Big East Conference returning?

Had you ever wondered what the NEW 6 3-A Athletic Conference's name was going to change to next school year once SouthWest Edgecombe is gone and Wilson Hunt takes its place?

Well, the "NEW 6" wouldn't be quite appropriate, since the "E" represents Edgecombe County and its representative would be absent from the league.

It looks like the name "Big East" is returning!

Yes, the NEW 6's athletic directors have apparently submitted the name "Big East 3-A Athletic Conference" to the N.C. High School Athletic Association for approval. Should there be no conflict with the name with another conference, I expect that will be our league's new name come this spring when the ADs meet to form a constitution, make bylaws, solidify schedules, etc.

I'm glad the name is returning, although I did get one objection from a former Rocky Mount athlete, now alum who wants that name to remain unused - for historical reasons.

He wants to remember it as the great formidable 4-A league that it once was. It had a nice 25-year life (1981-2005). Rocky Mount surely left it on a great note - winning the final football league title by going undefeated (New Bern scared the crap out out of us in the process).

But I have no problem with the proposed new name!

Bring on the "Big East"!

What do you guys think? Click below on the comment link and let me know!

Assistant coach gets a nice present(s)

New Rocky Mount assistant football coach Alan Hess got a nice birthday present Friday night - or should I say, presents.

The Tell City, Ind. native, who is still getting settled in after moving to Rocky Mount in July, celebrated his birthday with his squad getting a huge streak-breaking win over J.H. Rose.

As most of you know, Rocky Mount's 36-0 shutout of Rose broke the Rampants' 148-game scoring streak - one year after the Gryphons stopped Rose's 39-game winning streak.

Hess, who coaches the special teams and was a kicker at Urbana University (Ohio), had his kicker give him a present, too - a school record. Senior Nick Hahula kicked three field goals for the Gryphons - 22, 30 and 38 yards, to set a school record for field goals made in a game.

His total could have been four, but he missed a chip-shot 22-yarder on the Gryphons' game-opening drive. Yes, it was really bad - like taking a swing with an L-wedge and looking up before you hit the ball - it goes excessively RIGHT!

But not only did Hahula make three field goals, he connected on three PATs and he scored on runs of three and five yards from his fullback position.

He piled up 24 points on the night.

And you guessed it - Hess just happened to turn 24 Friday.

Incidentally, Hess is also RMHS' new head softball coach - taking over for Michelle Huffman.

PARKER UPDATE: Former Gryphon pitcher Michael Parker, who just concluded his baseball playing career at Barton College, is now getting checks from the Wilson school.

Parker, who received his degree in sports management and business administration last spring, has been hired as an assistant baseball coach and he will be facility supervisor at the Bulldogs' Nixon Field. His coaching duties will have a special emphasis on recruiting, player skill development and scouting.

The 2003 RMHS graduate entered Barton as a pitcher, but he battled arm injuries his entire career. During his senior season last spring, he made the adjustment to starting outfielder and had a tremendous season offensively for the Bulldogs. He started 48 games, hit .359 (third best on the team) with 15 doubles, four home runs and knocked in 35 runs.

Barton went 27-28 last season.

RMHS feels NCWC's transplant pain!

Sitting in the Northern Nash's Death Valley Stadium press box during N.C. Wesleyan's football season-opener with Hampden-Sydney Sunday was quite thought-provoking.

After all, I was used to seeing the Bishops play at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex - not at Death Valley. The Bishops played before a little over 1,000 fans in falling to the Tigers 33-23.

Despite all the fine hospitality shown by the administrators at Northern, NCWC's team and fans had to feel displaced. After four years at the RMAC, moving seven miles west to Death Valley couldn't feel the same.

And it didn't.

Now NCWC is going through what several Rocky Mount High sports teams have endured over time. At least six, to my memory, have had to pack up and leave their friendly confines to play on, what essentially, is a neutral floor or field.

The first one I could conjure up was the 1968-69 RM boys basketball team. Because of a water pipe that broke under the gym floor, the entire home schedule was played at Wesleyan's Everett Gymnasium. But back then, at least there were no girls teams to be inconvenienced.

But they were during the 1999-2000 hoop campaign.

All the Gryphon home basketball games (JVs and varsity, boys and girls) were moved to Northern Nash for that entire season due to water that had gotten under the gym's floor. It caused the floor to warp in so many places that it made it unplayable.

Going out to Northern Tuesdays and Fridays got old real quick!

Then in the fall 2002, the football field at the RMAC was deemed unplayable and it required, as it turned out, $70,000 worth of repairs. Too much soccer, JV football, middle school football - you name it.

The Gryphons had to move over to the Dawg Pound at Nash Central for all their home games that season.

I just hope the Bishops get use to their new temporary home faster than I got use to moving all over Nash County.

Gryphons in tie with Dudley for No. 1 - Week 2 of AP poll

No./School/FP votes/record/Pts./Last Week

T1. Greensboro Dudley (7);(3-0);142;2

T1. Rocky Mount (8);(2-0);142;1

3. Hertford County;(3-0);105;5

4. Eastern Alamance;(2-0);101;4

5. Oxford Webb;(3-0);56;7

T6. Belmont South Point;(2-1);50;6

T6. Asheville Roberson;(2-0);50;T10

8. Winston-Salem Carver;(2-1);41;8

9. Jamestown Ragsdale;(3-0);39;T10

10. Kannapolis Brown;(2-1);20;3

Others receiving votes: Harnett Central 17, West Craven 15, Monroe Sun Valley 14, West Rowan 8, Waynesville Tuscola 6, Asheville 6, Kinston 4, Mooresville 3, Northwest Cabarrus 3, SouthWest Edgecombe 1, Statesville 1, High Point Andrews 1.

(Note: the Associated Press has not registered Rocky Mount's forfeit to East Forsyth.)

RMHS' baseball program gets new additions; Easter tournament goes belly-up - at least for 2009

Rocky Mount's varsity baseball team, in hopes of defending its NCHSAA 3-A state title, got some help in that effort once the new school year kicked in last week.

Two players have transferred into the program - and one of them made headlines just recently.

That player is junior pitcher Hobbs Johnson, who has come to RMHS from Rocky Mount Academy. Johnson has received a scholarship offer from the University of North Carolina, though he's two years away from enrolling as a Tar Heel.

