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.

AP 3-A Football Poll - Nov. 3

Rocky Mount senior Brian Goodwin (24), chased by Bulldogs Tavon Mosley (39) and Zollie Perry (56), takes a punt return 65 yards for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Gryphons' 35-7 NEW 6 victory over Nash Central Friday night. (click on picture to enlarge)

The Gryphons remain in the No. 2 spot in the most recent Associated Press high school football poll released Tuesday.

(Photo/David Hahula)

Class 3-A

School, Rec., Pts., LW

1. Greensboro Dudley (10) (10-0) 118 1
2. Rocky Mount (2) (10-0) 107 2
3. Belmont South Point (9-1) 88 4
4. Jamestown Ragsdale (11-0) 78 5
5. Waynesville Tuscola (10-0) 72 6
6. West Craven (10-0) 64 6
7. Winston-Salem Carver (9-1) 49 8
8. Harnett Central (9-1) 30 9
9. West Rowan (9-1) 20 10
10. Eastern Alamance (9-1)19 3

Others receiving votes: Newton Foard 7, SouthWest Edgecombe 4, Kinston 3, Charlotte Catholic 1.

Nash Central post-game musings

Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt wants families involved with his team. Their support, he believes, is vital to his squad's success.

So a little old rule didn't stop him and his coaches at Nash Central Friday night from having their traditional post-game meeting with his team - with their families and friends listening on.

Nash Central had sent word Thursday, via AD Mike Gainey, that no one would be allowed on the field at the conclusion of the game.

Holt found a way around that - bring his players to their families.

Instead of holding his post-game talk on the field, he had the entire team move over to the base of the visitors' bleachers and held his meeting where family members could come down and listen to what he and his coaches had to say to his squad.

I would have never have thought of doing that, personally, but Holt is always thinking!

Great move on you and your staff's part, Coach. I know the families appreciated it.

SPECIAL TEAMS REWARDED: It might be hard to believe, but before Friday night, the Gryphons hadn't scored a special teams touchdown since game No. 2 on Jordan Ford's game-opening kickoff return at Wilson Hunt.

And poor Brian Goodwin was due. He has so many returns this season that have almost resulted in a score. His spectacular 65-yard touchdown punt return was awesome. He had to go almost 10 yards backwards to reach the right sideline. Then, with a lane set up past the RMSH team and coaches, he, with some key blocks, tightroped it to the end zone.

And I have a trivia question for you. Prior to Hiawatha Bunn's interception return for a score, who was the last Gryphon to pull off that feat?

Need a minute - OK, take your time!

The answer: Jacobi Jenkins against South Granville in the second round of the playoffs last season (a 52-0 RMHS rout). He returned it 71 yards for a score. That was the only one in 2007.

Gryphon stat notes after Game No. 10

1. One more field goal for Nick Hahula will give him a new school record. He currently holds the record – set in 2007, and tied in 2008 at seven.

2. RMHS has recorded four shutouts this season, tying the same number by the 2007 squad. The school record for shutouts in a season is 6 – set by the state championship 1963 team.

3. Rocky Mount has only allowed 64 points all season in 10 games. The school record is 51 by the 1963 team, but no team since 1985 has allowed less than 100 points in a season – possibly attainable by the 2008 Gryphons!

4. The lowest scoring average allowed for a season is 4.3 points by the 1963 team. The 2008 squad is allowing 6.4!

5. Friday, Nick Hahula passed Stephan Virgil for the second-most games played on a RMHS varsity football team – 48. The record is held by Darrius Dubose with 53. Whit Barnes is nearing the “40 Club” at 38 games played.

6. The 2008 team, against Southern Nash, set the school record for the most points ever scored in a first quarter – 135. The old record was 134 by the 2006 team.

7. In 10 games, the 2008 team still hasn’t allowed a score of any kind in the first period --- and just two TDs period in the third!

8. For the first time since 2006, RMHS has recorded over 1,000 passing yards for a season. The current squad has posted 1,224 yards through the air.

9. Senior wide receiver Keith Strickland is nearing the “1,000-Yard Club” in pass receiving. He needs just 32 more yards. The achievement has been done just twice in 55 years of football at Rocky Mount (Mike Mason, 2002; Ken Weaver, 1981).

10. If Strickland gets 106 more yards in passes, he will set the school record for yards receiving in a season. The record is 1,073 set by Mike Mason in 2002. It took Mason a school-record 64 catches to get that record. Strickland will likely do it with a bit over 40. He currently has 36 receptions - averaging an astounding 28.5 yards per catch!

