Gurley joins list of AP Players of the Year

Tarboro's Todd Gurley II was named as the Associated Press' Player of the Year in football this week. You have to admit, he put on a show this past season - especially toward the end

But he is not the first area player to win the award. 

North Edgecombe's Milton Shaw received the honor in 1991 - a rare feat for a player from a 1-A school.

I had the honor of presenting Shaw with a plaque, in the shape of the state of North Carolina, from AP that was sent to the sports desk during my days with the then-called Rocky Mount Evening Telegram. As I was scheduled to cover a home North Edgecombe basketball game days later, I took the plaque to the game and presented it to him at midcourt during a halftime ceremony.

Now my friend, Tarboro Daily Southerner sports editor Calvin Adkins, will have the honor of doing the same for Gurley sometime in January.

As I glanced at the list of former winners of the award (started in 1983), I can't believe that I got to see 15 of them play at least once - and one of them at Rocky Mount's home field. Wonder if you can guess who "that player" was?

Associated Press Football Player of the Year 

2011—Todd Gurley II, RB, Tarboro

2010—Vad Lee, QB, Durham Hillside

2009—K.P. Parks, RB, West Rowan

2008—Xavier Nixon, OT, Fayetteville Britt

2007—Darius Thomas, QB, West Charlotte

2006—Quan Warley, RB, Thomasville

2005—Quan Warley, RB, Thomasville

2004—Joe Cox, QB, Charlotte Independence

2003—Andre Brown, RB, Greenville Rose

2002—Chris Leak, QB, Charlotte Independence

2001—T.A. McLendon, RB, Albemarle

2000—Chris Leak, QB, Charlotte Independence

1999—Manny Deshauteurs, RB, Brevard

1998—Nick Maddox, RB, Kannapolis Brown

1997—Nick Maddox, RB, Kannapolis Brown

1996—Montrell Coley, RB, Goldsboro

1995—Marcus Reaves, RB, Fayetteville Byrd

1994—Terence Stokes, RB, Bunn

1993—Ernest Tinnin, QB, Burlington Cummings

1992—(tie) Antoine Ikard, RB, Maiden; Maurice Mebane, WR, Burlington Cummings

1991—Milton Shaw, RB, North Edgecombe

1990—Donnie Davis, QB, Burlington Cummings

1989—Mike Thomas, QB-P, Richmond County

1988—Chuckie Burnette, QB, Burlington Cummings

1987—Anthony Barbour, RB, Garner

1986—Robert Siler, RB, Siler City Jordan-Matthews

1985—Alvin Baker, RB, Claremont Bunker Hill

1984—Todd Ellis, QB, Greensboro Page

1983—Darryl McGill, RB, Southern Durham

2011 Nash County Christmas Basketball Tournament - All-Tournament Team

BOYS

Lavon Brutus, Rocky Mount - MVP

Dante Battle, Rocky Mount

Terrill Hilliard, Rocky Mount

Nathaniel Pittman, Nash Central

Josh Sessoms, Southern Nash

Darryl Prunty, Northern Nash

GIRLS

Alexus Hill, Northern Nash - MVP

Khadijrah Richardson, Northern Nash

Ni'ya Styles, Nash Central

Timyra Staton, Nash Central

J'Kyra Brown, Rocky Mount

Khadijah Manning, Southern Nash

Nash County Christmas Basketball Tournament final results - 2011 edition

Monday, Dec. 19

• Girls semis - Northern Nash 53, Rocky Mount 40
• Girls semis - Nash Central 72, Southern Nash 63, OT
• Boys semis - Nash Central 53, Southern Nash 52

Tuesday, Dec. 20

• Girls Consolation - Rocky Mount 70, Southern Nash 41
• Boys semis - Rocky Mount 71, Northern Nash 47

Wednesday, Dec. 21

• Boys Consolation Game - Southern Nash 61, Northern Nash 32
• Girls Championship Game - Northern Nash 56, Nash Central 34
• Boys Championship Game - Rocky Mount 73, Nash Central 67

Nash County Christmas Basketball Tournament gets underway Monday

Southern Nash will serve as the host for the annual Nash County Christmas Basketball Tournament, which will be held Monday through Wednesday, Dec. 19-21 at the SNHS Gymnasium. 

