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