Next for Strickland would be the Twin Counties record - currently held by North Edgecombe's Cornelius Young who caught passes (40) for 1,123 yards in 1993.

Barnes tabbed for 2008 Shrine Bowl

The honors continue to flow in for Rocky Mount offensive lineman Whit Barnes.

Barnes, who has verbally committed to Wake Forest, was informed Wednesday by his head coach B.W. Holt that Clayton's Gary Fowler had picked him to play on the N.C. team in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

Fowler will be the head coach of the Tar Heel squad.

Around 1 p.m. Thursday, the official word of his selection will be announced in Spartanburg, S.C., the site of the game which is set for Saturday, Dec. 20 at Wofford University's Gibbs Stadium. A video press conference announcing the game's player rosters can be linked to via http://www.shrine-bowl.com/.

Kickoff for the game is at 1 p.m.

Barnes will be the 41st Rocky Mount High player all-time to be selected for the event - being played for the 72nd year.

He will be the fourth player under sixth-year RMHS head coach B.W. Holt to play in the annual game. Preceding him were tight end Bryant Bayne (2003), defensive back Stephan Virgil (2004) and offensive lineman Nazir Levine (2006).

Nash Central vs. Rocky Mount Series

The above picture is action from Monday night's "Cold Bowl" - Nash Central at SouthWest Edgecombe. A huge second quarter by the Cougars turned out to be the difference in a 34-21 NEW 6 victory for SouthWest.

With the Bulldogs on the losing end, I expect them to be pretty angry when Rocky Mount comes calling Friday evening. Historically, this has been quite a rivalry. But on paper, the Bulldogs haven't come up with a win over the Gryphons, yet.

Here is the series with the upstart Bulldogs. Rocky Mount now leads it 6-0 after its 35-7 win Friday night. Here are the updated series numbers:

2008 - RM win 35-7

2007 - RM wins 17-0

2006 - RM wins 47-0

2005 - RM wins 21-6

2004 - RM wins 30-20

2003 - RM wins 42-14

(Photo/David Hahula)

Trot Nixon, SEAM honor RMHS baseball champs

Current New York Mets outfielder and North Carolina native Trot Nixon (front row, third from the left) was the guest speaker at the SEAM (Sports, Evangelism and Mission) Night of Champions fundraiser dinner held Thursday evening at Englewood Baptist Church.

Among the teams honored during the evening were Rocky Mount's 2008 NCHSAA 3-A state baseball championship squad. Pictured above (click on picture to enlarge it) is Nixon, a former Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indian, with several members of the Gryphon team.

(Photo/David Hahula)

Elon receiver Hudgins adds to record haul

By Adam Smith
Burlington Times-News

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Having picked up another receiving record to add to his prodigious collection, Terrell Hudgins continues to rewrite history as it pertains to the Elon University football program.

He's on a quest to help author wider-reaching chapters for the Phoenix.

"I'm just looking forward to a conference championship next," the dynamic junior said two days ago, after becoming Elon's all-time leader in touchdown catches. "I set another record, now I want a conference championship."

Hudgins hauled in scores from 9 and 25 yards out as Elon pulverized Chattanooga 42-7 on Saturday.

Those grabs were the 32nd and 33rd touchdown catches of Hudgins' college career, moving him past the previous milestone of 31 established by Richard McGeorge, one of Elon's most revered players, who starred for the school from 1966-69.

Hudgins needs 183 yards to overtake McGeorge (3,486 career yards) and become first at Elon in all-time receiving yards. That's essentially Elon's last career receiving category Hudgins has yet to procure.

He admitted Saturday that he took peeks at his numbers last year while in the process of piling up a season of enormous production - 117 catches for 1,474 yards and 18 touchdowns.

"But now, I'm just playing," Hudgins said. "I'm not worried about my stats or where I'm ranked or anything like that. I'm honored to have records in the books. But we're 7-1 right now, so I couldn't be any happier about the way we're playing."

Holt's prediction comes true

By Nick Phillips
RMHS iHigh.com correspondent

(Editor's note: Check out Nick's new blog at http://thoughtsoutofmyhead.blogspot.com )

Sitting here today, a freshman in college and away from home for the first extended period of time, I look around and see many reminders of home and Rocky Mount High School.

A baseball hat, a Gryphons mini-football and basketball (thanks to cheerleading coach Lou Buck) and walls adorned with newspaper clippings of the Gryphons baseball team’s state championship run.

As one of the team’s biggest fans, Wes Bradshaw, says, we were the Boys of Spring, capping off a season like no other, and for us five seniors, going out on top to finish our high school careers.

