TARBORO —
The action got heated Friday night in Pinetops when the Rocky Mount Gryphons and the SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars traded touchdowns throughout the contest until there was 1:56 left to play and Rocky Mount scored and then put some trickery into the game and scored again after recovering an onside kick to pull away from the Cougars and defeat them 33-24 in non-conference action.
Rocky Mount started the scoring attack first. With 6:25 left in the first quarter, Gryphons running back Rashaqn Harris found a hole and scored from four yards out to give Rocky Mount a 7-0 lead.
SouthWest responded right back just two minutes and 20 seconds later. Cougars fullback Devante Williams scored from 10 yards out. Gerald Hinton scored the two-point conversion to give SouthWest a 8-7 lead.
In the second quarter, Rocky Mount put another scoring drive together. Gryphon Tyrell Williams scored on a two yard run to put Rocky Mount ahead 14-8.
It didn't take the Cougars long to respond though. With just 2:49 left in the half, sophomore running back Barry Smith found a hole and sprinted 26 yards for the touchdown. Hinton converted the two-point conversion again and SouthWest led 16-14 at halftime.
Both teams hit a dry spell in the third quarter, as neither team was able to move the ball and convert it into any points.
It didn't take long in the fourth quarter for Rocky Mount to get on the scoreboard though. Just seven seconds into the quarter, Ahmad Harrell scored on a 34 yard run to put the Gryphons ahead 20-16.
The Cougars took only 52 seconds off the clock before they took the lead back from the Gryphons. Cougar quarterback Quay Wooten scored on a 1 yard quarterback keeper. He added the two-point conversion and SouthWest took a 24-20 lead.
Both teams hit another scoring drought for the next nine plus minutes.
Rocky Mount's Mason Hines answered for the Gryphons on a one yard TD run with 1:56 left in the game to put them ahead 27-24.
After the score, the Gryphons put a little trick into the game and converted an onside kick that Rocky Mount recovered.
Just one minute later, Williams found the end zone again on two yard TD run to give the Gryphons a 33-24 lead.
The Gryphons did one thing right during the game, they keep Hinton out of the end zone from scoring. He did manage to lead the Cougars rushing attack though. He gained 101 yards on 14 carries.
Smith added 77 yards on eight carries and Williams added 65 yards on eight carries.
Rocky Mount dominated the Cougars at their own game. Time of possession. The Gryphons had the ball for more then 30 minutes in the game, while SouthWest had it for only 17 plus minutes.
Rocky Mount converted nine of their 12 third down tries, while SouthWest converted only two of five.
The Gryphons tallied 384 yards of total offense, while the Cougars gained only 268.
SouthWest will have a big test Friday when they travel to Kinston to begin Eastern Plains Conference action.
Sports
Cougars lose tough battle to Gryphons 33-24
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Cobb, Rhodes inducted in Cougars Hall of Fame
PINETOPS – The SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars athletic department inducted two legendary coaches into their Hall of Fame Monday night. Former football coach Raymond Cobb and former baseball coach Bruce Rhodes were the recipients of the awards.
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SWE Athletes of the Year
SouthWest Edgecombe Cougar Dawson Gould was named Female Athlete of the Year and Kenneth Plummer was named Male Athlete of the Year Monday night at the Cougars annual athletic awards banquet. Gould played volleyball, basketball and softball. Plummer played football, ran indoor and outdoor track.
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Pinetops 300
PINETOPS – With the threat of rain during the weekend, it put a little damper on the Pinetops 300 Tractor and Truck Pull attendance. Friday night there was a large crowd in attendance, but not the amount it has been the last several years. There was 500 less people in attendance Friday then there was a year ago, but it didn't stop the pullers from slinging mud everywhere. The fans in one section even had a chance to see what it looked like when a belt breaks on a fine tuned machine. During the Mini Modified run, Thomas Coleman, of Stoneville, had a belt break on his KB 526 Pure Hell ride and the belt slung into the crowd. No one was injured.
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Vikings, Cougars compete in 2-A state meet
The Tarboro Vikings and SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars had six girls apiece competing in the NCHSAA 2-A state track meet in Greensboro Friday at North Carolina A&T State University.
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Six Tarboro girls to compete in track finals
Motivation is a big part of the Tarboro Viking girl's track team's success this season. They enjoy working hard during practice for their coach Rickie Dozier and get fulfillment when they compete in events. Friday will be no different for the six girls that are headed to Greensboro to compete in the NCHSAA 2-A state championship meet at North Carolina A&T State University. They will compete in three relay events and the long jump.
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BIG FISH
Camden Grant and her boyfriend Ricky Davis, Jr. caught a 10 pound carp at a state wildlife pond Wednesday morning off of Highway 33 just outside of Tarboro. Grant said she caught the fish on a piece of shrimp around 10:30 a.m.
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Vikings ousted from playoffs by Jaguars
CARRBORO – After defeating the No. 1 seed in the playoffs Friday, the Tarboro Vikings forgot one thing, they had to hit the ball again Tuesday against the Carrboro Jaguars or their season would be over.
Tarboro failed to be productive at the plate and were eliminated from the NCHSAA 2-A playoffs after losing 8-0 in the second round. Tarboro never gave in after getting down early, but they just couldn't catch a break offensively and get anything going after trailing by five runs after the second inning. -
Cougars finish 7th in state golf match
The SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars went through the regionals and won by four strokes. They just couldn't get it going in the state golf championships Monday or Tuesday at Longleaf Golf and Country Club in Southern Pines. The Cougars finished seventh as a team after shooting 658 over the two day period.
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Vikings advance to second round after defeating Bunn
BUNN – The Tarboro Vikings brought their "A" game and some lively bats with them Friday night when they defeated the Bunn Wildcats 7-5 in the first round of the 2-A NCHSAA state baseball playoffs. The last time the Vikings won a playoff game it was at the same location five years ago.
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Bess hired as new Vikings basketball coach
The Tarboro Vikings have made a coaching change in boy's basketball. They hired Reggie Bess as the new Vikings skipper April 26. Bess is a former Viking basketball star who played for Tarboro in 1995-96. He was part of a team that went to the Eastern Regional finals in 95.
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