Johnson (pictured), a mainstay of Coleman-Pitt Post 58's American Legion baseball team this past summer, is a lefty and certainly will be a welcomed addition to coach Pat Smith's pitching staff. He'll join Benton Moss, Dillon Cockrell, Matthew Berry, Parker Helms and Nick Hahula on the staff.

Also moving into the varsity program will be Michael Whitehead, a junior second baseman, who has transferred from Hobgood Academy.

NO EASTER TOURNAMENT: I have received some bad news about the baseball season next spring. The school's annual Gryphons Easter Baseball Tournament, a staple of RM's spring season since 1977, will not be played next year.

With the Easter/Spring Break school playing dates getting bounced all over the place the last few years, it's become increasingly harder to get enough teams to fill out the field. Last year's event was stuck with just six teams instead of its traditional eight-team bracket.

This coming year, Smith was faced with the daunting task of getting five teams to add to Northern Nash, Southern Nash and RMHS. Nash Central has jumped ship and will play in a baseball tournament at Knightdale High next Easter. Smith had no success finding teams to fill the brackets.

I think Stacey Alston, former Bulldog head baseball coach and now assistant principal at Knightdale, may have had a little something to do with Nash Central's move westward!

Anyway, RMHS fans will see two teams on the new 2009 schedule that haven't appeared on it in a while.

The Gryphons have added a home-and-home matchup with Durham Riverside and they will play an endowment game at Tarboro.

They will also return to the Impact Baseball Challenge at Cary's USA Baseball Complex. Their opponent there is not yet known.

(Photo/David Hahula)

Gryphons on top of first AP 3-A Football poll

Class 3-A
School; (First place votes); Record;Pts

1. Rocky Mount (6); (2-0);111
2. Greensboro Dudley (4); (2-0);102
3. Kannapolis Brown (1); (2-0);75
4. Eastern Alamance;(1-0); 52
5. Hertford County;(2-0); 51
6. Belmont South Point;(1-1); 38
7. Oxford Webb;(2-0); 28
8. Winston-Salem Carver;(1-1); 27
9. Charlotte Catholic (1);(1-1) ;20
T10. West Rowan;(1-1);16
T10. Asheville Roberson;(1-0); 16
T10. Jamestown Ragsdale;(2-0); 16

A school record tied at Hunt

You rarely see 27 points scored in an opening quarter of a high school football game, but Rocky Mount's fans got a taste of some quick, methodical scoring last Friday night (a 44-6 RM victory).

Junior Jordan Ford got the night going the way of the navy and gold on the opening play of the game on a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown - tying a school record.

It's the third time in RMHS football history that it's been pulled off.

Linwood Silver, brother of recent RM grad and state champion (indoor 55 meters) Chalonda Silver, did the deed in the second half of the Gryphons' 1997 meeting at Northern Nash. Current RM assistant coach Jason Battle was the QB on that Gryphon team in a 28-12 Rocky Mount win.

And Otis Sanders, who played with current Rocky Mount assistant coach and then-Gryphon QB Hank Jones on the 1984 Gryphon squad, first did it at ECU's then-called Ficklen Stadium in a 21-0 blanking of J.H. Rose.

Strangely, as you can see, all three events took place on the road.

For another interesting connection, Sanders now works with AM 1390 Sports and Gryphon color man Tony Doughtie at his 40-hour-a-week job.

Small world, isn't it!

Another note on Ford's return, the game clock said "11:55" remaining in the first period when he crossed the goal line. Now, if Jordan could go 99 yards in five seconds, we might have seen him in Beijing the week before!

Undoubtedly, the clock operator must have started the clock late - say after Ford crossed the Hunt 40. But 11:55 still goes down as the official time of the score!

And in 55 years of Rocky Mount High School football at its current Tillery St. location, no football team has ever started a season scoring 40-plus points in its first two contests - until this past Friday.

The closest it ever got to doing that was in 1989 - and it lost one of them. RMHS beat SouthWest Edgecombe in its season opener on the road 40-7, then came home the next week and lost to Tarboro 41-39!

AP POLL: The first Associated Press high school football poll of the 2008 season will be released Tuesday evening and it should appear in newspapers Wednesday morning.

I expect the Gryphons, with the early fate of Western Alamance (two straight losses to start the season), to be an almost unanimous pick for the No. 1 spot in the 3-A poll.

But that means next to nothing to head coach B.W. Holt. And to tell you the truth, me either.

But if it gets more fans to come out to see the Gryphons' games, then I'll welcome it!

VT's Virgil shines in ECU's upset

Another athlete with Rocky Mount High ties was looking good on a national stage Saturday. Current Gryphon Brian Goodwin has had the headlines all summer. A former RMHS athlete was making a good showing on national TV Saturday.

Former Gryphon football standout Stephan Virgil was probably headed for game MVP honors in his first-ever start as a cornerback for Virginia Tech in its game with East Carolina at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

After all, he picked up a fumble and went 30 yards for a touchdown and he scored a defensive two-point conversion when he returned a blocked extra point for a score for the offense-starved Hokies.

He also recorded six total tackles (three solo, three assists).

But Virgil and his teammates ended up being the victim of some "Beamer Ball" themselves.

A blocked punt attempt was returned by an ECU player in the final two minutes for a TD - giving the Pirates a 27-22 upset victory in the Queen City before some 72,000 fans.

NCPreps.com 3-A Football Baker's Dozen - Wk. 1

1. Rocky Mount, 1-0

2. Greensboro Dudley, 1-0
3. Kannapolis Brown, 1-0
4. Hertford County, 1-0

5. Eastern Alamance, 1-0

6. Northeast Guilford, 1-0
7. SouthWest Edgecombe. 1-0
8. West Rowan, 1-0

9. Oxford Webb, 1-0

10. Sun Valley, 1-0
11. Jamestown Ragsdale, 1-0
12. Anson County, 1-0
13. South Point, 0-1

Sports come to a halt at RMHS

The last time I remember a tornado threatening Rocky Mount was in the early 90's when one ripped through an area out on West Mount Dr.

One didn't get that close to RM Wednesday, but it threatened to.

