TFI: With Firebirds' loss, Hunt stands alone at league’s top

Southern Nash was just 3 yards from a go-ahead score that might have put it ahead in the Big East Conference standings, but the Firebirds came up short.

It left the Firebirds thinking about missed opportunities in a 28-20 loss Friday night at Wilson Hunt.

The Warriors improved to 6-3 and 3-0 in Big East play. Southern Nash fell to 7-2 and 2-1 in league action.

“It was a frustrating game,” Southern Nash coach Brian Foster said. “We had our chances. This group fights their tails off.”

Southern Nash decided to go for a two-point conversion with a little more than two minutes remaining in the game after it drew within 21-20. The Firebirds missed the two-point conversion, and Wilson Hunt put the game away for good on Southern Nash’s next possession when the Warriors returned an interception for a touchdown.

“I thought we had momentum our way,” said Foster, whose team had a bad snap on its first extra-point attempt. “It was a perfect time to do it. It’s what the kids wanted to do. I thought we could get that three yards.”

NORTHERN NASH

Northern Nash coach Mickey Crouch said he started to wonder just how bad this season could get for the Knights.

Starting center Randall Womack chipped off the end of his fibula during the week and another player broke team rules Friday before the game.

“They say it’s the darkest before it gets light,” Crouch said. “That’s the way it’s been all year for us.”

The light shined the brightest on the Knights during their 20-0 victory against Nash Central on Friday.

The Knights (1-8, 1-2 Big East) performed up to Crouch’s standards on all sides of the ball. The defense held the Bulldogs to 47 yards rushing on 32 carries, forced five fumbles and scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery. The offense racked up 223 yards on the ground and scored two touchdowns.

“We didn’t hardly have one play,” Crouch said. “I didn’t think (Nash Central) moved the ball hardly at all. It was a complete game by everybody.”

ROCKY MOUNT ACADEMY

Rocky Mount Academy coach Andy Jackson feels good about his team as the Eagles prepare for the NCISAA playoffs.

Rocky Mount Academy defeated Kinston Parrott Academy, 34-14, on Friday night to earn a fifth-place finish in league play.

The Eagles will visit No. 4 Hobgood at 7 p.m. Friday in the first-round playoffs action. Hobgood defeated Rocky Mount Academy, 54-20, in the season-opener.

“We spent the early part of the season trying to find where people ought to be,” Jackson said. “Right now, we’re as good as we’re going to get. You hope that the momentum of winning three games in a row carries on to the playoffs.”

Adam Bayless rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns to help the Eagles erase a 7-6 deficit at halftime.

Sophomore defensive end Jackson Russell recorded 13 tackles to help pace an Eagles defense that has allowed only 32 points in the last two games.

ROCKY MOUNT HIGH

The Gryphons played a solid first half in their 21-14 victory Friday night at Wilson Fike, but coach Dickie Schock said he wanted to see that effort continue in the game’s final 24 minutes.

Rocky Mount High blocked a punt and led 21-7 at halftime, but mental mistakes and procedure penalties stifled its offense in the second half.

“You have to carry that over into the second half,” said Schock, whose team evened its record to 4-4 overall and 2-1 in Big East play.

Schock said the team played well despite the absence of linebacker Aaron Barnes, who hurt his knee in a car accident earlier in the week.

Schock said senior Jeffery Henderson played well in place of Barnes, whose status is uncertain for Friday’s game against Southern Nash.

“We’re going to go through a season where we’ve never had the whole team healthy at one time,” Schock said. “I don’t think I’ve had that at any place or any time.”

NORTH EDGECOMBE

North Edgecombe came out on the short end of a defensive battle in Weldon’s 14-6 victory over the Warriors on Friday night.

The victory gave Weldon the upperhand in claiming the Tar-Roanoke Conference title.