Rocky Mount connections at Holliday Gym

A SHARPE DRIVE - Rocky Mount's Alonzo Sharpe drives to the basket for one of his 13 points Monday in the Gryphons' 66-62 overtime win over North Mecklenburg in a consolation bracket game of the GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational Tournament at Raleigh Broughton's Holliday Gym. (Photo/Britt Johnson)
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Rocky Mount's return to the Glaxo has been one of nostalgia for me. People with ties to Rocky Mount have been popping up all over the place. In some ways, it's been like a reunion of sorts.

It started last Friday night before the Gryphons' much-anticipated tourney opener with nationally ranked Raleigh Word of God.

Who do I run into but Jerome Garrett, starting forward for the Gryphons' 1982 4-A state championship team. Now a resident of Raleigh, Garrett is attending the event to watch his son, Jerome Jr., play as a starter for Raleigh Enloe. I hadn't seen Garrett, Sr. since he and his teammates hoisted that championship trophy up as a team that great evening in March at the Greensboro Coliseum 26 years ago.

Yes, we turned the clock back for a few minutes, you might say!.

When I walked into the gym Monday, I was greeted by my old high school classmate Paul Thomas (RMSH '76). Thomas, uncle of recently graduated RMHS athlete Ashley Pearsall and a former Gryphon football player himself, is an accountant in the Raleigh area and a former Triangle area high school football official until knee problems ended that phase of his life.

He informed me that he was going to be the incoming president of Broughton's Booster Club. Considering how successful the Caps' athletic program usually is, that should be a pie job for him.

To top the day off, I had about a 15-minute conversation with recently "retired" WRAL-TV5 sports anchor and Rocky Mount native Tom Suiter.

He and a friend of his dropped in to check out the Christ School-Kinston game - something he normally wouldn't have time for during his old working schedule. Christ School, located just south of Asheville near the town of Arden, is where Suiter attended school from age 13 through graduation.

He told me that wouldn't miss the grind of making the day-to-day telecasts, and contrary to popular belief, he has not confirmed to WRAL as of yet whether he will host the "Football Friday" program next fall.

Suiter, now 60, looked a bit weary and very ready for a nice long break from everything. He complained of arthritis in both his hands. Shaking hands with people can be painful for him, so he prefers an elbow bump, not unlike the fist bump made famous by misophobe (fear of germs)/comedian/game show host Howie Mandell.

I told him fall football without him would not be the same unless he came back. He feels that without that daily grind he's been making, doing the show after all that time off the air might not be pretty.

Tom, it's like riding a bike. Once you learn, you never forget. If anything, the time off should give you time to recharge your batteries.

We all hope that you will make your return next August. High school football in this area just won't be the same without you!

Word of God has final word in Gryphon loss

Raleigh Word of God's Stephon Drane (23) attempts to block the shot of Rocky Mount's Tashawn Mabry (43) during Friday's opening round game of the 37th Annual GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational Tournament at Raleigh Broughton's Holliday Gym. (Click on picture to enlarge)

A sellout crowd of over 3,000 witnessed the Gryphons fall 67-41 to the nationally-ranked Holy Rams. Mabry led all Gryphon scorers with 17 points.

The Gryphons will next face North Mecklenburg Monday at 2:20 p.m.

(Photo/David Hahula)

Barnes, Hahula voted to AP First-Team All-State Squad

RALEIGH - Rocky Mount's Whit Barnes and Nick Hahula got one Christmas present a day early Wednesday.

The two Rocky Mount seniors were voted to the 2008 Associated Press North Carolina All-State prep football team. Both were first-team selections - the first time in recent history two Rocky Mount football players on the same team have been accorded first-team honors.

A group of 20 statewide media members voted on the squad.

Barnes, who last week was the 42nd Rocky Mount player ever to play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, was tied with Jack Britt's Xavier Nixon and East Forsyth's David Collins for the most votes with 18 out of 20. Ironically, all three are offensive linemen. Barnes, at center, led a senior Gryphon front line that helped Rocky Mount set a school record for total offense with 5,743 yards. It's the sixth straight season RMHS has broken that record.

Hahula was voted as the placekicker on the first team. He has set 18 school records, including scoring 393 total points in his career. He tallied 72 PATs and eight field goals in scoring 96 total kicking points this past season - second-highest in the state. His 205 career PATs ranks second highest all-time in the state of N.C.