A tornado was sighted in southern Nash County early in the afternoon. A tornado warning issued by the National Weather Service was in effect until 5 p.m., prompting the Nash-Rocky Mount Schools to stop all activities for Wednesday - including the Gryphons' JV football season opener with visiting Wilson Hunt.

Also a girls tennis match, a boys soccer game, as well sports team practices were put off for the day.

But that might not be the end of bad weather - at least rain, in the area. Thursday's forecast calls for more rain, but no tornadoes or thunderstorms.

Now, the Gryphons' varsity football contest at Hunt, set originally for Thursday, has now been moved to Friday evening.

Well, there goes my Friday plans to go see SouthWest Edgecombe at West Craven!

How high will that score be? The Eagles had over 300 yards in the air last week in destroying Southern Wayne. The Cougars, blessed with speed in their backfield, will likely stay on the ground in their season opener.

By the way, plan to go down to Hunt early and get your dinner at the game. The Hunt Booster Club makes some of the best grilled burgers you have ever laid your mouth on!

2008 Nashville Graphic Football Tabloid out!

The 2008 Nashville Graphic Pigskin Preview football tabloid is now out!

Coverage of Nash Central, Northern Nash, Southern Nash and Rocky Mount are included in the publication - also an article on the NEW 6 coaches' preseason picks for the league.

To check the tabloid out online, click here! For a hard copy, pick up the latest Nashville Graphic.

Speaking of tabloids, the Wilson Daily Times will be giving away free copies of its 2008 Football Tabloid at the gate of Wilson Hunt's varsity home opener Thursday evening with the Gryphons. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

If you can't make it, listen to all the action on AM 1390 Sports radio starting at 7 p.m.

This may be the media event of the week. Two other radio stations will be covering the game as well.

For those who might be a further out in Nash or Edgecombe Counties, you will be able to listen to the game as part of WZAX 99.3 FM's "Game of the Week" starting at 7 - with Paul Andre and Bob Maloney.

If you're in the Wilson County area, tune in to WLLY-1350 AM. Alton Britt, the voice of Wilson sports, will provide the play-by-play and F.T. Franks the color commentary.

Facts around the news of N.C.'s second HS football player's death has local ties

I deeply regret having to announce the death of a second N.C. high school football player this season.

Matt Gfeller, a Winston-Salem Reynolds football player, was injured in Friday night's game against Greensboro Page and died at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center early Sunday morning. Gfeller, who was a 5-foot-8, 180-pound, 15-year-old rising sophomore, was taken off life support at the medical center about 9 p.m. Saturday and died at approximately 2:15 a.m. Sunday.

My deepest sympathies go out to the Gfeller family.

There are some slight Nash County connections to this story, however.

Reynolds High School's principal is Dr. Art Paschal, who spent several years here as Northern Nash's principal and preceeded current NN principal Chip Hodges. Paschal and Reynolds head coach Mike Propst held a news conference Sunday to discuss the tragedy. Click here to see a video clip of the press conference.

The next game Reynolds is scheduled to play is with East Forsyth, the team Rocky Mount beat last Friday evening (43-14). With Gfeller's funeral plans incomplete, it is uncertain if Reynolds will play East Forsyth on Friday.

Hahula is No. 1!

Senior kicker/fullback Nick Hahula is now Rocky Mount's all-time leading scorer after his 13-point performance Friday evening in the Gryphons' 43-14 season-opening win over visiting East Forsyth.

This is how his career scoring is divided up:

137 ---- 137 point-after-touchdowns (PAT) - 1 pt. each

48 ----- 16 field goals: 3 pts. each

42 ----- 7 touchdowns: 6 pts. each

2 -------1 two-point conversion: 2 pts. each

229 --- Total points

Back Demetric Marshall scored 38 touchdowns (228 pts.) during the 2005 and 2006 seasons to establish the record that Hahula broke.

As prolific as the Gryphons' scoring is, Hahula may reach the 300-point plateau! He set the school record for kicking points in a season last year with 73.

Fans anxiously await start of another season

By Nick Phillips, RMHS iHigh.com correspondent

The time has come again. Summer is winding down and kids are preparing for school. This could only mean one thing….it’s high school football season!!

As a new Rocky Mount alum and a doe-eyed freshman starting college life at the University of North Carolina-Pembroke, I find this time or year right now to be especially hard.

As a featured writer on the Gryphons' NorthCarolina.iHigh.com website and an avid sports fan, I am trying to come to grips that Friday night’s endowment contest at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex against East Forsyth will be the first football game that I have missed in almost four years.

What a run the Gryphons have had over these last few years! Head coach B.W. Holt, now in his sixth season at the helm, has ‘righted the ship’ and has the Gryphons back at the top of the 3-A totem pole.

The Gryphons are ranked as the pre-season No. 1 team on both the NCPreps.com Preseason 3-A Football Baker's Dozen and WRAL’s Tom Suiter’s Fabulous 15, and they are once again considered to make a deep run into the playoffs.

Could this be the year the Gryphs knock off Western Alamance or someone else to make it to the state championship after knocking on the door for years?

Several marquee matchups highlight this year’s schedule, including:

• Game 2 – A Thursday night contest at Wilson Hunt. These last few years have produced some memorable games with late-game heroics.


• Game 4 – The Gryphs travel to former Big East rival and 4-A powerhouse J.H. Rose. Last season, the Gryphons ended the Rampants’ 39-game winning streak. Fireworks are bound to fly again this year as two of the better teams in the state hook up for their annual war.


• Game 5 – Hertford County (NCPreps.com's’ 3-A preseason No. 6 team) comes into the RMAC in what has turned into a budding rivalry. Two seasons ago, the Gryphons beat the Bears twice, in the regular season and in the playoffs - at home and on the road. Another close game early last season has this gotten this contest circled on the schedule, and the ‘Battle of the Bands’ at halftime and throughout the game is another plus.


• Game 6 – Southern Wayne (Homecoming) suffered two losses to the Gryphs last season , including Holt’s 300th career victory and a third-round playoff contest. Don’t forget the homecoming festivities at halftime!


• Game 7 – Northern Nash. Nothing else needs to be said. Rivalry game - with the NEW 6’s new schedule placing this as the Gryphons' first conference test. If the Knights post a couple of non-conference wins, this game could have some meaning and could be interesting. Northern head coach Chad Smith makes his first regular-season trip back to the RMAC.


