He also recorded six total tackles (three solo, three assists).
Rocky Mount High School sports news, factoids, tidbits, Twin Counties info and more!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
VT's Virgil shines in ECU's upset
Friday, August 29, 2008
NCPreps.com 3-A Football Baker's Dozen - Wk. 1
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Sports come to a halt at RMHS
Now, the Gryphons' varsity football contest at Hunt, set originally for Thursday, has now been moved to Friday evening.
Well, there goes my Friday plans to go see SouthWest Edgecombe at West Craven!
By the way, plan to go down to Hunt early and get your dinner at the game. The Hunt Booster Club makes some of the best grilled burgers you have ever laid your mouth on!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
2008 Nashville Graphic Football Tabloid out!
Coverage of Nash Central, Northern Nash, Southern Nash and Rocky Mount are included in the publication - also an article on the NEW 6 coaches' preseason picks for the league.
To check the tabloid out online, click here! For a hard copy, pick up the latest Nashville Graphic.
Speaking of tabloids, the Wilson Daily Times will be giving away free copies of its 2008 Football Tabloid at the gate of Wilson Hunt's varsity home opener Thursday evening with the Gryphons. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
If you can't make it, listen to all the action on AM 1390 Sports radio starting at 7 p.m.
This may be the media event of the week. Two other radio stations will be covering the game as well.
For those who might be a further out in Nash or Edgecombe Counties, you will be able to listen to the game as part of WZAX 99.3 FM's "Game of the Week" starting at 7 - with Paul Andre and Bob Maloney.
If you're in the Wilson County area, tune in to WLLY-1350 AM. Alton Britt, the voice of Wilson sports, will provide the play-by-play and F.T. Franks the color commentary.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Facts around the news of N.C.'s second HS football player's death has local ties
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Hahula is No. 1!
Back Demetric Marshall scored 38 touchdowns (228 pts.) during the 2005 and 2006 seasons to establish the record that Hahula broke.
As prolific as the Gryphons' scoring is, Hahula may reach the 300-point plateau! He set the school record for kicking points in a season last year with 73.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Fans anxiously await start of another season
By Nick Phillips, RMHS iHigh.com correspondent
The time has come again. Summer is winding down and kids are preparing for school. This could only mean one thing….it’s high school football season!!
As a new Rocky Mount alum and a doe-eyed freshman starting college life at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke, I find this time or year right now to be especially hard.
As a featured writer on the Gryphons' NorthCarolina.iHigh.com website and an avid sports fan, I am trying to come to grips that Friday night’s endowment contest at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex against East Forsyth will be the first football game that I have missed in almost four years.
What a run the Gryphons have had over these last few years! Head coach B.W. Holt, now in his sixth season at the helm, has ‘righted the ship’ and has the Gryphons back at the top of the 3-A totem pole.
The Gryphons are ranked as the pre-season No. 1 team on both the NCPreps.com Preseason 3-A Football Baker's Dozen and WRAL’s Tom Suiter’s Fabulous 15, and they are once again considered to make a deep run into the playoffs.
Could this be the year the Gryphs knock off Western Alamance or someone else to make it to the state championship after knocking on the door for years?
Several marquee matchups highlight this year’s schedule, including:
- Game 2 – A Thursday night contest at Wilson Hunt. These last few years have produced some memorable games with late-game heroics.
- Game 4 – The Gryphs travel to former Big East rival and 4-A powerhouse J.H. Rose. Last season, the Gryphons ended the Rampants’ 39-game winning streak. Fireworks are bound to fly again this year as two of the better teams in the state hook up for their annual war.
- Game 5 – Hertford County (NCPreps.com's’ 3-A preseason No. 6 team) comes into the RMAC in what has turned into a budding rivalry. Two seasons ago, the Gryphons beat the Bears twice, in the regular season and in the playoffs - at home and on the road. Another close game early last season has this gotten this contest circled on the schedule, and the ‘Battle of the Bands’ at halftime and throughout the game is another plus.
- Game 6 – Southern Wayne (Homecoming) suffered two losses to the Gryphs last season , including Holt’s 300th career victory and a third-round playoff contest. Don’t forget the homecoming festivities at halftime!
