This list was compiled over Holt’s six seasons and broken down into four categories: Non-Conference games, Big East 4-A Conference games, NEW-6 3-A Conference games, and Playoff games. The twenty games broken down into these categories were then ranked and transformed into an overall Top 20 Overall Games.
The games, lists, memories, and rankings were determined by myself and Addison Teachey, both Rocky Mount Class of 2008. All statistics are taken from the Rocky Mount High School Football Record Book, compiled by Charles Alston and Lyn Joyner, which is updated yearly.
I had the pleasure of covering these games for Rocky Mount’s ihigh.com page for four years, including three years while I was still a fellow student and athlete walking the halls of the school, and this past year, as I was a freshman at UNC-Pembroke.
I was able to learn a lot from Rocky Mount’s statistician and ihigh.com webmaster, Alston, who allowed me to come in and learn the tools, but I gained even more from Coach Holt, who treated me as an equal from the first game I covered.
Coach Holt never saw me as a student, even in those first few games when I had little clue what I was doing. In fact, I was another member of the press, along with the Rocky Mount Telegram and whoever else may have been covering that particular game. I believe that this has helped me,as I have been able to take the experience and knowledge gained with me to UNC-P as I work towards my degrees and hands-on experience as an Assistant Sports Editor with the campus newspaper, The Pine Needle.
Addison Teachey was around Coach Holt and the football program for four years as a Student Athletic Trainer under Mr. Bernie Capps. He was able to soak in memories on a daily basis, and was on the sidelines for each game from 2004-2007.
Teachey and Phillips, Graduation Day 2008
(photo - Phillips family)
Each player’s graduation year is in parenthesis.
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Non-Conference –
Looking back over the past six seasons, Rocky Mount has had some great emerging rivalries develop, and some that have carried over. Both of these types of games find their way into this category, as well as some other special games as well.
6. Rocky Mount at Kinston, 2005 – In a game that won’t be remembered by most people, Gryphon QB Jason Tyler (Class of 2007) connected with wideout Brandon Arrington (2006) for a 99 yard touchdown pass, the longest in Rocky Mount football history. Rocky Mount also totaled 565 yards (432 rushing, 133 passing) for the game, including Kendrick Dean’s (2006) 207 and Mychal Bynum’s (2006) 132 yards rushing.
5. Rocky Mount – Hertford County series – In a series that may be remembered as much for the impromptu band competitions at halftime as the games, the games were usually good too. The 2006 contest at the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex was a 24-22 Gryphon victory, with Brian Goodwin’s (Class of 2009) interception with less than two minutes to go sealing the game. The 2007 contest wasn’t as close, a 60-28 Gryphon win, as Rocky Mount amassed 391 total team rushing yards.
4. Rocky Mount – Hunt series – The 2006 game at Hunt was a game that Hunt led 7-0 at the half before Rocky Mount’s offense found itself. The Gryphons second half included Demetric Marshall’s (Class of 2007) 86-yard touchdown run and Anthony Smith (2007) turning in a 33-yard touchdown reception and a 60-yard punt return, while the famed D-Block shutout Hunt in the second half for a 21-7 win. The 2007 game at the RMAC was just as exciting, with Donovan Sinclair’s (2008) 65-yard punt return with 1:08 remaining the difference in the 27-20 victory. Emmanual Davis (2008), who separated his shoulder in the game’s first half, delivered the crushing hit on the Rocky Mount sideline to open the hole for Sinclair, a hit that may still be being felt by the Hunt defender today.
3. Rocky Mount at Nash Central, 2004– In a game that was a precursor to those that would come as NEW 6 Conference games in the future, this was the game that started the rivalry between age-old Rocky Mount and Nash Central, the new kids on the block. Nash Central had the Gryphons on the ropes early in the game, before Rocky Mount came away with the win.
2. Rocky Mount at Southern Wayne, 2007 – In a game that will be remembered more for its significance than its final score or what happened in the game, in which defender Chris Pittman (2009) recovered two fumbles, one for a touchdown, and Goodwin had a 65-yard punt return TD, this 49-7 Rocky Mount win will be remembered as Coach Holt’s 300th Career Victory, one that many of his family members were on hand to witness.
Coach Holt, surrounded by family and friends after win #300.
(photo - Rocky mount ihigh.com)
1. Rocky Mount vs. J.H Rose, 2007– Rocky Mount left no doubts in letting fans know who was the better team in the yearly rivalry that carried over from the former Big East 4-A Conference in the 2007 meeting. The Gryphons 17-7 victory was one in which they never trailed, and put an end to Rose’s 39-game winning streak, the longest streak in the state at that time. Rose was held to single digits, the first time since the 2004 season, by Rocky Mount’s D-Block. Ironically, the Gryphons were the last team to defeat Rose, back in 2004.
Big East 4-A Conference -
In the brief two years Coach Holt’s Rocky Mount teams were in the Big East before realignment moved the Gryphons down to the 3-A ranks, they put on some of the best and most memorable games in the Holt Era.