Rocky Mount, Jack Britt, Greensboro Dudley and West Rowan were only schools to place two players on the team.

Here are the complete first team selections:

2008 North Carolina AP First-Team All-State Football Squad

OFFENSE

QB — Ricky Lewis, Greensboro Dudley (6)
RB — Kevin Parks, West Rowan (16)
RB — Jonathan Hinson-Braddy, Thomasville (9)
WR — Erik Highsmith, West Craven (13)
WR — Jheranie Boyd, Gastonia Ashbrook (7)
WR — Georgie Kerber, Murphy (7)
TE — Tucker Windle, Charlotte Catholic (13)
OL — Whit Barnes, Rocky Mount (18)
OL — David Collins, East Forsyth (18)
OL — Xavier Nixon, Jack Britt (18)
OL—Ty Howle, Bunn (11)
OL—Tim Pangburn, West Rowan (10)

DEFENSE

DL — Jared McAdoo, Chapel Hill (14)
DL — Donte Moss, Jacksonville Northside (14)
DL — Michael Brooks, Bartlett Yancey (12)
DL — Chris Neal, Greensboro Dudley (11)
DL — Chris Smith, West Rowan (11)
LB — Hawatha Bell, Matthews Butler (13)
LB — Jonathan Buffkin, South Columbus (12)
LB — Justin Jackson, Richmond County (10)
DB — Quin Smith, Lenoir Hibriten (15)
DB — Kewitt Koonce, Kinston (13)
DB — Tray Sanders, East Mecklenburg (10)
DB — Xavier Watson, Kannapolis Brown (9)

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK — Nick Hahula, Rocky Mount (7)
P — Marcus Lee, Wilmington Hoggard (10)
P — Matt Milisor, Greensboro Page (10)
KR — P.J. Clyburn, West Iredell (11)
ATH — Everett Proctor, Jack Britt (4)
ATH — Maurice Williams, North Pitt (4)

Phil Ford may see another record fall this time next year!

- Tashawn Mabry

Former North Carolina All-American Phil Ford started his scoring parade right here on Nash St. in Rocky Mount's gym. But he took his talents to UNC and Carmichael Auditorium and the rest is history.

Thursday, he passed his Carolina scoring baton to Tyler Hansbrough. His 2,290 points, the UNC scoring record, stood for over 30 years.

But another Ford scoring record is in danger and it's been around for 35 seasons!

Ford is Rocky Mount's all-time leading scorer at 2,093 points. Current Gryphon junior forward Tashawn Mabry is on pace to break that record in about a year.

The talented 6-foot-5 southpaw took care of another All-American Thursday evening with his 35-point effort in an 89-87 loss to Goldsboro High.

Mabry passed former All-American center Buck Williams (1,402) to become the No. 2 scorer all-time in RMHS history. Mabry has now scored 1,407 points and needs 687 more to pass Ford.

Mabry is currently averaging a little over 26 points a game and the Gryphons have at least 17 more games this season. If he stays healthy and keeps up this same pace in his scoring, we might have Phil Ford in the house about this time next year to congratulate Mabry for getting his high school scoring mark, too!

Shrine Bowl practice for RMHS' Barnes

Rocky Mount offensive lineman Whit Barnes (right) bangs against a North Carolina teammate during Day 1 of practices Monday for the Shrine Bowl of North Carolina game set for Saturday afternoon at Wofford College. The South Carolina and North Carolina squads are holding practice at Dorman High School in Spartanburg, S.C.

The Wake Forest recruit, who wore No. 50 during his 48-game career at RMHS, will wear No. 51 in Saturday's contest. (Click on picture to enlarge)

To see some action footage of Barnes practicing this week, click here!

(Photo/GoUpstate.com)

Richwalski will not be a candidate for the NN football job

Northern Nash athletic director Dan Richwalski stated Monday that he will not be a candidate for the head football coaching position at the school. He said he was informed by the Nash-Rocky Mount Schools central office that he could hold both positions at the school.

Currently, no head football coach in the N-RM system is an athletic director. Incidently, no head football coach in the current NEW 6 3-A Conference, which Northern Nash is a member, is an athletic director.

That pattern will continue next year when SouthWest Edgecombe leaves the league and Wilson Hunt joins it. Hunt's AD Stevie Hinnant is an assistant coach with Warriors' football team.