- Game 7 – Northern Nash. Nothing else needs to be said. Rivalry game - with the NEW 6’s new schedule placing this as the Gryphons' first conference test. If the Knights post a couple of non-conference wins, this game could have some meaning and could be interesting. Northern head coach Chad Smith makes his first regular-season trip back to the RMAC.
- Game 8 – A trip to SouthWest Edgecombe. All the contests against the Cougars have all been great since SWE joined the NEW 6 conference. The Cougars are also ranked by NCPreps.com - coming in at No .11. But will this be a fourth edition of "Monday Night Football" with SWE?
- Game ??? – One question that’s not been answered yet is what game the Gryphons’ baseball team will be honored and receive their NCHSAA 3-A state championship rings. Look at games with Hertford County, Southern Wayne and Northern Nash as good possibilities. (Editor's note: Nick will get one of these rings. I feel like a proud papa!)
Remember last year’s Nick Hahula last-second field goal to give the Gryphs a rain-soaked win at Fike? Hold on to your hats as all NEW 6 Conference games have that type of potential.
This reporter and fan cannot wait for his first game this season, but for now I’ll have to be content with UNC-Pembroke football, which includes Rocky Mount alum Brandon Arrington, and the first night game in UNC-P’s brief football history. (Editor's note: RM head coach B.W. Holt is also an alum of UNC-P - Pembroke State in his era!)
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Virgil to start for the Hokies
Another local Hokie may get to hit the field for the very first time this season.
Former Southern Nash defensive tackle Kwamaine Battle was redshirted last season with injuries to both his shoulders.
The 6-foot, 271-pound freshman will be in competition for playing time this season. He'll wear the number "93".
According to HokieSports.com, Battle is a promising young player and is expected to be in the battle for playing time.