• Game 8 – A trip to SouthWest Edgecombe. All the contests against the Cougars have all been great since SWE joined the NEW 6 conference. The Cougars are also ranked by NCPreps.com - coming in at No .11. But will this be a fourth edition of "Monday Night Football" with SWE?


• Game ??? – One question that’s not been answered yet is what game the Gryphons’ baseball team will be honored and receive their NCHSAA 3-A state championship rings. Look at games with Hertford County, Southern Wayne and Northern Nash as good possibilities. (Editor's note: Nick will get one of these rings. I feel like a proud papa!)

Remember last year’s Nick Hahula last-second field goal to give the Gryphs a rain-soaked win at Fike? Hold on to your hats as all NEW 6 Conference games have that type of potential.

This reporter and fan cannot wait for his first game this season, but for now I’ll have to be content with UNC-Pembroke football, which includes Rocky Mount alum Brandon Arrington, and the first night game in UNC-P’s brief football history. (Editor's note: RM head coach B.W. Holt is also an alum of UNC-P - Pembroke State in his era!)

Virgil to start for the Hokies

I ran into Richard Virgil, father of former Gryphon football standout Stephan Virgil, recently and he told me that his son Stephan will be starting at cornerback for Virginia Tech this fall.

And guess who he'll start against - the East Carolina Pirates in Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 30. Kickoff is at noon.

The younger Virgil is now 5-11, 186 pounds as he enters his junior season.

Richard and Sandra, his mom, have their travel plans all set. These guys don't miss a game. In addition to their six trips to Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, the Virgils will hit the road to Charlotte, Chapel Hill (UNC), Lincoln, Ne. (Nebraska), Chesnut Hill, Mass. (Boston College), Tallahassee, Fl. (Florida State) and Miami (U of Miami).

Another local Hokie may get to hit the field for the very first time this season.

Former Southern Nash defensive tackle Kwamaine Battle was redshirted last season with injuries to both his shoulders.

The 6-foot, 271-pound freshman will be in competition for playing time this season. He'll wear the number "93".

According to HokieSports.com, Battle is a promising young player and is expected to be in the battle for playing time.

2008 Rocky Mount Football Team Roster

No. /Player/ Ht./ Wt./ Pos./ Class

1 Josh Boulware 6-1 195 LB Sr.
2 Justin Barnes 6-2 175 QB Sr.
3 Keith Strickland 6-1 180 WR Sr.
4 Hiawatha Bunn 6-0 170 QB/DB Sr.
5 Marquavis Alston 5-10 175 RB Jr.
6 Jordan Ford 5-9 165 RB Jr.
7 Collins Cuthrell 6-0 170 QB Jr.
8 Marcus Jones 6-0 182 WR/S Jr.
9 Nick Harrison 6-2 215 DE/TE Sr.
15 Kendrick Boulware 6-0 172 FB Sr.
17 Hashem Hatu 5-9 155 CB Jr.
20 L’var Silver 5-9 185 FB Sr.
21 Damien Bynum 5-7 160 HB Jr.
22 Zack Williams 6-0 175 DB Sr.
24 Brian Goodwin 6-1 185 S/KR Sr.
28 Jermon Lynch 5-10 175 HB Sr.
33 Carter Varnell 5-9 178 FB/LB Jr.
34 Bradley Arrington 5-11 165 DB Sr.
36 Justin Atkinson 5-10 170 G Jr.
39 Jeffery Henderson 5-10 170 LB Jr.
40 Michael Lee 5-10 175 DL Jr.
41 Chris Pittman 6-1 195 LB Sr.
42 Dedrick Silver 5-10 172 SS Sr.
44 Nick Hahula 5-10 222 K/FB/LB/P Sr.
50 Whit Barnes 6-4 275 C Sr.
51 Darryl Cross 5-11 208 G Sr.
52 Aaron Barnes 5-11 190 LB Jr.
53 Brandon Dennis 6-3 242 G/DL Sr.
54 Greg Williams 6-2.5 282 G Sr.
55 John Wells 5-9 215 NG Sr.
56 Chris Driver 5-10 180 C/G Sr.
60 Robert Cannon 5-10 245 OG Jr.
61 Zebedee Battle 5-10 248 C Jr.
62 Torey Lee 5-11 255 OT Sr.
64 Jordan Knight 5-10 205 T Jr.
65 Corey Tabron 6-3 270 OT Jr.
66 Josh Thigpen 5-11 235 DT Sr.
70 Anthony Miller 5-10 175 DL Jr.
71 Arilius Murphy 5-9 265 OL Jr.
75 Jarron Battle 6-0 315 OT Sr.
77 Trevor Tucker 6-2 285 OT Jr.
80 Spencer Bell 6-0 175 TE Jr.
81 Antonio Willis 5-10 165 DB Jr.
82 Hakeem Parker 6-4 230 DE Sr.
83 Annis Mahmoud 6-1 160 WR Sr.
84 Phillip Wilkins 6-2 220 TE Sr.
86 Patrick Pittman 6-1 205 DE Jr.
88 Johvone Smith 6-2 210 DE/TE So.
90 Jermaine Fields 6-2.5 215 DE Sr.

COACHING/SUPPORT STAFF

Head Coach: B.W. Holt (sixth season)
Mascot: Gryphons
Principal: Leondus Farrow
Athletic Director: Michael Gainey
School Address: 308 S. Tillery Street, Rocky Mount, N.C. 27804
Assistant Coaches: Jason Battle, Jemonte Battle, Gerald Costen, Kent Cox, Alan Hess, Hank Jones, J.J. Jones, Chris Lee
Head Trainer: Bernie Capps
Student Trainers: Will Vaughan, Colin Ward
Student Managers: Tyler Ellis, Jerrell Hilliard, Jazzmen Taylor
Volunteer EMT: Mike Varnell
Team Chaplin: Johnny Williams
Equipment Crew: Erwin Dancy, Ron Driver, Don Johnson
Chain Gang: Dwayne Chambers, Bobby English, Percy Morris, Wyatt Phillips, Bernie Tyndall, Chris Tyndall
Film Crew: Grey Capps, Ken Capps
Radio Crew: Wes Bradshaw, Tony Doughtie – AM 1390 Sports
Statistics Crew: Charles Alston, Bob Hudgins, Lyn Joyner, David Pitt
Timekeeper: Donald Farmer
PA announcers: Wayne Wallace (varsity), Tony Doughtie (JV)

Facilities crew: Quinton Lee, Jacob Parker

Tickets: Keith Barnes, Carol Taylor

Check out the WDT 2008 Football Tabloid

My good friends on the Wilson Daily Times sports staff (Paul Durham, Tom Ham, Michael Lindsay, Brad Howell) have made their 2008 High School Football Tabloid available online for the first time.