Rocky Mount is the defending girls champion, while Northern Nash took the boys' title last year.

Tickets are $6 for the first two days and $8 for the final day.

Pairings for the event are as follows:

Monday, Dec. 19

• Rocky Mount Girls vs. Northern Nash Girls, 5 p.m.
• Nash Central Girls vs. Southern Nash Girls, 6:30 p.m.
• Nash Central Boys vs. Southern Nash Boys, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 20

• Girls Consolation Game, 6 p.m.
• Rocky Mount Boys vs. Northern Nash Boys, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 21

• Boys Consolation Game, 5 p.m.
• Girls Championship Game, 6:30 p.m.
• Boys Championship Game, 8 p.m.

Brush with greatness from the sidelines

Robert Griffin III

When Baylor's Robert Griffin III was announced as the Heisman Trophy winner last Saturday evening, my thoughts went to another college player - former Rocky Mount offensive lineman Whit Barnes.

Back in 2009, his redshirt year at Wake Forest, Barnes watched from the sidelines when the Bears came to WInston-Salem to open that season. Thanks to Griffin III's abilities, the Bears were able to leave Forsyth County with a victory.

The next week, Stanford and then-redshirt freshman and two-time Heisman runner-up Andrew Luck came to town and the Demon Deacons were able to get the victory.

Andrew Luck

The following season, Barnes and his Wake teammates went west to Palo Alto and Luck did a number on this bunch of Baptist boys.

I asked Whit recently of his thoughts of these two great quarterbacks, who ironically, both call Houston, Tx home.

"When I saw RG III play, I didn't know just how outstanding of a player he was," said Barnes, whose team will be playing in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl in Nashville later this month, "but I did know that he was dangerous and that it was going to be tough containing his dynamic style of play.

"As for Luck, there was one play that really stood out in my mind," he said.

"I think it was early in the second quarter, before Stanford began to pull away from us. Luck was standing in the pocket going through all of his progressions and he decided to tuck the ball and take it down field himself. I remember thinking to myself that he looked way too big to be running that fast and juking our defensive backs. 

"But needless to say, Stanford gave us some payback the year after Luck and the Cardinal lost to us in Winston."

I know Barnes is very glad he plays on the same side of the ball as these guys!

Hunt leads Big East in Wells Fargo Cup standings after fall season

Thanks to league titles in football and men’s soccer, Wilson Hunt has the lead in the Wells Fargo Cup standings for the Big East 3-A Conference at the conclusion of the 2011 fall sports season.

The Warriors, with 65.5 points, currently hold a three-point edge over second place Nash Central as Hunt finished in a tie for second with Rocky Mount in women’s tennis.

A championship in women’s tennis and second-place ledgers in football and men’s and women’s cross-country bolstered Nash Central to 62.5 points.

Rocky Mount, with a championship in boys cross country and a second-place finish in volleyball, is in third place with 59.5, followed by Wilson Fike (58.5), Southern Nash (56) and Northern Nash (50).

At long last, All-Big East football team released

This gets to be quite old each year - the release of the Big East All-Conference Football Team comes later and later each season.

This year, 17 days after the last Big East team is knocked out of the playoffs and almost 10 days after the state championships have been completed, the area media finally gets a peek at this year's honored high school football players. 

This announcement has been as drawn out as MLB's season-ending awards - Cy Young, MVP, etc.

Despite finishing in last place, Rocky Mount placed four players on the team (Mason Hines
Nah'jerelle Graves, Rodquez Greene, Darryn Lewis), and two Nash County players took the top individual honors, although Wilson Hunt won the league title.

