Tough weather conditions forced the postponement from Friday night, although everyone else in the area and the Eastern bracket played in the rain. Saturday seemed to be a good day, sunny all throughout, before rain began to fall again shortly before game time. The rain never gave way, and continued from warm-ups all the way until the final snap.
The Gryphons started early, with Brian Goodwin taking the game’s opening kickoff 98 yards into the endzone and the Rocky Mount rout was on.
After Jacksonville took their ensuing possession downfield with a long drive lasting most of the remaining first quarter, the Gryphons held strong in the end, forcing a 33-yard field goal try by the Cardinals.
The try was wide, and the Gryphons offense took the field. A few plays later, Rocky Mount again busted the big play. This time it was Marquavis Alston, going 27 yards untouched for the score with just over a minute left in the first quarter.
Gryphs junior RB Marquavius Alston
(photo: rockymounthigh.ihigh.com)
With the field goal miss, the Gryphons have still not allowed a first quarter score by the opposition this season. Including Saturday night, the Gryphons have now put up 163 first quarter points.
In the second quarter, Jordan Ford decided to get in on the fun, taking a handoff and scrambling for a 75-yard touchdown of his own.
Ford finished his night with 78 total yards, and Alston added 77 yards and his touchdown. Both backs only carried twice and both came away with a touchdown to show for it.
Alston said afterwards that the field conditions were not that much of a problem.
“Just gotta plant your feet and run,” said Alston, “and we did it all night.”
Not letting the backs have all the fun, Birthday boy, quarterback Collins Cuthrell, eluded pressure before finding fullback La’Var Silver for a 14-yard touchdown strike. Cuthrell was able to deliver the pass after scrambling and having a defender on his back. Cuthrell finished his night 5-10 passing for 77 yards.
The second half was again all Gryphons, with Cuthrell connecting with receiver Keith Strickland for a twenty-two yard touchdown pass. Strickland hauled in three receptions for 45 yards on the night, bringing him closer to the Rocky Mount single-season receiving record. Those three receptions were despite the fact that Jacksonville seemed to leave a defender back deep all night to take away the deep pass.
“Lots of teams are starting to do that,” said Cuthrell, “because they know Strick can beat basically anybody.”
Gryphs senior WR Keith Strickland
(photo; rockymounthigh.ihigh.com)
The Gryphon scoring night was capped off by the man who started it. Goodwin fielded a third quarter Jacksonville punt off a bounce before traveling 56 yards for the score.
The Gryphons were able to mix both their run and pass game in preparation for next week’s second round game against Oxford Webb. Oxford Webb got past Wilson Beddingfield on Friday night to gain a trip to the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex.
Oxford Webb head coach and former Rocky Mount head coach John Hammett was in attendance for Saturday’s match-up. He saw a Rocky Mount team that is both well-balanced on offense and a rock solid defense.
The Gryphons will host Oxford Webb on Friday night in the second round of the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs at the RMAC. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.
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