But this story is not as much about the baseball team winning or the great stories that everyone has from those few weeks. It’s about Rocky Mount head football coach B.W Holt. As my eyes wander to the framed picture of the exuberant dog pile in Five County Stadium’s infield, I hear Coach Holt’s voice saying ‘I told you so.’

You see, this story goes way back. Back beyond the beginnings of this past year’s graduating class’ high school endeavors. This story has its roots in the Edwards Middle School gym.

The year was 2004, and Rocky Mount football had just experienced its first year under Coach Holt. I remember that spring there was a meeting for anyone who had thoughts about playing any sport at Rocky Mount. I vaguely remember Coach Donald Thomas talking about reminders about physicals and the sort, but remembered this man standing off to the side.

As a naïve middle school student, I didn’t attend any of the Gryphons football games the previous fall in Coach Holt’s first campaign. But it soon became apparent what Coach Holt’s visions were for athletics at Rocky Mount High School.

Only a few words into his talk, mainly introducing himself and a word or two about football tryouts, when he came out and said, “By the time your class graduates, you will have won a state championship in some sport, I don’t know which one, but we will have won one somewhere.”

I’m pretty sure we all thought Coach Holt’s words were crazy, words trying to get us excited about high school and high school athletics. Who was this man to say what would happen in the future?

We were quickly turned into believers as we saw Holt’s football teams quickly began to turn into state contenders, and now have become powerhouses.

In 2007, the Gryphons’ Chalonda Silver brought home an individual championship in indoor track. But it was not the fruits of our class’ efforts.

As the weeks wound down towards graduation, it appeared Coach Holt’s words would not be fulfilled. Then a magical run began, both literally and figuratively.

First, Jacobi Jenkins outran the competition in the Eastern Finals to earn a spot in the state championships. There, he captured the championship in the 110 meter hurdles and brought the Class of 2008 its first champion.

But again, the championship was an individual one.

At the same time the Gryphons’ baseball team was beginning its run through the playoffs. I remember Bradshaw announcing Jacobi’s results and the applause he received. Inside, I believed that he helped push the baseball team that much harder, because we wanted to have that same feeling.

After a run through the playoffs, and a hard-fought Championship Series, the Gryphons baseball team was finally able to celebrate. Now there was no question – Holt’s promise was complete, both individually and as a team.

He was in the stands in Zebulon, along with many of Rocky Mount’s other athletes.

Seeing the celebration, will it now push those athletes in the other sports to want it that much more?

What will Coach Holt’s next speech be, now that his Gryphons are serious contenders?

As I look at the celebratory pictures again, and the ring that represents all of the hard work that was put into it, I remember taking time out of that late afternoon in May from celebrating to think back to those words so many years ago.

Call me crazy, or random, or whatever, but along with the memories and feelings from those magical weeks, I will forever remember Coach Holt’s words.

Thanks Coach, for instilling the dream and pushing us along the way, even if you didn’t always realize it.

All angles - The RMHS Baseball State Championship Ring

This is a chance for all the Rocky Mount sports fans who haven't seen the baseball team's state championship ring to do so up close.

Here, using the ring of senior Nick Hahula, you can get to see every angle of this beautiful ring. Click on each image to enlarge it.

Congrats again to the Gryphons!

(Photos/David Hahula)

Rocky Mount - SouthWest Edgecombe Football Series

Rocky Mount now leads the football series against SouthWest Edgecombe 10-1. The series started in 1987, but it took a 13-year hiatus until both teams joined the NEW 6 3-A Conference in 2005.

Here are all the scores:

2008 - RM wins 7-0

2007 - RM wins 15-12

2006 - SWE wins 21-16

2005 - RM wins 21-7 (3-A playoffs)

2005 - RM wins 24-7

1992 - RM wins 12-8

1991 - RM wins 24-21

1990 - RM wins 15-12

1989 - RM wins 40-7

1988 - RM wins 28-0

1987 - RM wins 21-18

AP 3-A Football Poll - Oct. 14

The Gryphons are the No. 2-ranked team in the state in AP's 3-A poll ... again. Since word of the NCHSAA forfeit came down, RMHS has been in the No. 2 spot ever since.

Class 3-A

1. Greensboro Dudley (11) (7-0) 155 1

2. Rocky Mount (5) (6-1) 145 2

3. Eastern Alamance (7-0) 114 3

4. Belmont South Point (7-1) 95 4

5. Jamestown Ragsdale (8-0) 90 5

6. West Craven (7-0) 81 6

7. Waynesville Tuscola (7-0) 72 7

8. Winston-Salem Carver (6-1) 51 8

9. Harnett Central (6-1) 24 9

10. West Rowan (6-1) 23 10

Others receiving votes: SouthWest Edgecombe 8, Wilson Beddingfield 7, Oxford Webb 5, Asheville 4, Monroe Sun Valley 2, Western Alamance 1, Newton Foard 1, Gastonia Forestview 1, Kinston 1.

