Gryphons defense makes adjustments to defeat Burlington Williams

Telegram photo / Adam Jennings /
Rocky Mount High cornerback Aaron Parker intercepts a pass intended for Burlington Williams wide receiver Sydney Mcadoo on Friday during the NCHSAA 3-A first round playoffs game at Rocky Mount High School.

Telegram photo / Adam Jennings /
Rocky Mount High running back Tyrell Forbes, left, runs the ball as Burlington Williams linebacker John Ange Kernodle makes the tackle Friday during the NCHSAA 3-A first round playoffs game at Rocky Mount High School.

Rocky Mount High did its due diligence in scouting Burlington Williams, and the Gryphons thought they would see a team that ran the football downhill out of the I-formation.

Every minute of film study went by the wayside, however, when the Bulldogs came out and scored on their first possession using a brand-new spread offense with the shifty, 5-foot-7 Isaiah Coleman at quarterback, whom Rocky Mount High had not seen play the position.

Once the surprise factor wore off, however, Rocky Mount High’s superior athleticism on defense shone through. The Gryphons held Burlington Williams without a first down in the second half until the game’s final minute, and Rocky Mount High rushed for 325 yards in a 28-13 victory on Friday in the first round of the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs.

The Gryphons (10-2) will host No. 11 seed South Johnston, a 21-6 winner over Eastern Wayne, next Friday night in the second round.

“What we saw caught us off guard in the first half,” Gryphons coach Jason Battle said. “But I thought our biggest issue was just getting off the ball. It felt like we were sleepwalking.”

Despite an apparent lack of experience, however, Coleman looked natural at quarterback early in Friday’s game.

The sophomore dropped in a perfect pass over the top to Basil Tyler on a 3rd-and-16 play during the Bulldogs’ opening drive, and then snuck in from one yard out for a 7-0 lead.

“We weren’t sure what was going on for a little while because we thought they were going to run it right at us,” Rocky Mount High senior defensive back Aaron Parker said. “Once we started wrapping up and making tackles, we were fine.”

Parker, who saw his most extensive on-field action of the season Friday, intercepted two of Coleman’s passes, including one on a jump ball near the goal line as Burlington Williams went for it all on 4th-and-9 from the Gryphons’ 32 in the second quarter.

After a three-and-out on their first possession, the Gryphons’ offense kicked into gear to answer the Bulldogs’ early score. Jaclayton Freeman pulled in a 24-yard reception to get into Bulldogs territory, and Nick Bynum ran for 12 yards to set Rocky Mount High up at the 11.

A holding penalty wiped out what would have been a 6-yard touchdown run by Bynum and put the Gryphons in a tough spot, facing 3rd-and-14 from the 15.

Freeman got an easy release off the line of scrimmage against a backed-off defense, and Forrest Bell hit him in stride on a slant route for six.

Sherrod Greene came up with a big sack on a Burlington Williams third down one drive later, and a good punt pinned the Gryphons at their own eight.

Long, punishing drives have been a hallmark of the Rocky Mount High offense at its best this season, and they came up with another one. Tyrell Forbes ran for 11 and 10 yards to get the Gryphons out of the shadow of their own goalposts, before Nick Bynum gained 14 to the Bulldogs’ 38.

Three plays later, BJ Sanders took a sweep around the right side for a 15-yard score, capping an 11-play, 92-yard drive that took just 3:29 and giving Rocky Mount High a 14-7 lead that it would not let slip away.

“I think we just took what they were giving us, because they left the outside wide open,” Forbes said. “I got great blocking on the outside and their defensive line really wasn’t getting up the field like I thought they would.”

Bell essentially iced Friday’s game on the Gryphons’ first second-half drive with a 1-yard touchdown sneak, before Forbes added an 8-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter.

“It feels good to win, but we’ve been here before now,” Forbes said. “We just feel like there’s more to do.”

Rocky Mount High 28
Burlington Williams 13
BW 7 0 0 6 – 13
RM 7 7 7 7 – 28
First Quarter
BW – Isaiah Coleman 1 run (Jacob Grimm kick), 6:29
RM – Jaclayton Freeman 15 pass from Forrest Bell (Chase Miller kick), 2:52
Second Quarter
RM – BJ Sanders 15 run (Miller kick), 7:37
Third Quarter
RM – Forrest Bell 1 run (Miller kick), 6:28
Fourth Quarter
RM – Tyrell Forbes 8 run (Miller kick), 10:52
BW – Torrence Williams 1 run (kick blocked), 0:43
BWRM
8 First downs……………20
25–56 Rushes-yards…..57–325
159 Passing yards………..64
7–11–2 Passes……………..4–7–0
215 Total offense…………389
0–0 Fumbles-Lost……….1–0
6–50 Penalties-Yards….7–60
Individual Statistics
Rushing – BW: Isaiah Coleman17–48; Basil Tyler 1–5; Torrence Williams 2–2; Nick Mintz 1–2; Adrian Harris 2–1; Colby Scott 1–(-2). RM: Tyrell Forbes 14–104; Nick Bynum 15–88; BJ Sanders 10–70; Deangelo Collins 10–41; Charlie Williams 3–18; Jalen Watson 1–7; Forrest Bell 4–(-3).
Passing – BW: Coleman 7–11–0, 159. RM: Bell 4–7–1, 64.
Receiving – BW: Carson Russell 2–70; Tyler 1–43; Bailey Sartin 1–29; Isaiah Grice 1–9; Reshaud Alston 2–8. RM: Jaclayton Freeman 2–39; Chris Richardson 1–13; Collins 1–12.