4. Rocky Mount at Greenville Conley, 2004 – This game gets lost among the other conference games of the ’04 season, for good reason, but the Gryphons 62 points in the 62-8 win ranks as the seventh highest point total in RM history. The 54-point margin of victory ranks sixth all-time in RM history as well. The Gryphons 27 first downs in the game still stand as the team record.
3. Rocky Mount at Northern Nash, 2003 – In the rivalry series between the two schools, neither team had one more than two games in a row in recent history. Rocky Mount changed that, with this edition’s victory starting the current six game winning streak over Northern Nash. Holt never lost in the series. (6-0 record)
2. Rocky Mount at J.H. Rose, 2004 – Many people can still remember this game, as it put Coach Holt’s Rocky Mount teams on the map in the conference. In the game, Terrell Hudgins (Class of 2005) totaled 360 yards of total offense in the game (215 passing, 145 rushing) with 5 touchdowns (1 passing, 4 rushing). He connected with Will Johnson (2005) for an 88-yard pass play, and Wayne Noble (2005) for a 74-yard TD in the game. The pass to Noble is tied for 11th longest all-time, while the connection with Johnson ranks as 3rd longest of all-time. As a team, the Gryphons tallied 437 total offensive yards, (Hudgins’ 215 passing, and a team combination of 222 yards rushing). Quinton Jones (2005) intercepted two Rose pass attempts in the game as well.
1. Rocky Mount at New Bern, 2004 – For as much as the Rose game the previous week put Rocky Mount on the map, this game cemented their spot. Stephan Virgil (2005) had an 89-yard kick return touchdown, 7th longest all-time, and Joey Squire (2005) pulled down two interceptions in the game. But fans will remember this game for Holt’s decision to go for the 2-pt conversion in the game’s 2nd overtime and go for the win. A successful PAT would have sent the game into a 3rd OT, but Holt’s gutsy call successfully sent Hudgins rolling to the right side and scampering into the corner of the endzone for the 36-35 win. New Bern’s 35 points are the most the Gryphons have given up all-time in a victory, and the double overtime game is tied for second longest all-time as well. The combination of these two back-to-back Friday nights added into an undefeated Big East Conference season for the Gryphons as the captured the Conference’s final football championship.
(photo - Rocky Mount ihigh.com)
N.E.W 6 3-A Conference –
In the short-lived conference, the Gryphons made it known they were the team to beat, as they established themselves among the best in the state. Each tilt with SouthWest Edgecombe turned into the Conference Championship game. With the closeness of each school in the conference, many games brought out large numbers of fans from both sides in support, and new rivalries began while others grew larger.
5. Rocky Mount – Northern Nash rivalry series – Overall, this rivalry series has lacked its intensity and hype during the Holt era, and rightly so. Holt’s teams went 6-0 against Northern Nash in his tenure, including the four years of N.E.W 6 Conference play. The series pitted Holt and the Gryphons against former assistant coach Chad Smith in2007 and 2008, and has seen two teams at opposite ends of the totem pole meet on the field. Nonetheless, it is a rivalry series, has been and always will be. So the Gryphons will continue to take great pride in their 6-game winning streak against Northern, and push to keep it growing higher in the next few years.
4. Rocky Mount at Southern Nash, 2006 – This game came on the heels of playing at SouthWest Edgecombe on a Monday night. The Gryphons would lose twice in one week, as Southern Nash’s successful 2-pt conversion would win it 21-20 in the 2nd overtime. The Gryphons had several opportunities to win this one, but Gryphon PAT attempts and FG tries unsuccessful late in the game. Memorable for the wrong reasons, but memorable nonetheless.
3. Rocky Mount at Nash Central, 2007 – This game was much closer than its 17-0 score indicates. The Gryphons led only 3-0 at halftime and were aided by three Nash Central fumbles throughout the game. Atarius Farmer (Class of 2008) had an interception and fumble recovery on his Senior Night, while Jordan Ford’s (2009) 75-yard touchdown with less than two minutes remaining helped the score mask the game’s closeness in actuality.
2. Rocky Mount at Fike, 2007 – Remembered by many fans for its constant, pouring rain, a game Rocky Mount players dubbed the Mud Bowl. On paper, the Gryphon team blew away Fike, but the muddy field that sunk under walking feet, not to mention feet that were running and (attempting to) cut had other ideas. Kicker Nick Hahula (Class of 2009) booted the game-winning, 32-yard field goal in the pouring rain with 5.4 seconds remaining to give the Gryphons the 16-13 victory, the only time they would hold the lead in the game. But it’s not how long you have the lead, it only matters who ends up with the lead at the end of the game. Winning isn’t always pretty, and this game surely wasn’t one of those.
1. Rocky Mount – SouthWest Edgecombe series–This series pitted the conference’s two best teams together year after year. Both teams were the only two to be crowned N.E.W 6 Conference champions, with the Gryphons winning three, SWE one (2006). Each regular season game in the series was played on a Monday night due to rain. Monday Night Football, high school style, and the games all lived up to their hype. The 2005 game will be remembered for SWE’s Linwan Euwell’s sack that broke gryphon QB Jason Tyler’s (Class of 2007) throwing arm.No games will be remembered more so than the 2007 edition, when Brian Goodwin (2009) ran down the SWE ball carrier on the sideline and produced his miracle punch-out that produced a fumble and a Rocky Mount recovery that allowed the Gryphons to hold on to a 15-12 victory. If he misses, SouthWest scores there, and possibly wins the game. Fans will remember that one for years to come.
