

The campers will have a nice goody bag to take home once the camp ends on Thursday. The NFL provided each camper with an equipment bag, a football and a jersey.

The NFL also provided helmets and shoulder pads for each participant.

(Photo/David Hahula)

NFL to hold free football camp at Rocky Mount High

If you are a Twin County resident, a rising sixth through ninth grader and you want to learn all you can about the game of football, then Rocky Mount High's practice field will be the place for you next week.

For the second time this summer, RMHS will host an National Football League-sponsored camp - this time it will be a Junior Player Development football camp for younger kids who want to be introduced to the basics of the game. And like the previous camp, it is free to all comers - thanks to the NFL and the Carolina Panthers.

The camp will take place Monday through Thursday, July 14-17 (6-8:30 p.m.), while there will be a registration and equipment fitting this week - Thursday and Friday in RMHS' auxiliary gym from 5-7 p.m. All campers are required to bring a completed physical form, or a parent or guardian must sign a waiver form in lieu of the physical.

A nationally known football equipment company will provide campers with fitted helmets and shoulder pads for the duration of the camp.

With the diminishing number of middle school football programs across the country, JPD programs are rebuilding youth tackle football as an effective feeder system for high school programs. According to the NFLJPD website, the JPD programs ensure that all participants receive the full experience of instructional and developmental youth tackle football training in a readapted manner.

Coaches at the camp will stress the fundamentals and playing techniques of every position on the field as well as incorporate life skills into each practice. There will be continuous interaction with all campers while coaches try to impart a fun and entertaining curriculum to the participants.

For more information on the camp and all its activities, contact Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt during the day at 252-977-3164.

Pairings set for first-ever Rocky Mount Football Jamboree

Here are the pairings for the first-ever Rocky Mount Football Jamboree set for the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex on Friday, Aug. 15 starting at 4 p.m.

East team will scrimmage three times for 40 minutes each - playing from the 40-yard line out. There will be a five-minute break between each session. There is no structured competition. Each sessions' coaches may use whatever competition format they may want to use, i.e., 10 min. offense, 10 defense; 30 plays offense, 30 plays defense, etc.

The RMHS Booster Club is planning to make this a festive event - including selling barbecue chicken dinners during the evening.

Also, during the final session of the night, there will be a reunion of sorts. All four teams will have one person in common - Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt. Three of his former assistants will be coaching the other teams: Elbert Thomas at West Montgomery, Chad Smith at Northern Nash and Dickie Schock at Hillsborough Orange.

4:00 p.m.

West Montgomery vs. Northern Nash
South Central vs. Hillsborough Orange

4:45 p.m.

West Montgomery vs. Hillsborough Orange
South Central vs. Northern Nash

5:30 p.m.

Wilson Fike vs. Oxford Webb
Rocky Mount vs. Durham Riverside

6:15 p.m.

Wilson Fike vs. Durham Riverside
Rocky Mount vs. Oxford Webb

7:00 p.m.

South Central vs. Wilson Fike
Oxford Webb vs. Durham Riverside

7:45 p.m.

Hillsborough Orange vs. Northern Nash
West Montgomery vs. Rocky Mount