Their coverage area includes three teams in the NEW 6 3-A Conference: Wilson Fike, Southern Nash and SouthWest Edgecombe.

Check out this colorful and very informative section right here!

Goodwin has solid effort in Chicago

Perhaps asking for another MVP performance might have been too much to ask from Brian Goodwin.

But then again, perhaps not.

Goodwin, again, made his presence known on a national stage as he played in the Under Armour High School All-American Baseball Game Sunday afternoon at Chicago's Wrigley Field.

The 36 high school All-Americans flown into Chicago were split into two teams: Baseball Factory and Team One. As as starter in right field for Baseball Factory, he went 2-for-4, stole two bases and scored a run as his squad staved off a late Team One rally for a 5-4 win.

Goodwin went a combined 4-for-8, with three stolen bases, two runs scored and two RBI in his travels to Los Angeles and Chicago the past two weeks - plus two All-Star victories.

Not bad!

Now he'll trade in his bat and glove for a helmet and pads as he joins the Gryphons on the football field - where he'll electrify all of us even more with incredible kickoff and punt returns.

Expect him in the lineup by Game 3 of the season - a road contest at Northern Vance.

The Rocky Mount Gryphons Football Jamboree gets underway this afternoon!

Here are the pairings for the first-ever Rocky Mount Football Jamboree set for the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex on today starting at 4 p.m.

East team will scrimmage three times for 40 minutes each - playing from the 40-yard line out.

There will be a five-minute break between each session. There is no structured competition. Each sessions' coaches may use whatever competition format they may want to use, i.e., 10 min. offense, 10 defense; 30 plays offense, 30 plays defense, etc.

The RMHS Booster Club is planning to make this a festive event - including selling barbecue chicken dinners during the evening. Also, during the final session of the night, there will be a reunion of sorts.

All four teams will have one person in common - Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt. Three of his former assistants will be coaching the other teams: Elbert Thomas at West Montgomery, Chad Smith at Northern Nash and Dickie Schock at Hillsborough Orange.

4:00 p.m.

West Montgomery vs. Northern Nash

South Central vs. Hillsborough Orange

4:45 p.m.

West Montgomery vs. Hillsborough Orange

South Central vs. Northern Nash

5:30 p.m.

Wilson Fike vs. Oxford Webb

Rocky Mount vs. Durham Riverside

6:15 p.m.

Wilson Fike vs. Durham Riverside

Rocky Mount vs. Oxford Webb

7:00 p.m.

South Central vs. Wilson Fike

Oxford Webb vs. Durham Riverside

7:45 p.m.

Hillsborough Orange vs. Northern Nash

West Montgomery vs. Rocky Mount

Goodwin, not Godwin, grabs another MVP award

Are there any more words you can say about Brian Goodwin?

I am running out of them. I have no idea what I may do next spring if this guy keeps getting better - perhaps invest in a thesaurus!

It's almost scary.

Goodwin continued his run on MVP awards Saturday with picking up one at the Aflac All-America High School Baseball All-Star Game at Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium. Goodwin, the MVP of the NCHSAA 3-A state baseball championship series for the Gryphons, delivered a two-run opposite -field double for his East squad that tied the game in the ninth at 2-all.

He then stole third and came home with the game-winning run on an error. The East won the game 4-2. Goodwin was 2-for-4, with two RBI and a stolen base.

In the post-game ceremonies, he was handed his MVP trophy by Al Johnson, vice president of marketing services for Aflac, who proudly called out the city "Rocky Mount, N.C." before giving Goodwin his award.

Why was he so boastful about the Rock City?

Perhaps because Johnson, who now lives in Columbus, Ga. - the corporate home Aflac, grew up just up N.C. 258 North less than an hour away from Rocky Mount in Northampton County and played sports at Northampton-East. He also was a football walk-on for Mack Brown when he was head coach at UNC.

I imagine the thought of having two northeastern N.C. boys standing in Los Angeles on the infield at Dodger Stadium on a glorious Saturday afternoon had to have brought some Tar Heel pride to his heart.

But his head wasn't in the same place when he called Brian "Godwin!"

Oh well, as long as they spell his name right on the trophy, right?

(Photo/David Hahula)

Don't forget to see Goodwin - 3 p.m on Fox Sports Net today!

Guys, don't forget to tune you TVs to Fox Sports Net at 3 p.m. today (Saturday) to catch the Gryphons' own Brian Goodwin playing in Dodger Stadium.

The rising senior will be starting in right field for the East squad in the Aflac All-America All-Star Baseball Game - being played at Noon, Pacific Standard Time, in Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium.

If you can't watch it live, pre-set your TIVOs or VCRs!

SWE's Cobb to coach East team at 2009 NCCA All-Star football game

By Calvin Adkins
Tarboro Daily Southerner

PINETOPS - SouthWest Edgecombe Coach Raymond Cobb will add another chapter to his legendary football status next summer.

Cobb was selected as the head coach for East in the 2009 North Carolina Coaches Association East-West All-Star Football Game that will be played on July 22 at Grimsley High School in Greensboro.

“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to be the head coach for the East-West All-Star game,” Cobb said. “It’s a credit to having good coaching staffs and great players at North Edgecombe and SouthWest Edgecombe.”

It will not be the first time that Cobb has coached in an All-Star game. He was an East assistant coach of the NCCA East-West All-Star squad in 1995 and in 2001, he was an N.C. assistant coach for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas all-star game.Cobb legacy's was built at North Edgecombe, a 1-A division school less than 30 minutes away from SouthWest.