Wilson Hunt


Josh Joyner
Jacob Page
Trevor Kyle
Nick Denton
Tevin Speight
Tim Applewhite
Vernon Holman
Lamar Melvin
Phil Dickens
Cody Pittman
Luis Neal


Nash Central


Jalen Hendricks
Greg Arrrington
Jarod Richardson
Isiah Edwards
Zach Connor
Jaquan Wilkins
Khalil Macklin
Justin Scott
Tamarris Lane
Jordan Lynch


Wilson Fike


Cam Avery
Sam Ellis
Tyler Newman
Jeremy Vick
Dustin Edwards
Chris Phillips
Josh King


Southern Nash


Josh Sessoms
Tracey Coppedge
Terron Huffman
Alonte Thomas
Molik Harris
Roderick Dunston
Matt Boswell
Moses Trejo


Northern Nash


Darius Perry
Quay Mann
Tevin Marshall
Marquez Farmer
Michael Dickens


Rocky Mount

Mason Hines

Nah'jerelle Graves

Rodquez Greene

Darryn Lewis

Honorable Mention


D'metrius Dew, Wilson Hunt
Justin Williams, Nash Central
Trae Hudson, Wilson Fike
Zack Parris, Southern Nash
Travonne Marshall, Northern Nash
Ben Winstead, Rocky Mount


Big East Offensive Player of the Year - Jalen Hendricks, Nash Central
Big East Defensive Player of the Year - Josh Sessoms, Southern Nash
Big East Coach of the Year - Tom Nelson, Wilson Fike; Kevin Crudup, Nash Central

Smith doing swimmingly in S.C.

Chad Smith talks to members of his Green Wave team. 
(click on photo to enlarge)

Chad Smith, who served as an assistant coach at Rocky Mount and as head coach at Northern Nash, has turned his old rival Easley High School in Easley, S.C. into a 4-A power in the Palmetto State. 

Smith attended high school at neighboring Pickens High School.

He was recently recognized by the S.C. Football Coaches Association as the Upper State 4-A Coach of the Year. 

In his second year as head coach of the Green Wave, Smith led Easley (11-2) to its first 10-win season since 1997 and broke the single-season scoring record. Prior to Smith's tenure, Easley had won 18 games in a five-year span. Since Smith began coaching the Green Wave in 2010, Easley has won 20 games (20-6).

"I think it proves that we have an administration that gives me all the support I need, I think it proves that we have a great group of kids, and I think it proves that I have a great coaching staff," Smith told local media after receiving the award. "Easley is a special place."

Smith's Easley High School will soon have new digs. Just like Rocky Mount High, Easley will move to a brand new campus next fall complete with a spanking new football stadium. The $36 million campus can accommodate 1,800 students.

Gryphon alum Britt Johnson, who coaches baseball at nearby Lander University in Greenwood, S.C., has been able to see Smith's teams the last two seasons and he likes what he sees.

Sadly, it was Greenwood High School that handed Smith his only two losses this past season, including the one that knocked Easley out of the S.C. state playoffs.

Will Corinth Holders High join the Big East?

By Geoff Neville, Nashville Graphic

Judging by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s latest findings, the Class 3-A Big East Conference will be around in its current at least through 2017.

That’s what the league member schools want -- and those plans should be finalized next spring by the NCHSAA.

Last week, the NCHSAA released its first preliminary conference makeup for its next realignment, which will begin in the fall of 2013 and run for four years.

The Big East’s current roster of Northern Nash, Nash Central, Southern Nash, Rocky Mount, Wilson Fike and Wilson Hunt will remain intact.

The only change will come with the prospective addition of Corinth Holders, a second-year school in Johnston County (just monutes from the Carolina Mudcats’ Five County Stadium).

Corinth Holders is now a member of the Class 2-A Northern Carolina Conference, but the school features only freshman through junior classes.

When CH boasts a four-year class for the first time next fall, it will boost the Pirates’ enrollment into Class 3-A -- and a potential grouping with the Big East schools.

The first rough draft of the NCHSAA’s was done by computer by SAS. Georgraphy, as always, played the most important decision in the formula.

The NCHSAA has also stated a desire to move away from split-classification conferences if possible.

School athletic directors and administrators will be allowed to air their grievance with possible conference alignments during regional meetings in January.

The NCHSAA will take the questions into consideration before releasing its final update later in the spring.
 
Northern Nash Athletic Director Dan Richwalski anticipates that none of the Nash County squads will argue against the initial alliance.