A Redskins jinx!

My old friend and former RM Telegram sports editor Cliff Barnes and I attended Sunday's Washington Redskins-St. Louis Rams football game at FedEx Field.

I can promptly say that I jinxed my 'Skins - again!

Washington came into the game with no turnovers on offense. I come to see them and they fumble all over the place. And for the second straight time in my presence, they lost (19-17)! A Monday Night game a few seasons ago with the Tennessee Titans was a solid bore and also a loss!

It was nice being among the 92,000 Redskins fans that packed the place that day, but I could be a better fan watching them at home. Certainly, a less poorer one.

After all, they didn't need my $110 for the ticket, the $40 for parking or the $5 I paid for a 20 oz. bottle of water I got late in the game - just minutes before a Rams field goal sent us all home mad!

More shots of the RING!

Even though I posted a nice picture of the Gryphon baseball team's state championship ring (with Grant Johnson's fingers), I hope to post three later in the week so fans can see all three sides of the ring - the top, left and right sides.

Rain could damper RMHS-SW Edgecombe matchup .. again

Could we have some Monday Night Football for a fourth straight year?

The weather forecast for Friday is showing showers - no idea if they will come early or late in the day. Should this battle get washed out (SWE holds the game cancelling cards this season), it would be the fourth straight season Rocky Mount and SouthWest Edgecombe will have faced each other on a Monday evening.

I would be nice for the pattern to end - since this is the last NEW 6 contest the two teams will play.

Let's hope we can play in dry conditions and on a dry, cut field, on a Friday - so no one can complain about the outcome.

Ring ceremony pictures

Grant Johnson shows off his ring while talking with AM 1390's Wes Bradshaw. (Photo/Wes Bradshaw)

The above two shots are some of the 17 players and four coaches who got rings Friday evening for winning the 2008 NCHSAA 3-A state baseball championship. Five of the players are starters on the 2008 football team. Click on any picture to enlarge it. (Photos/David Hahula)

All-time Rocky Mount Series - in Football

(Note: The 2008 playoff games have been added to this list)

Since I have this information, why not share it with the world!



I am about to list the series record Rocky Mount has with every football opponent on record - beginning with the first game in the first season - a 26-14 win over Oxford Orphanage in Sept. 1953.



Of course, some of the schools may not exist any more, or have changed names (i.e., Fayetteville High is now Terry Sanford High; Wilmington High is now New Hanover High, etc.). If so, I will notate that for you, as well as their last meeting with RM if it is not on the Gryphons' current schedule. The series RM trails in will be in red. There are only 14 of them!



Here goes! And I will update this list the rest of this season!