At North Edgecombe, he lead the Warriors to five state title games - including winning championships in 1994 and 1997.

After 16 years as the Warriors’ head coach, Cobb left and became head coach for SouthWest. In 20 seasons combined, he has guided his teams to the state playoffs each season and every season. When asked about his playoff streak, Cobb said, “I’ve been lucky.”

Cobb also feels lucky about the assistant coaches that were selected to coach with him. Including Cobb, three of the coaches are in the NEW 6 conference ties. Grover Battle of Northern Nash and Brian Foster of Southern Nash are Cobb’s current conference foes.

Cobb said he is also familiar with coach Kenneth Grantham of Greene Central, who started the program at Nash Central, and Ken Whitehurst of D.H. Conley, who was at one time at North Pitt. He has also had some dealing with Jimmy Williams of East Wake.“

One of the best news about being named to the head coaching position is the selection of the assistant coaches,” Cobb said. “I know all of them. It will be a fine group to work with.”

The next job for Cobb and his East team coaching staff is to select players for his team. Selection may start sometime in February.

But for right now, Cobb said, “I have to prepare SouthWest for this season.”

My notion: Northern Nash's Battle is the first-ever Rocky Mount area coach to be selected to work the East-West All-Star Games in two different sports.

In 2003, he was an assistant for the East girls basketball team. The East, with former Tarboro and N.C. State standout Marquetta Dickens aboard, won 78-72. Dickens was the game's MVP.

In case you're wondering, RMHS' B.W. Holt has served in the East-West All-Star Football Game. He was an assistant for the West in 1986 while at Starmount. His team fell to the East 16-0.

A look at the RMHS coaching staff

- RM assistant coach Jemonte Battle

B.W. Holt wanted four, but he was only able to get three.

Rocky Mount's sixth-year head football coach had four openings to fill on his staff. But as the practice season began last Friday, three new coaching faces were marching out orders on the Nash St. practice field.

And two of them should be familiar to longtime Gryphon fans. They'll join former players Gerald Costen (Class of '73), J.J. Jones (Class of '91) and Jason Battle (Class of '98) as members of the staff.

Jemonte Battle (Class of '00) has been brought aboard to coach the defensive backs and secondary. Battle knows that part of the field pretty well as he was a three-year starter and D-II All-America at Catawba. Battle also played defensive back in the Canadian Football League for two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Battle, older brother of last year's Rocky Mount High Female Athlete of the Year Dyonna Battle, is fourth on the all-time RMHS career receiving list with 62. He had 772 career receiving yards to rank 11th on that list. He led the 1999 squad, which had its regular season reduced by three games by Hurricane Floyd, with 30 catches.

Battle will teach computer science at RMHS.

Although Hank Jones is well-known to RMHS baseball fans, he might not be that familiar to the football folks. Jones, a Rocky Mount High (1986) and N.C. Wesleyan grad, volunteer-assisted Pat Smith in coaching the Gryphons to a baseball state title.

Pehaps he can help Holt do the same thing on the gridiron.

Jones had his day in the sun for the football Gryphons. He threw for over 1,700 yards and 19 touchdowns during his time under center - including a four-touchdown pass performance against Tarboro to open his senior season. He led RM to a 9-2 record that year.

Jones was selected to play in the N.C.-S.C. Shrine Bowl that year, but a late injury prevented him from participating. He will be coaching the wide receivers and tight ends.

The lone out-of-stater to join Holt's staff is Alan Hess. A native of Tell City, Ind., Hess was a placekicker for the football team at NAIA-affliated Urbana University in Urbana, Ohio - northeast of Dayton. Hess will coach the Gryphons' special teams and offensive line.

He will teach social studies and history.

Here is the complete staff:

B.W. Holt - Head Coach, offensive line
Jason Battle – quarterbacks coach, receivers
Chris Lee – Head JV Coach, running backs
Kent Cox – Co-defensive coordinator, asst. JV Coach, outside linebackers
J.J. Jones – Co-defensive coordinator, inside linebackers
Gerald Costen – defensive front (noseguard, ends, tackles)
Jemonte Battle – defensive backs, secondary
Hank Jones - wide receivers, tight end
Alan Hess – special teams, offensive line

The AM 1390 Radio Team

Here's your AM 1390 Sports radio team for 2008! (click on picture to enlarge)

Posing with the new banner that will be displayed at each football game this season, (from l-r) are Grant Johnson, Wes Bradshaw, Tony Doughtie and me (Charles Alston).

Grant, hot off his first base duties on the state champion Gryphon baseball team, will provide research and assist Bradshaw while he toils away his daylight hours as a freshman at East Carolina. Bradshaw will handle the play-by-play duties and Doughtie will be the broadcast's color analyst. I will provide statistics and historical insight to the broadcast.

I expect this team to be a winner this season, just like the product we so often get on the field.

(Photo/David Hahula)

Johnson leaves the Gryphon nest!

Britt Johnson has left the fold.

Johnson, part of one of Rocky Mount athletics' first families (Don, Wanda, Britt, Will and Grant have overall been active with Gryphon athletics for the last 12 years), won't be wearing any navy blue and gold the coming school year.

No more stomping on the Gryphon sidelines for him.

The 2007 East Carolina graduate and former Pirate football walk-on is now in the real world - you know - job, bills, taxes, etc.

Johnson has accepted a teaching position at Nash Central High School. He will teach physical education and coach JV baseball and assist in varsity football (special teams and wide receivers).

There is no doubt, the Bulldogs' center will have little trouble getting the ball back to the punter after Johnson's tutelage. Britt nearly knocked me out with a sampling of his long snapping abilities last fall.

And they don't call him "Baseball Britt" for nothing. When his teams hit the field, no matter where he is, winning will be the goal. The boy hates to lose.

Good luck in your new endeavor, Britt ... at least until the Gryphons invade the Dawg Pound on Oct. 31!

Happy Birthday, Coach!

To answer the question, from the Beatles' 1967 song,

"Will you still need me,
Will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?"

- the answer is a big affirmative!

Rocky Mount head football coach B.W. Holt turned 64 years young on Tuesday.

Happy Birthday Coach! We wish you many, many more! We will keep on feeding you and we certainly need you!