Holt's steady presence on and off the field will be an adjustment for the Gryphons.
(photo - Rocky Mount ihigh.com)
Playoffs –
Trips to the playoffs became a familiar destination during the Holt Era. These games reached the highest of highs (Beddingfield 2005), as well as the lowest of lows(Western Alamance’s last second TD). Coaches, players, and fans alike are hoping that the recent success will continue itself.
5. Rocky Mount at. Hertford County, 2006 – In a game that did not match up to the regular season contests the two schools collided in, Marshall (2007) rushed for 292 yards, second highest all-time in school history as the #10 seeded Gryphons rolled through #2 seed Hertford County 32-16. Marshall found the endzone four times in the game, scoring from 13, 28,4, and 46 yards out.
4. Rocky Mount vs. J.H Rose, 2004 – In the same season as the Gryphons defeated Rose in Greenville, they could not pull off a second win in the 3rd round of the 4-A playoffs. Hudgins (2005) ended his high school football career with four straight incomplete passes late in the fourth quarter as Rose advanced towards another State Championship birth.
3. Rocky Mount vs. SouthWest Edgecombe, 2005 – The two conference foes met up in round 2 of the playoffs with the Gryphons winning 21-7. Dean (2006) rushed for a 31-yard touchdown in the first half and went over 1,000 yards for the season in the third quarter, while fellow backs Marshall (2007) and Bynum (2006) also found the endzone in the game. Every game in the series drew huge crowds; none bigger than this one, where the RMAC was offered only standing room only views to anyone who got to the gates after kickoff.
2. Rocky Mount – Western Alamance series – Western Alamance turned into the Gryphons big, bad bully over the Holt era, asRocky Mount’s entire season was moving towards a playoff birth and a return match-up with Western Alamance. In 2005, the #1 seeded Gryphons hosted the game, for the Eastern Final and a trip to the State Championship, at the RMAC. With the 30-10 loss the Gryphons ended their season 13-2. The 2006 game, at Western Alamance, may have been the hardest for the Gryphons to swallow, as WA scored with under 10 seconds remaining for a 41-37 win. Before the WA touchdown, Marshall (2007) scored the go-ahead touchdown and broke the career rushing record at Rocky Mount. The 2007 game, also at WA, was a game that the Gryphons led 22-21 on a Hahula (2009) field goal to end the first half. Fans will remember the successful onside kick the Gryphons recovered to stay in the game, but also the interception that followed three plays later that was returned for a WA touchdown and sealed the game, 50-36. Many are quick to accuse the officials as being biased against the Gryphons in the series, and although Holt may have agreed on a couple of occasions, he never blamed the officials for any of Rocky Mount’s losses.
1. Rocky Mount vs. Beddingfield, 2005–This game gets lost by many, sandwiched between the SouthWest Edgecombe 2nd round game and the Eastern Finals game against Western Alamance a week later. Dean (2006) scored on a 15-yard run with 2:46 remaining before Hahula (2009) put the PAT through the uprights for the game’s final 21-20 score. Matthew Virgil (2006) was the star of the night, recording a forced fumble (on the game’s second play), an interception (in the endzone to deny a Beddingfield TD), catching a pass for a 26-yard gain to start the game-winning drive, and recovering a Marshall fumble in the fourth quarter to keep possession with the Gryphons.
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There you have the breakdown, now here’s all of those lists compiled into one Top 20 category for everyone to argue about….
20. Rocky Mount at Greenville Conley, 2004
19.Rocky Mount at Kinston, 2005
18.Rocky Mount at. Hertford County, 2006 (playoffs)
17.Rocky Mount – Hertford County series
16.Rocky Mount – Northern Nash rivalry series
15.Rocky Mount at Northern Nash, 2003
14. Rocky Mount at Nash Central, 2004
13.Rocky Mount – Hunt series
12.Rocky Mount at Southern Nash, 2006
11.Rocky Mount at Nash Central, 2007
10.Rocky Mount vs. J.H Rose, 2004 (playoffs)
9.Rocky Mount vs. SouthWest Edgecombe, 2005 (playoffs)
8.Rocky Mount vs. J.H Rose, 2007
7.Rocky Mount at Fike, 2007
6.Rocky Mount – SouthWest Edgecombe series
5.Rocky Mount at Southern Wayne, 2007
4.Rocky Mount – Western Alamance series (playoffs)
3.Rocky Mount at J.H. Rose, 2004
2.Rocky Mount vs. Beddingfield, 2005 (playoffs)
1.Rocky Mount at New Bern, 2004
There we have it – a breakdown and recount of our version of Coach Holt’s top games. Agree? Disagree? That’s the beauty of these games; we all have different memories of different games for different reasons.
