Rocky Mount High coach B.W. Holt senses one thing has been lost at times during his program's three-year pursuit of an NCHSAA 3-A state championship – fun.

After all, Holt and his assistants are the only ones paid for their time practicing and traveling to and from games. The players are not. So as the Gryphons prepare for another run at what has been an elusive state title, Holt wants his players to seize each day.

"The thing I want them to to do is to enjoy every week," Holt said. "Get the full enjoyment out of the hard work they are going to do Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and go from there. They have to enjoy this. I think they do."

The Gryphons' chase of a state title has been halted by Western Alamance for the last three seasons. Coming so close has taken its toll on coaches, too. Holt said co-defensive coordinator J.J. Jones recently arrived at school early one morning and told him that he couldn't sleep.

"The adrenaline and the expectations," Holt said. "That's a different burden."

The Gryphons' roster is should allow Holt and his assistants to sleep fairly well this season. Eight starters return on both offense and defense from a squad that finished 14-1 last season and reached the 3-A Eastern Regional final.

Even with the experience, there will still be competition at a number of positions, including quarterback, where Hiawatha Bunn leads a group of three capable players.

Most of an experienced offensive line remains intact.

It is a group that will block for speedy backs such as Marquavis Alston (1,576 yards, 24 touchdowns) and others. Rocky Mount ran for 4,673 yards last season, the ninth-highest mark in the state's history.

Holt said his players have been exposed to playing at a high level, one that emphasizes focus and minimizing mistakes.

"The main thing is to keep the level of consistency and try to play at our level all the time and just play one week at a time. ... We can't worry about somebody here and somebody there, and just go play."

Jessie H. Nunery can be reached at 407-9951 or

jhnunery@coxnc.com

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 14-1

COACH: B.W. Holt (38th season, 308-110)

LAST PLAYOFFS APPEARANCE: 2007, NCHSAA 3-A Eastern Regional championship game

KEY GAME: November 14, first round playoffs opponent, TBA. This is when the Gryphons really kick into gear.

STRENGTH: A winning tradition. This season's seniors know all about playing past Thanksgiving.

WEAKNESS: Depth on the offensive and defensive lines.

SCHEDULE

Aug. 22: EAST FORSYTH

Aug. 28: at Wilson Hunt

Sept. 5: at Northern Vance

Sept. 12: at Greenville Rose

Sept. 19: HERTFORD COUNTY

Sept. 26: SOUTHERN WAYNE

Oct. 10: NORTHERN NASH

Oct. 17: at SouthWest Edgecombe

Oct. 24: at Southern Nash

Oct. 31: at Nash Central

Nov. 7: WILSON FIKE