New look, different result against Southern Nash? Gryphons hope so

After spending last season chasing the football on defense, Rodell Bridges is now the one being chased.

And he couldn’t be more happy.

The Rocky Mount High senior is the focal point of the Gryphons’ offense, just one season after playing a full varsity schedule and recording 32 rushing yards on eight carries. He was much more effective on defense, leading the Gryphons’ with 93 tackles.

Despite the talent Bridges brought to the defense, coach Jason Battle figured Bridges would be more effective as an offensive player. Turns out, Battle was right. Through seven games this season Bridges has been the top receiving target in the passing game for quarterback Jaquan Lynch, as well as the Gryphons’ go-to answer in the running game by leading the team in both categories.

“He’s happy. People have a tendency where things work out better when people enjoy what they’re doing,” Battle said. “He’s been a better practice player and a better kid all around after moving him to the other side of the ball. He seems very appreciative, comes out and practices hard every day and plays well on Fridays.”

The Gryphons (7-0, 3-0 Big East Conference) will likely require every bit of production from Bridges when they travel to Bailey on Thursday for a game against Southern Nash (6-0, 2-0) in a matchup that features two of the remaining 10 undefeated teams in Class 3-A.

The Firebirds feature one of the most dynamic backfields around led by Quinton Cooley and N.C. State recruit Zonovan Knight. The duo has combined for 31 rushing touchdowns and 1,845 rushing yards. Cooley, meanwhile, has another 93 receiving yards and two scores.

“You gotta be able to wrap him up, either one, actually, because both of their backs are very dangerous, extremely dangerous,” Battle said. “In order to contain them it’s going to take 11 people. It’s not a defensive line game, it’s not a linebacker game, it’s 11 people doing their job.”

Gryphons junior Tashaun Lawrence isn’t taking anything for granted. Lawrence is a talented runner and pass-catcher, just behind Bridges in both statistical categories. He has played a large role in making the RMH offense go, but also remembers a time when that wasn’t the case.

Last season, nothing seemed to work the Gryphons, who didn’t have that reliable rushing game to go with first-year starting quarterback Jaquan Lynch’s passing game. When the Gryphons hosted Southern Nash this same week a year ago, the Firebirds had no problem earning a 35-7 win.

That’s why the attention to detail this week was so important, both in film sessions and in practice.

“Everybody knows it’s going to be a huge game and everybody knows to be ready,” Lawrence said. “But at the same time you don’t want to get too high. We are both undefeated but we have to go in like the underdog because they beat us pretty bad last year and I took that pretty deep.

But everybody’s coming together now. Last year some things weren’t right, but we’re doing pretty well lately. That’s how I feel. Tomorrow’s game will probably be a shootout game because they can score and we can score too. But if we get some stops we’ll be all right.”

RMH hasn’t allowed more than 21 points in any game this season, and will face a Firebirds team that hasn’t scored fewer than 49 points in any game. This Gryphons defense is talented and big up front, and hasn’t lost a step despite losing Bridges to the offensive side of the ball.

The Gryphons haven’t missed the former tackle leader on defense as much as one would expect as players like Daquon Horne, Cedrick Baker and Alandis Trevathan have stepped up.

On paper this game looks to be interesting from a number of angles.

But as the saying goes, that’s why they play the games.

“We just just have to execute a lot and we’ll be all right,” Lawrence said.