It Feels Like Home

 On Friday, October 14^th Quanta, Tiffany and I traveled out to Goldsboro to watch Rosewood take on Spring Creek. Both schools are 1A and Rosewood’s stadium, the Eagle's Nest was the smallest setting we’ve been to for a game. The small stadium created an intimate atmosphere that we haven’t experienced yet on our travels around the state.  

Fans Packed the Stadium for a Highly Anticipated Homecoming Game

Davis Whitfield, the NCHSAA’s Commissioner, graduated from Rosewood and played football and baseball for the Eagles. Quanta, Tiffany and I stopped at Rudy’s before the game, a local diner that is well known for their burgers and fries. Davis was excited about our trip to Rudy's and told us stories from when he used to go there after big games. 

Rosewood High School's Sign Above the Concession Stand

It was a great night at the Eagle’s Nest.  Rosewood was celebrating their Homecoming and the crowd ranged from parents of players, to young alumni returning from college, and older alumni returning with their families. It was a family friendly atmosphere, young boys and girls played pick-up football in the grass behind the end zone.

Rosewood Students Decorated the Stadium with signs for their Homecoming Game.

There was a lot of excitement surrounding the homecoming halftime celebrations. It was fun to see the homecoming court dressed up in their suits and dresses and the young children looking up at them with a nervous excitement. Students were decked out in purple and spent the night talking about the pep rally and who would be named queen.

The football game was never in question, Rosewood won 42-0. The anticipation and nervousness among the crowd peaked as Rosewood was getting ready to name their Homecoming Queen. For the first time in the history of the school, Rosewood voted for an African American Homecoming Queen.

Rosewood's Principal, Dean Sauls, with the Homecoming
Queen and Princess

It was a great night to travel to Goldsboro. Rosewood showed us that it's not the size of the stadium that matters, it’s the excitement of the crowd. The parents, fans, students and alumni turned out to support their Eagles and it was great seeing so many families together on a Friday night. 

The Eagle's Nest is Quiet after the Eagles beat the Gators 42-0

Giving Back

Throughout this series I’ve written about the incredible support local communities have given to their high school football teams. The Carolina Panthers have recently completed their “High School Weight Room Makeover” grant, which provided four schools in North Carolina and South Carolina with weight room equipment. Over 70 high schools in North and South Carolina applied for the opportunity to win the Panthers weight room equipment, the Panthers recently renovated their weight room.

The Sidewalk Leading to the Riverside Field

Riverside High School in Durham was one of four schools selected. The weight room equipment, valued at $75,000, was recently delivered to Riverside.  The grant included lower and upper body equipment and 1,000 pounds worth of weight plates. The other three schools who received similar grants included Olympic High School in Charlotte, NC, South Stanly in Norwood, NC and Scott’s Branch in Summerton, SC.

Quanta, Tiffany, Chiquana, Brad and I traveled out to Riverside to watch their football team take on Southern Durham.  It gave us an opportunity to watch one of Riverside’s teams that will benefit from the updated weight room. Peter Vacho, Carolina Panthers Youth/Prep Football & Military Outreach Manager said “The Carolina Panthers are thrilled to offer this tremendous opportunity to schools, especially when the need for resources are at a premium, but adequate funding may be a challenge. It is exciting to know that this equipment will make a significant impact in serving student-athletes in our region

The Riverside Band Played Music throughout the Game,
which made for a Great Atmosphere

 A Carolina Panthers representative was supposed to be at Riverside’s game against Southern Durham last Friday, but unfortunately they were unable to attend. Riverside faced a tough game against Southern Durham and lost 58-17. The Southern Durham Spartans are now 5-3 and the Riverside Pirates are 1-5. Southern Durham was leading 19-0 after the first half and extended their lead to 33-0 before Riverside’s quarterback Zack Keplinger scored on a quarterback keeper to make it 33-7. The game was never in question as Southern Durham controlled the tempo throughout the game.

A Conference Match-up Under the Lights,
Southern Durham Beat Riverside 58-17

The game was exciting though because Riverside seemed to have a rejuvenated spirit after winning the Panthers grant. In a time when school funding is in question and athletic departments are feeling the budget crunch more than ever, a weight room makeover can bring excitement to a school and give hope to its students. The Panthers giving back to schools in their home region is just another example of the way communities and businesses stepping up and supporting local schools and giving students hope.  

-Elizabeth Lancaster

51 Years in the Making

The Page-Grimsley rivalry has been 51 years in the making. Over 8,300 fans headed to Grimsley’s Jamieson Stadium for the storied rivalry. I was excited to head to Greensboro, my hometown, to cover the Page-Grimsley game for the blog.

A Grimsley Student Decorated their Truck before the Big Game

Grimsley came into the game with a 1-5 season and supported a young roster of mostly sophomores and juniors.  Page entered the game undefeated with a 5-0 record.  The Whirlies young team couldn’t hold off the senior laden Page roster. 

The Grimsley Team Waits for the Game to Start

The final score was 49-0 in favor of the Pirates. Page moves to 6-0 on the season, while Grimsley drops to 1-6.

Page was lead by James Summers, a NC State recruit. Summers dominated the game; he completed nine of eleven pass attempts for 123 yards and ran for two touchdowns. Grimsley’s starting quarterback Jake Simpson broke his ankle in the last game and is out for the season.  The Whirlies replaced Simpson with Mark Poole. 

The Page and Grimsley Teams Lineup to Shake Hands
before Kick-Off

       

Grimsley had a tough night. The Whirlies didn’t complete a first down until the fourth quarter and had five total yards of offense. Page earned their fifth straight win in the series and has the potential to go far into the State Playoffs.

The Teams in Actions, Page would Win the Game 49-0

The exciting part about the longstanding rivalry series is the support from the local community.  It wasn’t just students who were excited about attending the much anticipated game. The local community showed up in droves and alumni traveled back to Greensboro for the game.

Even Ethan Albright, a Grimsley football standout who played 236 games in the NFL, returned with his family for his first Page-Grimsley game since he played for the Whirlies.

The Sun Sets on another Page-Grimsley Game, a Rivalry
that has Existed over 50 years

The excitement in Greensboro before the game was almost palpable, the records of the teams didn’t seem to matter.  As sports have proven in the past, when a big rivalry is on the line, an unsuspecting team can pull out a big win. But in a packed stadium on a chilly Friday night, the Page Pirates showed their strength and earned the bragging rights around town for another year.  

-Elizabeth Lancaster