2008 NEW 6 Conference Football Master Schedule

(Scrimmages are subject to changes. Schools are allowed up to seven hours of scrimmage time. More scrimmages will be added to the schedule as announced. All regular season games are at 7:30 p.m.)

Tuesday, Aug. 12

South Johnston @ Northern Nash

North Lenoir @ Wilson Fike (Scrimmage)

Seventy First @ Rocky Mount (practice-scrimmage)


Thursday, Aug. 14

South Johnston @ Rocky Mount (practice-scrimmage)

Friday, Aug. 15

Rocky Mount, Wilson Fike, Northern Nash @ RM Football Jamboree, 4 p.m. (Scrimmage)
SW Edgecombe @ Tarboro Jamboree (Scrimmage), 6 p.m.
Nash Central @ Wakefield (Scrimmage) - moved to Sat.
Southern Nash @ North Johnston (Scrimmage) , ppd.


Thursday, Aug. 21

Havelock @ SW Edgecombe (Scrimmage)

Louisburg @ Southern Nash (Scrimmage), 6 p.m.


Friday, Aug. 22 (Regular season starts)

East Forsyth @ Rocky Mount
DH Conley @ Wilson Fike
Nash Central @ Tarboro
Northern Nash @ Beddingfield
Southern Nash, SW Edgecombe - open


Thursday, Aug. 28

Rocky Mount @ Wilson Hunt


Friday, Aug. 29

Southern Nash @ Bunn
Nash Central @ Smithfield-Selma
SW Edgecombe @ West Craven
DH Conley @ Northern Nash
Wilson Fike - open


Thursday, Sept. 5

Wilson Hunt @ Wilson Fike
Tarboro @ Northern Nash
Warren County @ Southern Nash
Beddingfield @ Nash Central
SW Edgecombe @ North Edgecombe


Friday, Sept. 12

Northern Nash @ Hertford County
Wilson Fike @ Eastern Wayne
Southern Nash @ Beddingfield
Rocky Mount @ JH Rose
Farmville Central @ SW Edgecombe
Wilson Hunt @ Nash Central


Friday, Sept. 19

Northern Nash @ Bertie
CB Aycock @ Wilson Fike
Hertford County @ Rocky Mount
Wilson Hunt @ Southern Nash
Nash Central @ Washington
SW Edgecombe @ Southern Vance


Friday, Sept. 26

Tarboro @ SW Edgecombe
North Johnston @ Southern Nash
Southern Wayne @ Rocky Mount (Homecoming)
Wilson Fike @ Wilson Hunt
Bunn @ Nash Central
Southern Vance @ Northern Nash

Thursday, Oct. 2

Rocky Mount @ Northern Vance, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 3

Wilson Fike @ Beddingfield
Northern Nash, Southern Nash, Nash Central, SW Edgecombe - open


Friday, Oct. 10 (NEW 6 Conference action starts)

Northern Nash @ Rocky Mount
Wilson Fike @ SW Edgecombe
Southern Nash @ Nash Central


Friday, Oct. 17

Rocky Mount @ SW Edgecombe
Nash Central @ Wilson Fike
Southern Nash @ Northern Nash


Friday, Oct. 24

Rocky Mount @ Southern Nash
Northern Nash @ Wilson Fike
Nash Central @ SW Edgecombe


Friday, Oct. 31

Rocky Mount @ Nash Central
Wilson Fike @ Southern Nash
SW Edgecombe @ Northern Nash


Friday, Nov. 7

Wilson Fike @ Rocky Mount
SW Edgecombe @ Southern Nash
Nash Central @ Northern Nash

Cary knocks out RM; goes on to win Jr. Legion title

KINSTON - Rocky Mount's Post 58 Junior American Legion baseball team had the same fate as Rocky Mount's varsity football team last season.

It lost to the team that went on to win the state title.

While Western Alamance got into the Gryphons' way, the Cary Jr. Legion team did the same to the Post 58 squad.

Post 58, the East's No. 2 seed thanks to a loss to Cary in district play, fell to Cary again 3-2 Saturday - a game it had to win to stay alive. Post 58, after falling to Cherryville 7-6 Thursday, beat Kinston 14-8 Friday to make it to Saturday's action.

Then Sunday at historic Grainger Stadium, Cary, the East's No. 1 seed, blanked Cherryville 7-0 in the early game and topped Mooresville 5-2 later in the afternoon for the 2008 N.C. Junior American Legion state championship.

Post 58 consisted of players from the Gryphons' varsity and junior varsity teams, and was coached by varsity assistant and former Gryphon Hank Jones.

These hands are record-setting!

These are the hands of Elon redshirt junior wide receiver Terrell Hudgins. The record-setting former Rocky Mount quarterback was in Spartanburg, S.C. earlier this week at the Southern Conference Football Rouser. Appalachian State was the coaches' preseason pick to win the title, while Elon got one first place vote and placed second in the voting.

Hudgins, who led all of the NCAA Division Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in receptions per game (10.6) and receiving yards per game (134.0) last year, was a First Team All-SoCon performer following his sophomore season. A five-time All-American last season, Hudgins set program records for single-game receptions (16 twice), single-game touchdown receptions (four), single-season receiving yards (1,474) and single-season touchdowns receptions (18). He also set school and league marks for single-season receptions (117) and a SoCon record for single-season games with at least 100 yards receiving (seven).

Following his sophomore season, Hudgins had piled up 2,501 receiving yards, second in school history. He was also a finalist for the 2007 Walter Payton Award.

Another former Gryphon may be on the team with him - 2007's leading tackler for the Gryphons, Emmanuel Davis. Davis will be attending Elon on an ROTC scholarship, but will be a walk-on with the Phoenix.

To watch a video of Hudgins talking about Elon and the Phoenix's chances at a title, click here.