“I think this is pretty much what everybody wants,’’ Richwalski said. “Except for Corinth-Holders, the conference is going to stay the same. We’re pretty happy about that -- we don’t anticipate that the travel to Corinth-Holders is going to be a big problem for anyone.’’

Said Southern Nash AD Robbie Kennedy: “We’re fine with it. It would help us out with scheduling, because we would have one less non-conference date to fill. I have no issue with seven teams.’’

However, that scenario -- because of an odd number -- would mean that one team would have a bye from conference play during the league portion of the football schedule. 

Another potential problem is that Cleveland, another Johnston County school, had its numbers incorrectly recorded during the SAS program.

Cleveland High School was projected as a Class 2-A school, but will actually compete on the 3-A level. How this affects Corinth Holders’ standing -- as another Johnston school -- isn’t known.

Cleveland could also end up in the Big East -- or Corinth Holders may be moved away from the league to be in a league with Cleveland.

Two other Johnston County schools -- Smithfield-Selma and South Johnston -- are proposed to be in another different Class 3-A league.

This is a computer draft that was done strictly by geography,’’ said Corinth Holders AD Brent Walston. “We felt like we might be placed with the Wilson and Nash schools, based on where we are located.

“It’s closer for us to go to Nash County than South Johnston or Erwin Triton. And I think we would have some good rivalries with those schools -- our district borders Wilson Hunt and Southern Nash.

“We are kind of split. Some of the Johnston County schools are in different classifications, but would it be in our best interest to have all of the county 3-A schools in there together?’’

Walston expects an updated rough draft to be released soon.

“We’ll see what the NCHSAA releases and then go from there,’’ Walston said. “It’s kind of wait and see right now.’’

Here is how the first proposal looks, along with the projected enrollment number from each school: 

NCHSAA Class 3-A Big East Conference  

Corinth Holders 1394
Wilson Hunt 1317
Southern Nash 1261                                                                                             
Nash Central 1232
Northern Nash 1214
Rocky Mount 1153                                                                                             

Wilson Fike 1140

Here are the distances to Corinth Holders from each current Big East Conference member:

• 22 miles from Southern Nash
• 25 miles from Wilson Hunt
• 33 miles from Wilson Fike
• 39 miles from Northern Nash
• 40 miles from Nash Central
• 44 miles from Rocky Mount

Barnes, Deacons get bowl bid

Whit Barnes

Former Rocky Mount football standout Whit Barnes won't be sitting around watching bowl games on TV during his Christmas break. 

He'll be playing in one!

The former All-State offensive lineman, now a redshirt sophomore on the Wake Forest football team, will join his Deacon teammates in Nashville, Tn, when Wake (6-6, 5-3) takes on Mississippi State (6-6) in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. The Deacs got the invite Sunday evening.

Wake, which will be making its fifth bowl appearance in 11 years under current head coach Jim Grobe, will play on Friday, Dec; 30 at 6:40 p.m. at LP Field, the home of the Tennessee Titans. ESPN will carry the game.

The Deacons have compiled a 6-3 (.667) record in their nine previous bowl appearances and are 3-1 in bowl games under Grobe. Wake Forest and Mississippi State will be meeting for the first time in football. 

Wake is making its first bowl appearance since 2008, but enters having won five of its last six bowl appearances.

Hudgins moving close to joining 1,000-point Club

Rocky Mount senior Tia Hudgins (right) goes to the basket against Northern Nash last season. (Photo/David Hahula)

Rocky Mount High senior forward Tia Hudgins is moving ever so close to joining the school's 1,000-Point Club.

The four-year starter is coming off her best scoring season of her career last year, and she has gotten off to a solid start thus far this campaign. Hudgins, whose older brother Terrell came very close to joining the boys' version of the club when he closed out his career in 2005, needs just 61 more points this season to reach that coveted 1,000-point mark.

She would become only the fifth female to do so and the12th overall player to hit the mark. 

However, the likelihood that she will get that 1,000th point at home is somewhat doubtful. 

Rocky Mount has but eight home games on its regular season schedule this year and one of them has already been played.

With her current average of 14 points per game, she will likely hit the milestone in the first round of the Nash County Christmas Tournament which is being held at Southern Nash later this month.

