Rocky Mount vs. Southern Nash

Sport: Boys’ soccer

Date: Sept. 28

Time: 5 p.m.

Location: Bailey

Rocky Mount High (3-5-3, 1-1-1 Big East) … The young Gryphons continue their trek through the Big East Conference. They are nearly as banged up as their female counterparts were last season. They’ve lost players to broken arms and serious knee injuries. Rocky Mount is still young, but coach Drew Nick said the team is improving.

Southern Nash (3-4, 1-1) …The Firebirds have taken a  while to get in rhythm, but are hitting their stride now. Southern Nash lost in overtime to Wilson Hunt, one of the best teams in the state, and has the speed up front to finally beat Rocky Mount – the Firebirds haven’t done that the past seven years.

Key matchup … Southern Nash will need to control explosive Gryphons striker Lee McAvoy. If they can, and that’s a tall task, Rocky Mount could have trouble generating offense.

Quotable … “We’ve got a pretty good team. They’ve waited a while to play up to the level they can play.” – Southern Nash coach John Mathews.

CROSS COUNTRY

Nash Central, Northern Nash, Rocky Mount High, Southern Nash at Northern Nash, 5 p.m.

Wilson Beddingfield, Farmville Central at SouthWest Edgecombe, 4 p.m.

BOYS’ SOCCER

Wilson Hunt at Nash Central, 5 p.m.

Northern Nash at Wilson Fike, 7 p.m.

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Tarboro vs. Riverside-Martin, 4 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

Rocky Mount Academy at Sallie B. Howard, 5:15 p.m.

Northern Nash at Tarboro, 5:30 p.m.