2008 Rocky Mount Football Team Roster
1 Josh Boulware 6-1 195 LB Sr.
2 Justin Barnes 6-2 175 QB Sr.
3 Keith Strickland 6-1 180 WR Sr.
4 Hiawatha Bunn 6-0 170 QB/DB Sr.
5 Marquavis Alston 5-10 175 RB Jr.
6 Jordan Ford 5-9 165 RB Jr.
7 Collins Cuthrell 6-0 170 QB Jr.
8 Marcus Jones 6-0 182 WR/S Jr.
9 Nick Harrison 6-2 215 DE/TE Sr.
15 Kendrick Boulware 6-0 172 FB Sr.
17 Hashem Hatu 5-9 155 CB Jr.
20 L’var Silver 5-9 185 FB Sr.
21 Damien Bynum 5-7 160 HB Jr.
22 Zack Williams 6-0 175 DB Sr.
24 Brian Goodwin 6-1 185 S/KR Sr.
28 Jermon Lynch 5-10 175 HB Sr.
33 Carter Varnell 5-9 178 FB/LB Jr.
34 Bradley Arrington 5-11 165 DB Sr.
36 Justin Atkinson 5-10 170 G Jr.
39 Jeffery Henderson 5-10 170 LB Jr.
40 Michael Lee 5-10 175 DL Jr.
41 Chris Pittman 6-1 195 LB Sr.
42 Dedrick Silver 5-10 172 SS Sr.
44 Nick Hahula 5-10 222 K/FB/LB/P Sr.
50 Whit Barnes 6-4 275 C Sr.
51 Darryl Cross 5-11 208 G Sr.
52 Aaron Barnes 5-11 190 LB Jr.
53 Brandon Dennis 6-3 242 G/DL Sr.
54 Greg Williams 6-2.5 282 G Sr.
55 John Wells 5-9 215 NG Sr.
56 Chris Driver 5-10 180 C/G Sr.
60 Robert Cannon 5-10 245 OG Jr.
61 Zebedee Battle 5-10 248 C Jr.
62 Torey Lee 5-11 255 OT Sr.
64 Jordan Knight 5-10 205 T Jr.
65 Corey Tabron 6-3 270 OT Jr.
66 Josh Thigpen 5-11 235 DT Sr.
70 Anthony Miller 5-10 175 DL Jr.
71 Arilius Murphy 5-9 265 OL Jr.
75 Jarron Battle 6-0 315 OT Sr.
77 Trevor Tucker 6-2 285 OT Jr.
80 Spencer Bell 6-0 175 TE Jr.
81 Antonio Willis 5-10 165 DB Jr.
82 Hakeem Parker 6-4 230 DE Sr.
83 Annis Mahmoud 6-1 160 WR Sr.
84 Phillip Wilkins 6-2 220 TE Sr.
86 Patrick Pittman 6-1 205 DE Jr.
88 Johvone Smith 6-2 210 DE/TE So.
90 Jermaine Fields 6-2.5 215 DE Sr.
COACHING/SUPPORT STAFF
Head Coach: B.W. Holt (sixth season)
Mascot: Gryphons
Principal: Leondus Farrow
Athletic Director: Michael Gainey
School Address: 308 S. Tillery Street, Rocky Mount, N.C. 27804
Assistant Coaches: Jason Battle, Jemonte Battle, Gerald Costen, Kent Cox, Alan Hess, Hank Jones, J.J. Jones, Chris Lee
Head Trainer: Bernie Capps
Student Trainers: Will Vaughan, Colin Ward
Student Managers: Tyler Ellis, Jerrell Hilliard, Jazzmen Taylor
Volunteer EMT: Mike Varnell
Team Chaplin: Johnny Williams
Equipment Crew: Erwin Dancy, Ron Driver, Don Johnson
Chain Gang: Dwayne Chambers, Bobby English, Percy Morris, Wyatt Phillips, Bernie Tyndall, Chris Tyndall
Film Crew: Grey Capps, Ken Capps
Radio Crew: Wes Bradshaw, Tony Doughtie – AM 1390 Sports
Statistics Crew: Charles Alston, Bob Hudgins, Lyn Joyner, David Pitt
Timekeeper: Donald Farmer
PA announcers: Wayne Wallace (varsity), Tony Doughtie (JV)
Check out the WDT 2008 Football Tabloid
Goodwin has solid effort in Chicago
Goodwin, again, made his presence known on a national stage as he played in the Under Armour High School All-American Baseball Game Sunday afternoon at Chicago's Wrigley Field.
The 36 high school All-Americans flown into Chicago were split into two teams: Baseball Factory and Team One. As as starter in right field for Baseball Factory, he went 2-for-4, stole two bases and scored a run as his squad staved off a late Team One rally for a 5-4 win.
Goodwin went a combined 4-for-8, with three stolen bases, two runs scored and two RBI in his travels to Los Angeles and Chicago the past two weeks - plus two All-Star victories.
Not bad!
Now he'll trade in his bat and glove for a helmet and pads as he joins the Gryphons on the football field - where he'll electrify all of us even more with incredible kickoff and punt returns.
Expect him in the lineup by Game 3 of the season - a road contest at Northern Vance.
Friday, August 15, 2008
The Rocky Mount Gryphons Football Jamboree gets underway this afternoon!
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.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Goodwin, not Godwin, grabs another MVP award
(Photo/David Hahula)
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Don't forget to see Goodwin - 3 p.m on Fox Sports Net today!
Friday, August 8, 2008
SWE's Cobb to coach East team at 2009 NCCA All-Star football game
Tarboro Daily Southerner
PINETOPS - SouthWest Edgecombe Coach Raymond Cobb will add another chapter to his legendary football status next summer.
Cobb was selected as the head coach for East in the 2009 North Carolina Coaches Association East-West All-Star Football Game that will be played on July 22 at Grimsley High School in Greensboro.
“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to be the head coach for the East-West All-Star game,” Cobb said. “It’s a credit to having good coaching staffs and great players at North Edgecombe and SouthWest Edgecombe.”
It will not be the first time that Cobb has coached in an All-Star game. He was an East assistant coach of the NCCA East-West All-Star squad in 1995 and in 2001, he was an N.C. assistant coach for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas all-star game.Cobb legacy's was built at North Edgecombe, a 1-A division school less than 30 minutes away from SouthWest.