RMHS' GIRLS 1,000-POINT CLUB

Kim Taylor (1981-84)..........................1,600 - played at N.C. State (deceased, 1985)

Danielle Powell (1989-1992) ..............1,472 - played at James Madison

Dyonna Battle (2006-09)......................1,290 - playing at Queens Univ.

Latoya Armstrong (1999-03)................1,127 - played at Campbell/Winston-Salem State

Tia Hudgins (2008-present)....................939

Rocky Mount's 2011-12 basketball schedules released

The road will be Rocky Mount's calling card in basketball this upcoming season. 

Of the school's 22-game regular season schedule, 14 of them will be played on the road as each of Rocky Mount's varsity teams will play in not, one, not two, but three different tournaments - all on the road.

Make that four when they play this year's Big East Conference Tournament at Northern Nash at the end of the regular season.

The Gryphons will see their home court - their last season there - just eight times!

Check out what the road warriors have before them! 

2011-12 Rocky Mount Boys/Girls Basketball Schedule (Girls 6 p.m., Boys 7:30 p.m.)

Nov. 25 - @ Triangle Tip-off Tournament - Knightdale HS - Girls vs. Millbrook, 4:30 p.m.

Nov. 25 - @ Triangle Tip-off Tournament - Knightdale HS - Boys vs. Knightdale, 6 p.m. 
Nov. 26 - @ Triangle Tip-off Tournament - Knightdale HS - Girls vs. TBA, TBA 
Nov. 26 - @ Triangle Tip-off Tournament - Knightdale HS - Boys vs. TBA, TBA 

Nov. 29 - WILSON BEDDINGFIELD

Dec. 2 - @ Hertford County

Dec. 6 - @ Wilson Beddingfield

Dec. 9 - @ South Central

Dec. 16 - GREENVILLE ROSE

Dec. 20 - @ Nash County Christmas Tournament - Southern Nash HS - Girls vs. Northern Nash, 5 p.m. 
Dec. 20 - @ Nash County Christmas Tournament - Southern Nash HS - Boys vs. Northern Nash, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 21 - @ Nash County Christmas Tournament - Southern Nash HS - Girls vs. TBA, TBA 
Dec. 21 - @ Nash County Christmas Tournament - Southern Nash HS - Boys vs. TBA, TBA

Dec. 26 - @ Holiday Invitational - Cary Academy - Girls vs. Holly Springs, 12:40 p.m.

Dec. 27 - @ Holiday Invitational - Cary Academy - Girls vs TBA, TBA

Dec. 27 - @ Holiday Invitational - Broughton HS - Boys vs. Broughton, 4 p.m.

Dec. 28 - @ Holiday Invitational - Broughton HS - Boys vs. TBA, TBA

Jan. 3 - WILSON FIKE

Jan. 4 - HERTFORD COUNTY

Jan. 6 - @ Nash Central

Jan. 13 - @ Wilson Hunt

Jan. 20 - @ Southern Nash

Jan. 24 - NORTHERN NASH

Jan. 27 - NASH CENTRAL

Jan. 31 - WILSON HUNT

Feb. 3 - @ Wilson Fike

Feb. 7 - SOUTHERN NASH

Feb. 10 - @ Northern Nash

Feb. 13-17 - Big East Conference Tournament @ Northern Nash HS

Gryphon girls headed to Holiday Invitational

For the first time ever in the same season, both the Rocky Mount girls and boys basketball teams are headed to the 40th Annual Holiday Invitational Basketball Tournament in Raleigh. The event has lost its longtime title sponsor, pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline.

The Gryphon girls will be playing in the four-team girls bracket that will begin play on Monday, Dec. 26 at Cary Academy. They will join host Cary Academy, Cary High School and Holly Springs High School in the event - four of 12 girls teams that will be participating in the overall tournament.

Rocky Mount, which went 25-4 last season, return leading scorer senior forward Tia Hudgins and all-state junior guard J'Kyra Brown, who has verbally committed to play for East Carolina.