Northern Nash - RM leads 23-17


Tarboro - RM leads 23-12 - not played since 2004


J.H. Rose - RM leads 23-22


Northeastern - RM leads 16-12 - not played since 2000


Wilson Hunt - RM leads 16-10


Wilson Fike - RM leads 26-21-2


Goldsboro - RM leads 19-17-1 - not played since 2006


Southern Nash - RM leads 16-4


East Wake - RM leads 3-1 - not played since 1996


New Bern - RM leads 11-10 - not played since 2004


Wilson Beddingfield - RM leads 15-2 - not played since 2005


SW Edgecombe - RM leads 10-1


Eastern Wayne - RM leads 14-3 - not played since 1996


Kinston - RM leads 19-5 - not played since 2006


Durham Hillside - RM leads 7-2-1 - not played since 1978


Wilmington Hoggard - RM trails 1-2 - not played since 1974


Wilmington New Hanover - RM is tied 9-9-1 - not played since 1976


Garner - RM leads 3-0 - not played since 1978


Richmond County - RM trails 0-1 - not played since 1996


Northern Durham - RM trails 0-2 - not played since 2000


Cary - RM is tied 1-1 - not played since 1997


Warren County - RM leads 2-0 - not played since 1992


D.H. Conley - RM leads 8-0 (1 Conley forfeit) - not played since 2004


Bertie - RM leads 5-1 - not played since 1980


Broughton - RM leads 16-9-1 - not played since 1976


Durham High (closed) - RM trails 9-11-2 - not played since 1974


E.E. Smith - RM is tied 1-1 - not played since 1990


Terry Sanford - RM trails 6-10-2 - not played since 1985


Seventy-First - RM leads 1-0 - not played since 1981


Pine Forest - RM leads 1-0 - not played since 1979


Enloe - RM leads 3-0 - not played since 1981


Garinger - RM trails 0-2 - not played since 1961


Oxford Orphanage - RM leads 8-1-1 - not played since 1961


Norfork Catholic (VA) - RM leads 1-0 - not played since 1961


Petersburg High (VA) - RM leads 2-0 - not played since 1957


Burlington Williams - RM trails 3-6 - not played since 1967


Salisbury - RM leads 2-0 - not played since 1955


Washington - RM leads 3-0 - not played since 1955


Grimsley - RM trails 0-1 - not played since 1953


Leesville Road - RM leads 1-0 - not played since 2000


Douglas Byrd - RM is tied 1-1 - not played since 2002


Havelock - RM leads 3-1 - not played since 2004


Wakefield - RM trails 0-1 - not played since 2002


Nash Central - RM leads 6-0


East Forsyth - RM trails 0-1 (forfeit)


Jack Britt - RM trails 0-1 - not played since 2003


Cape Fear - RM leads 1-0 - not played since 2004


Middle Creek - RM leads 1-0 - not played since 2004


Western Alamance - RM trails 0-3 - not played since 2007


Hertford County - RM leads 5-0


SE Raleigh - RM leads 2-0 - not played since 2006


Southern Wayne - RM leads 3-0


Gray's Creek - RM leads 1-0 - not played since 2006


Union Pines - RM leads 1-0 - not played since 2007


South Granville - RM leads 1-0 - not played since 2007


Jacksonville - RM is tied 4-4


R.J. Reynolds - RM leads 2-1 - not played since 1964


Myers Park - RM leads 4-3-1 - not played since 1968


Northern Vance - RM leads 4-1


East Mecklenburg - RM trails 0-1 - not played since 1977

Oxford Webb - RM leads 1-0

Eastern Alamance - RM leads 1-0

West Craven - RM trails 0-1

Gryphs pick up three more AP first-place votes

3-A

1. Greensboro Dudley (9) 6-0 135 1
2. Rocky Mount (5) 5-1 131 2
3. Eastern Alamance 6-0 99 3
4. Belmont South Point 6-1 78 5
5. Jamestown Ragsdale 6-0 77 4
6. West Craven 6-0 66 6
7. Waynesville Tuscola 6-0 58 7
8. Winston-Salem Carver 5-1 47 8
9. Harnett Central 5-1 22 9
10. West Rowan 5-1 18 UR

Others receiving votes: Oxford Webb 17, SW Edgecombe 6, Monroe Sun Valley 5, Charlotte Catholic 3, Wilson Beddingfield 3, Asheville 2, Mooresville 1, North Buncombe 1, Kinston 1.

In WRAL TV5's Tom Suiter's Fabulous 15, the Gryphons are No. 1. His newest poll will come out Wednesday and it's likely RM will stay in the No. 1 spot!

1. Rocky Mount (4-1)**
2. Millbrook (6-0)
3. James Kenan (6-0)
4. Harnett Central (5-0)
5. WF-Rolesville (4-1)
6. Richmond County (3-1-1)
7. Jack Britt (4-1)
8. Leesville Road (6-0)
9. Seventy-First (5-0)
10. West Johnston (6-0)
11. Southern Durham (3-2)
12. SW Edgecombe (4-1)
13. Tarboro (5-1)
14. Wilson Fike (5-0)
15. South Granville (6-0)
** - forfeit to East Forsyth

THE SERIES: Rocky Mount vs. Northern Nash

Rocky Mount now leads the varsity football series 23-17.

Here, for you enjoyment, are all 40 games of the series! FYI - Northern Nash was a 2-A school in the first four years of the series:

2008 - RM wins, 49-0
2007 - RM wins, 54-21
2006 - RM wins, 54-0
2005 - RM wins, 21-0
2004 - RM wins, 40-0
2003 - RM wins, 21-14
2002 - NN wins, 47-6
2001 - NN wins, 48-13
2000 - NN wins, 48-28
1999 - NN wins, 21-20
1998 - RM wins, 21-7
1997 - RM wins, 28-12
1996 - RM wins, 39-12
1995 - RM wins, 14-12
1994 - NN wins, 54-31
1993 - NN wins, 28-12
1992 - RM wins, 13-7, OT
1991 - NN wins 21-19
1990 - RM wins 35-7
1989 - NN wins 20-18
1988 - NN wins 21-6
1987 - NN wins 13-10, OT
1986 - NN wins 34-14
1985 - NN wins 14-12
1984 - RM wins 20-7
1983 - RM wins 21-14
1982 - NN wins 21-13
1981 - NN wins 21-16
1980 - RM wins 21-18
1979 - RM wins 21-14
1978 - RM wins 22-0
1977 - RM wins 23-6
1976 - NN wins 20-6
1975 - NN wins 18-6
1974 - RM wins 21-7
1973 - RM wins 28-16
1972 - RM wins 21-6
1971 - NN wins 14-8
1970 - RM wins 21-12
1969 - RM wins 20-0

