The last time Rocky Mount played Bertie in football, the Falcons got their only win in their short-lived series, 27-21.
Now, the Gryphons have avenged that loss of 30 years ago!
Here is the series lineup between Rocky Mount and Bertie which the Gryphons now lead 6-1!
2010 - Rocky Mount 26, Bertie 7
1980 - Bertie 27, Rocky Mount 21
1979 - Rocky Mount 43, Bertie 22
1978 - Rocky Mount 19, Bertie 0
1977 - Rocky Mount 26, Bertie 6
1976 - Rocky Mount 47, Bertie 26
1975 - Rocky Mount 20, Bertie 8
But give the Bertie program great credit. It has won two state titles (1995 3-A, 2000 3-A) since the two teams last played and the Roy L. Bond Stadium, named after the late coach who led those Falcons teams to those championships, is 100 times better looking than it was the last time I traveled to Windsor for a football game.
New bleachers, a re-sodded field (thanks to baseball and assistant football coach Randy Whitaker), new scoreboard and new concession stand - all make the Falcons' refurbishhed home so inviting for visiting teams.
And there is a Gryphon walking the Bertie sideline now. Head trainer Billy McCallop, who has had several stops on the football training express (more recently Hertford County), is a Gryphon alum and learned his trade at the hands of Hall of Fame Rocky Mount head trainer Bernie Capps.
Ironically, there have been some other RMHS connections to Bertie over the years.
Former Rocky Mount principal (my principal) Elton Newbern taught there in the early sixties. Ray Durham, a former head football coach at Rocky Mount, taught and coached there before coming to RMHS in 1967 as an assistant.
Even recently-retired Rocky Mount band director Hosea Brower taught at Bertie just before coming here to lead the Gryphon Marching Band.
It just took us 30 years for us to get re-connected on the football field.
Rocky Mount 26, Bertie 7
Rocky Mount 7 6 6 7 — 26
Bertie 0 0 0 7 — 7
First Quarter
RM - Damien Richardson 1 run (Fernando Alfaro kick), 9:12
Second Quarter
RM - Miguel Valdez 67 pass from Diandre Harris (kick failed), 7:03
Third Quarter
RM - Rodquez Greene 72 fumble return (run failed), 6:24
Fourth Quarter
RM - Damien Strickland 12 pass from Tevin Taylor (Alfaro kick), 11:17
B - Pashon Cherry 66 fumble return (Johnathan Wilson kick),:47.4
RM B
First downs 10 12
Rushes-yards 30-129 49-181
Passing 3-5-0 2-2-0
Passing yards 82 14
Total yards 211 195
Fumbles lost 2 5
Penalties 6-36 5-35
Individual statistics
RUSHING – RM: Nah’jerrelle Graves 8-59, Damien Richardson 3-44, Mason King 4-29, Elijah Blount 1-5, Michael Hines 2-4, Rodquez Greene 4-(-1), Diandre Harris 2-(-4), Tevin Taylor 6-(-7). B: Corbin Rascoe 12-73, Erik Bowen 12-44, Darius Moody 9-34, Dontai Barnes 1-19, Malcolm Cherry 8-8, Dequan Perry 1-3, Johnathan Wilson 5-0.
PASSING – RM: Diandre Harris 1-3-0 67, Tevin Taylor 2-2- 15. B: Malcolm Cherry 2-2-0 14.
RECEIVING – RM: Miguel Valdez 1-67, Damien Strickland 1-12, Damien Richardson 1-3. B: Pashon Cherry 1-11, Desmon Askew 1-3.