The boys, who will start play on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at Broughton High School's Holliday Gym, will hit the floor as part of the 40th Anniversary bracket. Rocky Mount, along with Sanderson, Garner and Kinston, played in the first-ever tournament - won by Phil Ford and the Gryphons in 1972. 

All members of those four original teams will be guests at this year's tournament and will be honored during the event.

Rocky Mount's teams will open the 2011-12 season Friday afternoon at the Triangle Tip-off Tournament (four girls, four boys teams) at Knightdale High School. Pam Gainey's girls will open with Millbrook at 4:30 p.m., while Mike Gainey's boys will take on host Knightdale at 6 p.m..

The Gryphon girls are the defending champions in the event - beating Knightdale in overtime. RMHS' boys placed third last season.

2011 NCHSAA Football Playoff Pairings - Regional Finals

Here are the pairings for Round 4 of the 2011 NCHSAA Football State Playoffs Friday evening.

In each classification, the East regional final game is listed first, followed by the West regional final game.

The winners from Friday will meet the following weekend in the state championship games in Winston-Salem, Chapel Hill and Raleigh.

If you can't make it to the Tarboro-South Columbus game - the only remaining playoff contest in the Twin Counties area, you can listen to the game on WDLX 99.3 FM, or online at jammin993.com 

The Wilson Hunt-Northern Guilford contest will be carried online at northcarolina.ihigh.com/absports 

NCHSAA FOOTBALL STATE PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE - REGIONAL FINALS
(seedings listed are for each team's pod or subregion) 

CLASS 4-AA
No. 1 Fayetteville Jack Britt (11-2) at No. 1 Garner (14-0)
No. 1 Charlotte Mallard Creek (13-0) at No. 1 Greensboro Page (13-0)

---

CLASS 4-A
No. 1 New Bern (12-1) at No. 1 Scotland County (13-0)
No. 2 Mooresville (12-2) at No. 1 Indian Trail Porter Ridge (13-0)

---

CLASS 3-AA
No. 2 Northern Guilford (12-1) at No. 1 Wilson Hunt (13-0)
No. 2 Boiling Springs Crest (11-3) at No. 1 Charlotte Catholic (13-0)

---

CLASS 3-A
 No. 1 West Rowan (12-2) at No. 2 Lawndale Burns (13-1)
No. 2 Clayton Cleveland (11-3) at No. 1 Havelock (14-0)

---

CLASS 2-AA
No. 3 Reidsville (11-3) at No. 1 Kinston (12-1)
No. 1 Shelby (9-5) at No. 1 West Stokes (14-0)

---

CLASS 2-A
No. 4 South Columbus (10-3) at No. 5 Tarboro (11-2)
No. 2 Thomasville (10-4) at No. 1 Lincolnton (13-1)

---

CLASS 1-AA
No. 1 Ayden-Grifton (12-1) at No. 1 Wallace-Rose Hill (13-1)
No. 3 West Montgomery (11-2) at No. 2 Swain County (13-1)

---

CLASS 1-A
No. 3 Jones County (9-4) at No. 1 Manteo (13-1)
No. 1 Murphy (10-4) at No. 1 Albemarle (13-1)

---

Big East All-Conference volleyball, girls tennis, girls golf teams released

Rocky Mount senior Tia Hudgins was voted volleyball Player of the Year for the Big East Conference for this past season. The entire All-Conference teams for volleyball, girls tennis and girls golf were released Wednesday. 

Here are those teams:

2011 Big East All-Conference Volleyball Team 

Camille Branch, Northern Nash
Claire Fleming, Northern Nash
Myrick Clark, Northern Nash
Deja Lewis, Northern Nash

Tia Hudgins, Rocky Mount

Evie Hunter, Rocky Mount

Precious White, Rocky Mount

Jordan Young, Wilson Hunt
Brittany Edwards, Wilson Hunt
Brittany Faulkner, Nash Central
Lesley Murray, Nash Central
Myra Mitchell, Wilson Fike
Laura Bland, Wilson Fike
Haley Wood, Southern Nash

Tia Hudgins, Rocky Mount - Player of the Year
Patricia Haggerty, Northern Nash - Conference Championship Coach

