54-21, 54-0, 21-0, 40-0, 21-14
In case you haven't figured out what these numbers are, they are the last five scores in the Rocky Mount- Northern Nash football series ... with RM winning all five.
The two old rivals will revive their heated matchup for the 40th time Friday night at Rocky Mount. The Gryphons lead the series 22-17.
And a record is on the line.
No team in the series has ever beaten the other six times in a row.
Rocky Mount could do just that if it wins Friday night.
For the record, both teams have pulled off five straight victories. Rocky Mount, of course, is currently riding that five-win run, while Northern won five straight from 1985 to 1989 (14-12, 34-14, 13-10 in OT, 21-6, 20-18).
And RMHS has never trailed in the series, but it was tied when the Gryphons' win streak began. In fact, Rocky Mount won nine of the first 12 games between the two before Northern started fighting back.
For you trivia buffs, where did Northern's last win over Rocky Mount take place?
The answer - at Nash Central's Dawg Pound.
The year was 2002, the season the Gryphons, due to major field issues at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex, was forced to play all their home games at Nash Central. The Knights won their fourth straight in the series by slamming the Gryphons 47-6 that evening. The only saving grace for Rocky Mount was a spectacular touchdown catch by then-senior Mike Mason.
That all seems like ions ago!