TRENDS:

1. Rocky Mount has won 12 times scoring 21 points or less. Northern has done it nine times.
2. Rocky Mount has shut out Northern Nash five times - three times in the last four seasons, but the Knights have never shut out the Gryphons. Until Northern's first-quarter score in the 2007 tilt, the Knights went scoreless in the series for 14 quarters.
3. Both teams have won a contest in overtime.
4. Rocky Mount is the first team in the series to win on six consecutive occasions.

Gryphons go for a record in long series with Northern Nash

54-21, 54-0, 21-0, 40-0, 21-14

In case you haven't figured out what these numbers are, they are the last five scores in the Rocky Mount- Northern Nash football series ... with RM winning all five.

The two old rivals will revive their heated matchup for the 40th time Friday night at Rocky Mount. The Gryphons lead the series 22-17.

And a record is on the line.

No team in the series has ever beaten the other six times in a row.
Rocky Mount could do just that if it wins Friday night.

For the record, both teams have pulled off five straight victories. Rocky Mount, of course, is currently riding that five-win run, while Northern won five straight from 1985 to 1989 (14-12, 34-14, 13-10 in OT, 21-6, 20-18).

And RMHS has never trailed in the series, but it was tied when the Gryphons' win streak began. In fact, Rocky Mount won nine of the first 12 games between the two before Northern started fighting back.

For you trivia buffs, where did Northern's last win over Rocky Mount take place?

The answer - at Nash Central's Dawg Pound.

The year was 2002, the season the Gryphons, due to major field issues at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex, was forced to play all their home games at Nash Central. The Knights won their fourth straight in the series by slamming the Gryphons 47-6 that evening. The only saving grace for Rocky Mount was a spectacular touchdown catch by then-senior Mike Mason.

That all seems like ions ago!

Field maintenance a defense for the Gryphons' offense?

It looks like coaches may resort to letting their field go to pot just to stop Rocky Mount's vaunted running attack.

Two major examples really standout on that point.

Last season, Wilson Fike insisted on playing its NEW 6 football contest with the Gryphons at Buddy Bedgood Stadium - in a steady rain. Most RM fans fully thought the game would be cancelled, but Fike head coach Richie Pridgen didn't care if the fans showed up in the rain or not (I know AD John Gay did!).

Pridgen knew a sloppy, wet tract would slow down the Gryphons. And it did, for awhile. The field was just like slop, and holding blocks by the RM offensive line became like walking on ice without skates.

Pridgen got what he wanted. RMHS' offense was slowed and it took a Nick Hahula field goal in the final seconds to give the Gryphons a sloppy 16-13 victory. And needless to say, Fike's field was an absolute mess by the end of the game.

Last Thursday, Northern Vance seemed to take a page out of Fike's field plan to stopping RM's running game.

As I walked in the stadium, I noticed that the field wasn't marked off with yardage numbers, so I knew we might have trouble on our hands - starting with spotting the ball!

Allegedly, rain from Monday night and into Tuesday morning kept the coaching staff from cutting the grass.

And folks, this turf was the furriest high school field I have ever seen. I went on the field to check it out before the game, placed my very long ink pen at ground level and the whole thing nearly disappeared from sight! It had to have been nearly five to six inches deep at that spot - near midfield. My shoes were completely surrounded by grass.

And talk about wet. The sidelines were soggy and the middle of the field brought up water when you pressed your foot to the ground.

Mind you, it was supposed to have rained nearly 60 hours earlier - plenty of time for most of this water to dry up. I wonder if the sprinklers were left on by mistake. I wonder ...

And on top of this, a soccer match was played on the field the night before.

My suspicions are that nothing was done to cut the field earlier, and the coaching staff pretty much did everything it could to keep the field as slow as possible.

The supposed plan worked in the first half as RM had but 71 yards on the ground.

But once Coach B.W. Holt and his staff got into the Gryphons' ears at the half, things got better. The Gryphs got 202 yards rushing after intermission to slowly pull away from a very athletic Viking squad.