2011 Big East All-Conference Girls Tennis Team

Randi Price, Nash Central
Kaley Price, Nash Central
Lizzie Eakin, Nash Central
Dana Kelly, Nash Central
Caley Bass, Nash Central
Meredith Davis, Nash Central

Elizabeth Thompson, Rocky Mount

McKenzie Warner, Rocky Mount

Annah-Claire Summerlin, Wilson Fike
Aly Jones, Wilson Hunt
Casey Strickland, Southern Nash
Katie Beeman, Northern Nash

Randi Price, Nash Central - Co-Player of the Year
Kaley Price, Nash Central - Co-Player of the Year
Susan McCarthy, Nash Central - Conference Champion Coach


2011 Big East All-Conference Girls Golf Team

Myranda Melton, Wilson Hunt

Samantha Corn, Wilson Hunt

Casey Potter, Wilson Hunt

Rachel Boyette, Southern Nash

Allison Pitts, Southern Nash

Kadijah Barfield, Northern Nash

Abby Glover, Northern Nash

Kaitlin Beal, Nash Central

Rachel Bissette, Southern Nash - Player of the Year

Sue McGuire, Wilson Hunt - Conference Champion Coach

Eldest Hudgins lands hoop coaching job at NCWC

Tanika Hudgins, the oldest of the Hudgins siblings who have had such an impact on Rocky Mount athletics the last 10 years, has accepted a position as assistant coach with the North Carolina Wesleyan women's basketball program. 

Brother Terrell was a three-sport star for the Gryphons and went on to be named NCHSAA Male Athlete of the Year in 2005. The Elon University grad set many NCAA records as a receiver for the Phoenix. Sister Tia is currently a senior at RMHS and is following in her big sister's footsteps in volleyball and basketball.

A prep standout at RMHS in the early 2000s, Tanika brings a wealth of basketball knowledge and experience to the Battling Bishop sideline.

Hudgins' stellar prep career saw her garner All-Big East volleyball and basketball accolades, as well as recognition as Rocky Mount's Female Athlete of the Year in 2002. Additionally, she was named an All-Conference Track and Field performer and concluded her prep career by participating in the North Carolina Coaches' Association East/West All-Star girls basketball game .

Upon graduation, she took her talents to Mount Olive College and later transferred to Elizabeth City State University where she played volleyball and basketball. During her collegiate career, Hudgins was an All-CIAA performer in volleyball, while helping lead the ECSU women's basketball team to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Most recently, Hudgins served as a physical education teacher and girls head basketball coach at Southampton High School in Courtland, Va., where she coached current Bishop standout Samantha Urquhart.

Top memories from the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex

The selections were wide and varied - from a concert with the Beach Boys to the flood waters of Hurricane Floyd.

To those of you who submitted to my Facebook page your top three memories from the last 24 years at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex, I deeply thank you.

It was a tight race, but alas, a positive Gryphon memory ended up winning out.

The day was Monday, Oct. 8, 2007 and SouthWest Edgecombe's football team came calling. Both Rocky Mount and SWE were undefeated and the RMAC was packed.

That most unforgettable moment took place with about four minutes left in the game. With SWE trailing 15-12, its QB completed a pass around mid-field to Demetrius Randolph across the middle and he headed down the field past the RM bench toward the north end zone.

Out of nowhere came defensive back Brian Goodwin who got behind Randolph, then with an upward motion, knocked the ball out from Randolph's left arm and fellow DB Jacobi Jenkins was "Johnny on the spot" to recover the ball just before it went out of bounds at the RM 7.

An unbelievable and timely defensive play for the Gryphons. RM ran out the clock and preserved the win and its winning streak. Whew!!!

Later this weekend, I will post every memory nominated. But for now, here are the Top 10!