(Photo/Tommy Fleming)

Updated NC Jr. Legion Baseball State Championship Scoreboard

Wednesday’s result

Game 1: Rowan County (West No. 2) 11, West Brunswick (East No. 3) 9

Thursday' resutls

Game 2: Cherryville (West No. 3) 7, Rocky Mount (East No. 2) 6
Game 3: Cary (East No. 1) 2, Pineville (West No. 4) 1 — 9 innings
Game 4: Mooresville (West No. 1) 4, Kinston 1

Friday

Game 5: 4:30 p.m. (LCC) — West Brunswick vs. Pineville (LOSER ELIMINATED)
Game 6: Rocky Mount 15, Kinston 8 (Kinston eliminated)

Game 7: 4:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Rowan County def. Cary
Game 8: 7:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Cherryville vs. Mooresville

Saturday

Game 9: 12:30 p.m. (LCC) — Rocky Mount vs. Cary (LOSER ELIMINATED)
Game 10: 4 p.m. (LCC) — Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8 (LOSER ELIMINATED)
Game 11: 12:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Roawn County vs. Winner Game 8
Game 12: 4 p.m. (Grainger) — Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 11 (LOSER ELIMINATED)
Game 13: 7 p.m. (Grainger) — Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11 (If Game 10 winner loses, it’s eliminated)

Notes: pairing for Games 12 and 13 will not match previous opponents against each other unless absolutely necessary (national representative has further instructions). … If three teams remain after Game 13, the winner of Game 11 automatically draws the bye in Game 14

Sunday

Game 14: 1 p.m. (Grainger) Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13 (Champions; unless one of the team’s first losses)
Game 15: 4 p.m. (Grainger) Winner Game 14 vs. Loser G

Rocky Mount Post 58 Jr. Legion team in state tournament

KINSTON - Rocky Mount Post 58 Junior American Legion baseball team has qualified for the state tournament which is being played at both historic Grainger Stadium and Lenoir Community College starting Wednesday.

The double-elimination event will see Rocky Mount, seeded No. 2 in the East in the eight-team field, facing Cherryville, the West No. 3 seed, at 12:30 a.m. at Lenoir Community College.

Rocky Mount Post 58 is coached by Hank Jones, who assisted Pat Smith in guiding the Rocky Mount Gryphons to a 3-A state title on May 31.

Here is Wednesday's complete schedule:

9:30 p.m. (LCC) — Cary (East No. 1) vs. Pineville (West No. 4)

12:30 a.m. (LCC) — Rocky Mount (East No. 2) vs. Cherryville (West No. 3)

4:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Rowan County (West No. 2) vs. SW Shallotte (East No. 3)

7:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Mooresville (West No. 1) vs. Kinston (Host)

NFLJPD camp underway at RMHS

Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt (click on picture to enlarge) talks to the kids who turned out this week for the first-ever NFL Junior Player Development Camp to be held at Rocky Mount. RMHS is entertaining about 100 campers, from rising sixth graders to rising ninth graders, on the fundamentals of football. The campers are attending the camp free of charge - thanks to the NFL and the Carolina Panthers.

The campers will have a nice goody bag to take home once the camp ends on Thursday. The NFL provided each camper with an equipment bag, a football and a jersey.

The NFL also provided helmets and shoulder pads for each participant.

(Photo/David Hahula)

NFL to hold free football camp at Rocky Mount High

If you are a Twin County resident, a rising sixth through ninth grader and you want to learn all you can about the game of football, then Rocky Mount High's practice field will be the place for you next week.

For the second time this summer, RMHS will host an National Football League-sponsored camp - this time it will be a Junior Player Development football camp for younger kids who want to be introduced to the basics of the game. And like the previous camp, it is free to all comers - thanks to the NFL and the Carolina Panthers.

The camp will take place Monday through Thursday, July 14-17 (6-8:30 p.m.), while there will be a registration and equipment fitting this week - Thursday and Friday in RMHS' auxiliary gym from 5-7 p.m. All campers are required to bring a completed physical form, or a parent or guardian must sign a waiver form in lieu of the physical.

A nationally known football equipment company will provide campers with fitted helmets and shoulder pads for the duration of the camp.

With the diminishing number of middle school football programs across the country, JPD programs are rebuilding youth tackle football as an effective feeder system for high school programs. According to the NFLJPD website, the JPD programs ensure that all participants receive the full experience of instructional and developmental youth tackle football training in a readapted manner.

Coaches at the camp will stress the fundamentals and playing techniques of every position on the field as well as incorporate life skills into each practice. There will be continuous interaction with all campers while coaches try to impart a fun and entertaining curriculum to the participants.

For more information on the camp and all its activities, contact Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt during the day at 252-977-3164.

Pairings set for first-ever Rocky Mount Football Jamboree

Here are the pairings for the first-ever Rocky Mount Football Jamboree set for the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex on Friday, Aug. 15 starting at 4 p.m.

East team will scrimmage three times for 40 minutes each - playing from the 40-yard line out. There will be a five-minute break between each session. There is no structured competition. Each sessions' coaches may use whatever competition format they may want to use, i.e., 10 min. offense, 10 defense; 30 plays offense, 30 plays defense, etc.

The RMHS Booster Club is planning to make this a festive event - including selling barbecue chicken dinners during the evening.

Also, during the final session of the night, there will be a reunion of sorts. All four teams will have one person in common - Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt. Three of his former assistants will be coaching the other teams: Elbert Thomas at West Montgomery, Chad Smith at Northern Nash and Dickie Schock at Hillsborough Orange.

4:00 p.m.

West Montgomery vs. Northern Nash
South Central vs. Hillsborough Orange

4:45 p.m.

West Montgomery vs. Hillsborough Orange
South Central vs. Northern Nash

5:30 p.m.

Wilson Fike vs. Oxford Webb
Rocky Mount vs. Durham Riverside

6:15 p.m.

Wilson Fike vs. Durham Riverside
Rocky Mount vs. Oxford Webb

7:00 p.m.

South Central vs. Wilson Fike
Oxford Webb vs. Durham Riverside

7:45 p.m.

Hillsborough Orange vs. Northern Nash
West Montgomery vs. Rocky Mount

Farrow to become RMHS' new principal

- Leon Farrow

By now, I'm sure everyone knows that Leon Farrow will become the new principal at Rocky Mount High School starting July 1.

We know very little about Mr. Farrow, but here are some links down below to three sources so you can get an idea who he is.

We will dearly miss Judy Bradshaw, but we welcome Mr. Farrow to the Gryphon family and we hope he has a very productive career here!

West Craven principal leaving for post at Rocky Mount

West Craven's Leon Farrow is principal of the year

Leon Farrow bio

(New Bern Sun Journal photo)