Don't be surprised to see some of the same tactics in of Rocky Mount's three road games in NEW 6 play this season if it is impacted by rain.

Are you ready for a fourth straight Monday night SouthWest Edgecombe encounter?

RMHS locked in AP's 3-A No. 2 spot

Here is the Associated Press' 3-A high school football poll as released Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Rocky Mount is solidly in second place, behind Greensboro Dudley, which rocked Rockingham County 55-6 Monday evening.

Hertford County, No. 4 in the poll just two weeks ago, fell completely out of the Top 10 after a second straight defeat - a 39-33 home loss to Elizabeth City Northeastern.

3A

1. Greensboro Dudley (10) 5-0 118 1
2. Rocky Mount (2) 4-1 105 2
3. Eastern Alamance 5-0 81 3
4. Jamestown Ragsdale 5-0 73 4
5. Belmont South Point 5-1 69 5
6. West Craven 5-0 52 6
7. Waynesville Tuscola 5-0 48 9
8. Winston-Salem Carver 5-1 42 7
9. Harnett Central 4-1 22 —
10. Oxford Webb 4-1 18 10

Others receiving votes: Asheville Roberson 9, West Rowan 8, Wilson Fike 3, Kinston 3, Kannapolis Brown 3, SE Guilford 2, Mooresville 1, Charlotte Catholic 1, Asheville 1, Hertford County 1.

Is this Rocky Mount or Smoky Mount(ain)?

Interesting pictures, aren't they? Click on each shot to enlarge them!

David Hahula sent me these shots of the early moments of the Southern Wayne-Rocky Mount game Friday.

The smoke that is dispersed when the team comes onto the field during the pregame normally disappears before kickoff.

Not Friday night!

It hung around for at least 10 minutes while the two teams dueled it out in the first period.

Hahula also sent me the lyrics to a song that is perfect for moments like these - The Platters' big 50's hit "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes!"

I guess everyone noticed the new gold jerseys the Gryphons wore Friday night. I personally loved them. They gave them a Cal Bears-type look and I had no trouble catching players' numbers. Love those SOLID navy blue numbers!

But did you like them? I hear RMHS may wear them for three straight games - beginning with Southern Wayne.

Send me your comments on the new jerseys - right here! We'd love to hear from you!

Gryphons honor fallen Rampant

By Nick Phillips

iHigh.com correspondent

J.H. Rose football player Jaquan Waller took the field Friday night a week ago just like usual. He left the field in a very different way.

Waller was taken to the hospital by ambulance during the Rampants’ game. After carrying the ball and fumbling, the running back came off the field and took a knee before collapsing.

Waller was revived at the hospital. His family made the sad decision to take Jaquan off life support Saturday afternoon.

The Gryphons and Rampants, former Big East 4-A foes, are still bitter rivals, and probably won’t be swapping Christmas cards. But we must tip our hats to Rocky Mount head coach B.W. Holt and his staff - in particular assistant coach Hank Jones, as both of the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex’s end zones had Waller’s No. 23 painted in Rose blue.

Fans observed a moment of silence for Waller and his family twice during Friday night’s Gryphon victory.

Although rivals on the field, this tragedy hits close to home. Just two weeks ago, Waller lined up in the backfield against the Gryphons. This could happen to any player on the Gryphon sideline on any given play. The same situation is literally just a single play away.

As we go on throughout the next few weeks, we should keep the Greenville Rose family, and more importantly, the family of Jaquan Waller in our thoughts.

Thoughts on Gryphons’ Homecoming

The Rocky Mount football squad is now holding a record of 4-1, 5-0 on the field, after Friday night’s convincing victory, 63-6, over the Southern Wayne Saints on Homecoming night.

More convincing was the Gryphons' offense in the first quarter. Going right after the Saints on both offense and defense, Rocky Mount had four touchdowns and a turnover, in the opening minutes of the game. As Gryphon radioman Tony Doughtie wrote on his blog, "From The Press Box", earlier this week, the Gryphons would have to bring the same level of intensity into this game as games against Greenville Rose and Hertford County.

I believe that it can be stated that the Gryphons did bring that intensity, as seen in Friday’s first quarter. Friday’s Homecoming festivities included Gryphons senior cheerleader Dominique Battle being crowned Homecoming Queen.

Also of note, former Rocky Mount placekicker Andrew Hening’s brother Sam was an escort for senior Devon Ebby. As a recent Rocky Mount alum, I can truly say that Sam, a special needs student, is one of the nicest guys that you could ever meet. Good job Devon!!