TOP 10 MEMORIES FROM THE ROCKY MOUNT ATHLETIC COMPLEX (1988-2011)


1. 2007 - RM's Goodwin and Jenkins run down a SouthWest Edgecombe receiver to force a turnover and preserve a 15-12 victory


2. 2009 - RM's 22-19 loss to West Craven in the NCHSAA 3-A East finals


3. 2004 - RM's 15-13 loss to Greenville Rose in the NCHAA 4-A East semifinals


4. 1999 - Having three games cancelled due to the flood waters caused by Hurricane Floyd, including a much anticipated home endowment contest with powerhouse Richmond County


5. 2003 - A Superman-like effort by Greenville Rose's Andre Brown (ran for 300 yds. on 15 carries, scored five TDs on runs of 55, 15, 25, 66, 46 yds.) His performance included a Houdini-like 66 yd. KO return for another TD. He played only three quarters as Rose won 49-28 


6. 2005 - A 21-20 win over Wilson Beddingfield in the third round of the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs


7. 2007 - Stopping Greenville Rose's 39-game winning streak with a 17-7 Gryphon triumph


8. 2001 - The longest game ever played by Rocky Mount - a four-overtime loss to Wilson Beddingfield, 46-40


9. 2002 - The RMAC's field was condemned due to its hazardous condition. The Gryphons were forced to play their remaining home games at Nash Central


10. 1988 - Winning RM's first ever game at the RMAC - a 28-0 defeat of SW Edgecombe

Ugly entries go into the RMHS football record book

Thanks to the Gryphons' 63-14 loss at Wilson Fike last Friday night, some odious school records got set.

Here they are:

  

1. Most points allowed in a game - 63 (63-14 Wilson Fike, 2011), previous record was 56 by Southern Nash, 1990 (56-34 SN win).

2. Most PATs allowed in a game - 9, Drayton Williams, Wilson Fike (63-14 WF win), previous record, 7, Nick Williams, J.H. Rose, 2003 (49-28 Rose win), Chris Peacock, Northern Nash, 1994 (54-31 NN win). 

3.  Most touchdowns allowed in a game - 9, Wilson Fike, 2011 (63-14 WF win).

Here are two positive factoids to come from the game: 

1. Longest fumble return for a TD - 75 yds., Mike Westry vs. Wilson Fike, 2011, previous record was 73 yds - shared by Brian Washington (vs. SN, 1992) and Barry Sears (vs. Fike, 1992).

2. Junior Mason Hines ran for 217 yards on 25 carries. The last RM rusher to gain over 200 yards in a game was Marquavis Alston. Ironically, his 240-yard effort was also in a loss - a 50-36 playoff defeat to Western Alamance in 2007.

UNC throws more money Fox's way

Mike Fox

When it comes to paying college coaches, baseball coaches are down the totem poll from their football and basketball bretheren. But they still make a good living. 

Just ask UNC's Mike Fox.

Fox, who served as head baseball coach and athletic director at N.C. Wesleyan during the mid-80s through the 90s and won the Div. III national title (1989) with the Bishops, just got his contract extended. 

Fox spent 15 years in Rocky Mount prior to going to Chapel Hill. He also has a sister who lives here.

It was one of the things outgoing North Carolina athletics director Dick Baddour did before handing his keys over to Bubba Cunningham. He did the same for mens basketball coach Roy Williams and women's basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell.

Fox, who was already the highest paid college baseball coach in the state, pushed his lead way ahead of his fellow keepers of the diamond. 

Fox, in his 14th season as a head coach at his alma mater, got a $20,000 raise to his base salary at $180,000 for 2011-12. 

It will move to $220,000 in 2012-13, $240,000 in 2013-14, $250,000 in 2014-15 and $260,000 in each of the following three seasons. He also will receive an expense allowance ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 and is eligible to receive standard bonuses for advancing in the postseason and for academic progress rates.

From data from the UNC system through contracts signed by Aug. 2009,  here are the top paid baseball coaches among the 16 UNC campuses. Ironically, the top three have ties to Nash County.

1. $180,000 - Mike Fox, UNC-Chapel Hill (lived in RM, NCWC baseball coach/AD)

2. $132,500 - Billy Godwin, East Carolina (Northern Nash graduate, NCWC asst.)

3. $112,150 - Elliott Avent, N.C. State (Northern Nash graduate, NCWC asst.)

4. $95,000 - Robert Moranda, Western Carolina

5. $89,145 - Chris Pollard, Appalachian State