Chad Smith resigned as the Knights' head football coach on Nov. 10.

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)

Elon receiver Hudgins adds to record haul

By Adam Smith
Burlington Times-News

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Having picked up another receiving record to add to his prodigious collection, Terrell Hudgins continues to rewrite history as it pertains to the Elon University football program.

He's on a quest to help author wider-reaching chapters for the Phoenix.

"I'm just looking forward to a conference championship next," the dynamic junior said two days ago, after becoming Elon's all-time leader in touchdown catches. "I set another record, now I want a conference championship."

Hudgins hauled in scores from 9 and 25 yards out as Elon pulverized Chattanooga 42-7 on Saturday.

Those grabs were the 32nd and 33rd touchdown catches of Hudgins' college career, moving him past the previous milestone of 31 established by Richard McGeorge, one of Elon's most revered players, who starred for the school from 1966-69.

Hudgins needs 183 yards to overtake McGeorge (3,486 career yards) and become first at Elon in all-time receiving yards. That's essentially Elon's last career receiving category Hudgins has yet to procure.

He admitted Saturday that he took peeks at his numbers last year while in the process of piling up a season of enormous production - 117 catches for 1,474 yards and 18 touchdowns.

"But now, I'm just playing," Hudgins said. "I'm not worried about my stats or where I'm ranked or anything like that. I'm honored to have records in the books. But we're 7-1 right now, so I couldn't be any happier about the way we're playing."

Holt's prediction comes true

By Nick Phillips
RMHS iHigh.com correspondent

(Editor's note: Check out Nick's new blog at http://thoughtsoutofmyhead.blogspot.com )

Sitting here today, a freshman in college and away from home for the first extended period of time, I look around and see many reminders of home and Rocky Mount High School.

A baseball hat, a Gryphons mini-football and basketball (thanks to cheerleading coach Lou Buck) and walls adorned with newspaper clippings of the Gryphons baseball team’s state championship run.

As one of the team’s biggest fans, Wes Bradshaw, says, we were the Boys of Spring, capping off a season like no other, and for us five seniors, going out on top to finish our high school careers.

But this story is not as much about the baseball team winning or the great stories that everyone has from those few weeks. It’s about Rocky Mount head football coach B.W Holt. As my eyes wander to the framed picture of the exuberant dog pile in Five County Stadium’s infield, I hear Coach Holt’s voice saying ‘I told you so.’

You see, this story goes way back. Back beyond the beginnings of this past year’s graduating class’ high school endeavors. This story has its roots in the Edwards Middle School gym.

The year was 2004, and Rocky Mount football had just experienced its first year under Coach Holt. I remember that spring there was a meeting for anyone who had thoughts about playing any sport at Rocky Mount. I vaguely remember Coach Donald Thomas talking about reminders about physicals and the sort, but remembered this man standing off to the side.

As a naïve middle school student, I didn’t attend any of the Gryphons football games the previous fall in Coach Holt’s first campaign. But it soon became apparent what Coach Holt’s visions were for athletics at Rocky Mount High School.

Only a few words into his talk, mainly introducing himself and a word or two about football tryouts, when he came out and said, “By the time your class graduates, you will have won a state championship in some sport, I don’t know which one, but we will have won one somewhere.”

I’m pretty sure we all thought Coach Holt’s words were crazy, words trying to get us excited about high school and high school athletics. Who was this man to say what would happen in the future?

We were quickly turned into believers as we saw Holt’s football teams quickly began to turn into state contenders, and now have become powerhouses.

In 2007, the Gryphons’ Chalonda Silver brought home an individual championship in indoor track. But it was not the fruits of our class’ efforts.

As the weeks wound down towards graduation, it appeared Coach Holt’s words would not be fulfilled. Then a magical run began, both literally and figuratively.

First, Jacobi Jenkins outran the competition in the Eastern Finals to earn a spot in the state championships. There, he captured the championship in the 110 meter hurdles and brought the Class of 2008 its first champion.

But again, the championship was an individual one.

At the same time the Gryphons’ baseball team was beginning its run through the playoffs. I remember Bradshaw announcing Jacobi’s results and the applause he received. Inside, I believed that he helped push the baseball team that much harder, because we wanted to have that same feeling.