By the way, Andrew Hening is on the roster at Elizabeth City State as a placekicker and was dressed for the Vikings' 24-13 win over St. Augustine's Saturday in the Down East Viking Classic at the RMAC. He is playing a backup role as kicker. Having his team play on the field he played high school football on must have been a thrill for him.

(Note: Phillips is a freshman at UNC-Pembroke.)

Record night for the Gryphons!

Man, am I glad I decided to compile a Rocky Mount High School football record book some five years ago.

Once B.W. Holt and his crew are finished, I would have re-written it - twice!

Even more pieces of information got typed into the record book after the Gryphons dismantled visiting Southern Wayne on Homecoming night.

Here goes!

1. Rocky Mount's 49 points in the first half was the most points a RM team has ever scored in one half of football. The most had been the 48 it put up against Wilson Fike in 1978. The Gryphons led 48-0 at Fike at intermission. In the record-setting 75-0 victory over Norfolk Catholic (most points ever scored by a RM team) in 1960, RM scored 47 points in the second half (27, third period; 20, fourth) after leading 28-0 at halftime.

2. The 35 points scored in the first period were the most points ever scored in one period for a RM team.

3. Senior kicker Nick Hahula went 9-for-9 on his PATs - tying his school record for most PATs made in a game (set vs. Gray's Creek in 2006). Hahula's nine points Friday gives him exactly 300 total points scored - pushing his all-time scoring record even higher!

4. Southern Wayne was not flagged with a penalty the entire evening. From my research, no RM opponent has ever done that. Rocky Mount hasn't kept a hankie off the field since 2001 in a 29-28 win over Tarboro.

5. Rocky Mount's winning margin of 57 points was the fourth biggest in school history.

I have no records on how fast RM has scored touchdowns, but perhaps the Gryphons created one when they got in the end zone three times in one minute, six seconds!

1st period

5:59 - Keith Strickland 53 pass from Collins Cuthrell
5:06 - Marquavis Alston 19 run
4:53 - Keith Strickland 10 pass from Collins Cuthrell

See what I mean? Imagine if there hadn't been a running clock the entire second half!

6. No Rocky Mount team, five games into the season, has ever been this prolific on the scoreboard. The 2004 RMHS squad had scored 207 points (41.4 ppg) after five contests. This 2008 team has surpassed it - scoring 228 - 45.6 points a game! The total yards per game are on a record pace, too.

And let's give the defense some attention, too. The "D' block has allowed just 40 points - basically a touchdown a game.

NOTE: Southern Wayne, for the second straight week, scored just one TD - and the Saints' defense provided both.

Against Goldsboro (a 21-6 SW loss), it scored on a 41-yard interception return. It took a 58-yard fumble return Friday to ruin the Gryphons' possible shutout.

Former Gryphon Edwards returns to EKU to coach baseball

From Eastern Kentucky Sports Information

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University head baseball coach Jason Stein named Jerry Edwards his new assistant/pitching coach on Aug. 25.

Edwards served as the pitching coach at EKU from 1999-2001 under former skipper Jim Ward, and was the interim head coach of the Colonels in between the tenures of Ward and Elvis Dominguez.

“Jerry brings 10-plus years experience as a pitching coach at the college level,” Stein said. “As a recruiter, he is a tireless worker, and he has many connections throughout the country.”

Edwards comes to Richmond from Louisburg College in Louisburg, N.C., where he has been the pitching coach since 2005.

While coaching at the two-year college, Edwards saw nine of his pitchers signed by Division I schools, and two of his pitchers drafted and signed in the top 12 rounds of the MLB Draft.

Before Louisburg, Edwards served as the head coach at Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tenn. While at Hiwassee, Edwards saw two of his players taken in the MLB Draft.

In between his stints at EKU and Hiwassee, Edwards was an Associate Scout for three years with the Atlanta Braves under the guidance of Area Scouting Supervisor Billy Best.

While serving under Ward at EKU, Edwards helped lead the Colonels to their most recent OVC regular season championship in 2000.

Before coaching at EKU, Edwards spent two year at North Carolina Wesleyan College as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator. During those two years, he helped lead North Carolina Wesleyan to the 1999 Division III National Championship.

Edwards earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from North Carolina Wesleyan College in 1999, and he earned a master’s degree in physical education/sports administration from EKU in 2001.

He lives in Richmond with his wife, Amy, and their two children Jacob (8) and Claire (6).

(Note: Edwards, a former Gryphon football and baseball player, is a 1986 graduate of Rocky Mount Senior High School.)