At North Edgecombe, he lead the Warriors to five state title games - including winning championships in 1994 and 1997.
After 16 years as the Warriors’ head coach, Cobb left and became head coach for SouthWest. In 20 seasons combined, he has guided his teams to the state playoffs each season and every season. When asked about his playoff streak, Cobb said, “I’ve been lucky.”
Cobb also feels lucky about the assistant coaches that were selected to coach with him. Including Cobb, three of the coaches are in the NEW 6 conference ties. Grover Battle of Northern Nash and Brian Foster of Southern Nash are Cobb’s current conference foes.
Cobb said he is also familiar with coach Kenneth Grantham of Greene Central, who started the program at Nash Central, and Ken Whitehurst of D.H. Conley, who was at one time at North Pitt. He has also had some dealing with Jimmy Williams of East Wake.“
One of the best news about being named to the head coaching position is the selection of the assistant coaches,” Cobb said. “I know all of them. It will be a fine group to work with.”
The next job for Cobb and his East team coaching staff is to select players for his team. Selection may start sometime in February.
But for right now, Cobb said, “I have to prepare SouthWest for this season.”
My notion: Northern Nash's Battle is the first-ever Rocky Mount area coach to be selected to work the East-West All-Star Games in two different sports.
In 2003, he was an assistant for the East girls basketball team. The East, with former Tarboro and N.C. State standout Marquetta Dickens aboard, won 78-72. Dickens was the game's MVP.
In case you're wondering, RMHS' B.W. Holt has served in the East-West All-Star Football Game. He was an assistant for the West in 1986 while at Starmount. His team fell to the East 16-0.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
A look at the RMHS coaching staff
B.W. Holt wanted four, but he was only able to get three.
Rocky Mount's sixth-year head football coach had four openings to fill on his staff. But as the practice season began last Friday, three new coaching faces were marching out orders on the Nash St. practice field.
And two of them should be familiar to longtime Gryphon fans. They'll join former players Gerald Costen (Class of '73), J.J. Jones (Class of '91) and Jason Battle (Class of '98) as members of the staff.
Jemonte Battle (Class of '00) has been brought aboard to coach the defensive backs and secondary. Battle knows that part of the field pretty well as he was a three-year starter and D-II All-America at Catawba. Battle also played defensive back in the Canadian Football League for two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Battle, older brother of last year's Rocky Mount High Female Athlete of the Year Dyonna Battle, is fourth on the all-time RMHS career receiving list with 62. He had 772 career receiving yards to rank 11th on that list. He led the 1999 squad, which had its regular season reduced by three games by Hurricane Floyd, with 30 catches.
Battle will teach computer science at RMHS.
Although Hank Jones is well-known to RMHS baseball fans, he might not be that familiar to the football folks. Jones, a Rocky Mount High (1986) and N.C. Wesleyan grad, volunteer-assisted Pat Smith in coaching the Gryphons to a baseball state title.
Pehaps he can help Holt do the same thing on the gridiron.
Jones had his day in the sun for the football Gryphons. He threw for over 1,700 yards and 19 touchdowns during his time under center - including a four-touchdown pass performance against Tarboro to open his senior season. He led RM to a 9-2 record that year.
Jones was selected to play in the N.C.-S.C. Shrine Bowl that year, but a late injury prevented him from participating. He will be coaching the wide receivers and tight ends.
The lone out-of-stater to join Holt's staff is Alan Hess. A native of Tell City, Ind., Hess was a placekicker for the football team at NAIA-affliated Urbana University in Urbana, Ohio - northeast of Dayton. Hess will coach the Gryphons' special teams and offensive line.
He will teach social studies and history.
Here is the complete staff:
B.W. Holt - Head Coach, offensive line
Jason Battle – quarterbacks coach, receivers
Chris Lee – Head JV Coach, running backs
Kent Cox – Co-defensive coordinator, asst. JV Coach, outside linebackers
J.J. Jones – Co-defensive coordinator, inside linebackers
Gerald Costen – defensive front (noseguard, ends, tackles)
Jemonte Battle – defensive backs, secondary
Hank Jones - wide receivers, tight end
Alan Hess – special teams, offensive line