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.