Newspapers / Rocky Mount High School … / Sept. 17, 1971, edition 1 / Page 7
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Friday, September 17> 1971 THE GRYPHON Page 7 SPORT LIGHTS As the North Carolina high school football season drew near, various sportscasters in the state seemed to favor the Goldsboro Cougars to take the Division Two crown for second consecutive time. Theprognos- tlcaters also noted that the Cou gar's major obstacle on that long winding road to a divi sional champslonship would be the Gryphons. Size and con siderable depth were cited, along with some outstanding in dividuals as the major assets RMSH possessed. The one main factor going against the Gryphs is inexperience. Both offensive and defensive lines are composed of a plurality of juniors who will see their first varsity action this fall. Quick Maturing Judging from the first contest with Northern Nash, the RMSH men of the gridiron have some quick maturing to do if a divi sion title is to be obtained. The sight of loose balls and an over all lack of aggressiveness, as well as backs running in a per fect posture (which is undesir able in football) made the fans realize that the 1971 edition of Gryphon football must be re fined and polished before under going another test. It if is any consultation, the Gryphs were not the only team of the 4-A ranks upended by a 3-A power in that first week of action. Kinston Grainger and Greenville Rose, which are both opponents of RMSH later this season, were also defeat ed, Kinston lost 28-0 to the Vikings of Tarboro, and Rose High was humbled 21-6 by Farmvllle. It is probable that —By RAY BRINN the uprising of these 3-A teams was a welcome after-effect (In some cases) of the intergratlon of these schools. Keep The Faith Though our'Gryphons fared poorly In their first perfor mance, it is essential to “keep the faith." We must instill and maintain the winning spirit which in the past has made our good teams great ones. The cheerleaders can’t put an In tangible such as a winning spirit into this school by themselves. The help of each student on cam pus is vital. In other words, at a pep rally, even if your derrlere is aching from splinters, even if the person sitting next to you has had a long, hot, sweaty day (you won't need to ask), and even though the pep band isn’t present, each student owes it to himself and the team to yell. But that’s not all. Go to the game, and yell your , , . head off if you like. It is especial ly important to give support at "away” games. The trip into “enemy territory” is always fun, and of course, the games are exciting. Have fun, but keep In mind the fact that each fan is a representative of our school, and that the fans’ ac tions reflect not only on the school, but on the city of Rocky Mount as well. Therefore, we must uphold the tradition of good sportsmanship here at Rocky Mount Senior High, Remember the members of our football squad need and deserve your support to win. This year, our Gryphs have great potential, and the team, as this reporter sees it, will fulfill our expectations , .. only if we “keep the faith.” VOGUE DRESS SHOP 312 S. MAIN ST. Campus Right Fall Fashions Rocky Mount New Car Dealers Association Bel Air Chevrolet Bone International Caddell Motors Crest Ford, Inc. Davenport Motors Farris Motors, Inc. Flake B. Chipley Howell Buick Friar Volkswagen, Inc, John Vann Motors Ray Bandy Dodge BATTS (12) scrambles for yardage against Northern Nash. Missed Breaks Knights Spoil Gryph’s Premier In their season debut, the 1971 edition of the Gryphon gridders were upset by a de termined Northern Nash squad. Behind the , quickness of the small but powerful Jimmy Wil liams, the Knights handed RMSH a 14-8 loss. The Gryphons failed to capi talize on numerous breaks in the first half which may well have set the tempo for the rest of the game. After receiving the opening kickoff, RMSH started a drive, only to have it thwarted on Northern’s 20 yard line by a holding penalty. On fourth down and 18 from the Knight’s 35 yard line, the Gryphons decided to pass for the possible first down, but the pass from quarterback Ros- coe Batts was thrown Inches over the outstretched arms of John Dinan at the goal line. Fail To Capitalize Another break came early in the second quarter when a Gryphon punt to Northern was fumbled and then recovered by Gary Knight on the Knight’s twenty-four yard line. With the help of a pass Interference call, the Gryphs moved to Nor thern’s eight, only to be stop ped inches short of the goal line after a plunge into the line by Gerald Costen on a fourth down and two yards to score. Perhaps RMSH had their best break near the end of the first half, when on fourth down for the Knights, the Gryphon line poured forth to block the punt and recover the ball only eight yards from a touchdown. Fol lowing a short gain by Costen on first down, Batts sprinted around right end into the end zone. The officials; however, nullified the TD by a clipping penalty. Passes to Denny Bass and Cleveland Howard moved the Gryphons back to the four yard line. On fourth down, a Batts pass was deflected by the Knight’s secondary. The end of the half found the teams in a scoreless tie. Bailey’s Discount Jewelry and DOWNTOWN Record Bar rocky mount “Buy Discooiit and Save on Everv Purshase” TRY REFRESHING SUN DROP Raleigh Rd. GI 2-1422 The last man alive IS not alone! CMRLTON H€STON TH€ MAN Features: 1:30 3:20 5:10 7:00 9:00 the NEW In the second half, things changed for the worse. After getting the ball on their own thirty-two yard line, a Gryphon aerial was picked off by Danny Weaver of Northern, who re turned It 30 yards to the twenty yard line. Once there, scatback Jimmy Williams scampered for ten yards, and then after continual ly plunging through the line, scored. The conversion kick was good and the Knights were ahead 7-0. The Knight’s second score came after another intercep tion by Northern, The pick-off followed a spectacular pass play from Batts to Cleveland Ho ward. After a successful swing pass, Williams scored. The PAT attempt was good by Kearns to make the lead 14-0, Knight’s Iavor„ Finally Score The Gryph’s only score came after a blocked punt on North ern’s thirty-five yard line, Batts scrambled to the four yard line on first down. From there, Alvis Battle plowed thr ough for the score. The two point conversion attempt was good on an end sweep by Batts. With seconds remaining, RMSH tried anunsuccessful on- sides kick. Time ran out, and the Gryphs walked off the field knowing that next week the prac tice would be tougher, and that they would be both mentally and physically ready for a tough Wilmington New Hanover team. THIS AD AND $1.00 WILL ADMIT YOU! ISCOUNT E X A L DRUGS 130 SOUTH MAIN ST 00 PM DAILY SUNDAY 130 6:00 PM 00AM-9 DOWNTOWN ROCKY MOUNT L-O-W-E-S-T Discount Prices In Town -ON— ★ HEALTH AND BEAUTY AIDS ★ PRESCRIPTIONS ★ PHOTOGRAPHIC NEEDS —also— ★ STROBE UGHTS ★ BLACK UGHTS ★ PATCHES ★ MUCH MORE
Rocky Mount High School Student Newspaper
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Sept. 17, 1971, edition 1
7
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