After a run through the playoffs, and a hard-fought Championship Series, the Gryphons baseball team was finally able to celebrate. Now there was no question – Holt’s promise was complete, both individually and as a team.

He was in the stands in Zebulon, along with many of Rocky Mount’s other athletes.

Seeing the celebration, will it now push those athletes in the other sports to want it that much more?

What will Coach Holt’s next speech be, now that his Gryphons are serious contenders?

As I look at the celebratory pictures again, and the ring that represents all of the hard work that was put into it, I remember taking time out of that late afternoon in May from celebrating to think back to those words so many years ago.

Call me crazy, or random, or whatever, but along with the memories and feelings from those magical weeks, I will forever remember Coach Holt’s words.

Thanks Coach, for instilling the dream and pushing us along the way, even if you didn’t always realize it.

All angles - The RMHS Baseball State Championship Ring

This is a chance for all the Rocky Mount sports fans who haven't seen the baseball team's state championship ring to do so up close.

Here, using the ring of senior Nick Hahula, you can get to see every angle of this beautiful ring. Click on each image to enlarge it.

Congrats again to the Gryphons!

(Photos/David Hahula)

Rocky Mount - SouthWest Edgecombe Football Series

Rocky Mount now leads the football series against SouthWest Edgecombe 10-1. The series started in 1987, but it took a 13-year hiatus until both teams joined the NEW 6 3-A Conference in 2005.

Here are all the scores:

2008 - RM wins 7-0

2007 - RM wins 15-12

2006 - SWE wins 21-16

2005 - RM wins 21-7 (3-A playoffs)

2005 - RM wins 24-7

1992 - RM wins 12-8

1991 - RM wins 24-21

1990 - RM wins 15-12

1989 - RM wins 40-7

1988 - RM wins 28-0

1987 - RM wins 21-18

AP 3-A Football Poll - Oct. 14

The Gryphons are the No. 2-ranked team in the state in AP's 3-A poll ... again. Since word of the NCHSAA forfeit came down, RMHS has been in the No. 2 spot ever since.

Class 3-A

1. Greensboro Dudley (11) (7-0) 155 1

2. Rocky Mount (5) (6-1) 145 2

3. Eastern Alamance (7-0) 114 3

4. Belmont South Point (7-1) 95 4

5. Jamestown Ragsdale (8-0) 90 5

6. West Craven (7-0) 81 6

7. Waynesville Tuscola (7-0) 72 7

8. Winston-Salem Carver (6-1) 51 8

9. Harnett Central (6-1) 24 9

10. West Rowan (6-1) 23 10

Others receiving votes: SouthWest Edgecombe 8, Wilson Beddingfield 7, Oxford Webb 5, Asheville 4, Monroe Sun Valley 2, Western Alamance 1, Newton Foard 1, Gastonia Forestview 1, Kinston 1.

A Redskins jinx!

My old friend and former RM Telegram sports editor Cliff Barnes and I attended Sunday's Washington Redskins-St. Louis Rams football game at FedEx Field.

I can promptly say that I jinxed my 'Skins - again!

Washington came into the game with no turnovers on offense. I come to see them and they fumble all over the place. And for the second straight time in my presence, they lost (19-17)! A Monday Night game a few seasons ago with the Tennessee Titans was a solid bore and also a loss!

It was nice being among the 92,000 Redskins fans that packed the place that day, but I could be a better fan watching them at home. Certainly, a less poorer one.

After all, they didn't need my $110 for the ticket, the $40 for parking or the $5 I paid for a 20 oz. bottle of water I got late in the game - just minutes before a Rams field goal sent us all home mad!

More shots of the RING!

Even though I posted a nice picture of the Gryphon baseball team's state championship ring (with Grant Johnson's fingers), I hope to post three later in the week so fans can see all three sides of the ring - the top, left and right sides.

Rain could damper RMHS-SW Edgecombe matchup .. again

Could we have some Monday Night Football for a fourth straight year?

The weather forecast for Friday is showing showers - no idea if they will come early or late in the day. Should this battle get washed out (SWE holds the game cancelling cards this season), it would be the fourth straight season Rocky Mount and SouthWest Edgecombe will have faced each other on a Monday evening.

I would be nice for the pattern to end - since this is the last NEW 6 contest the two teams will play.

Let's hope we can play in dry conditions and on a dry, cut field, on a Friday - so no one can complain about the outcome.