RMA all healthy for title game
By PATRICK MASON
Sports Writer ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Friday, November 10, 2017
Overlooking the gymnasium at Rocky Mount Academy is another floor with several small rooms and offices. Football jerseys were draped over a table in one room, while another housed dozens of helmets.
The space is tidy, except for a large poster propped against a wall outside one of the rooms. The words ‘Ring Chasin’ headlines a poster containing the Eagles football schedule, and the final scores of the first 11 games - all wins - are written in black marker.
One spot remains empty, waiting for the outcome of Saturday’s 6 p.m. kickoff of the 2-A NCISAA state championship game against Kinston Parrott.
“These guys are ready,” coach Terrell Hudgins said. “They want this.”
It is the first time since 2014 that the Eagles will be playing for a title. They will do so against a Parrott team that came within a yard of potentially handing the Eagles their first loss of the season when the teams met on Oct. 20.
This time, RMA will add a new wrinkle into already stout defense. His name is Jarrett Snipes.
Snipes was nervous about what the doctors were going to say. The senior defensive end prepared himself for bad news, then he prepared himself for worse news.
Snipes knew early in the season that he was part of a talented team that had a chance at making an appearance in the state championship game. So when the senior injured his knee in a Week 5 blowout against Southampton Academy, the initial fear was that Snipes tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.
Right away he figured he would miss out on a chance to play for ring and that his career was over.
“It was tough because at first they told me I probably tore my ACL and that the timetable would be something like 12 months,” Snipes said. “That was hard to take. But after some tests I found out it was a PCL strain instead. That made me happy.”
The less-serious injury left the door open for Snipes to play again this season. He tried to stay in shape, and spent practices by keeping up with plays and watching film. He bugged Hudgins to let him play as soon as doctors said his knee was stable enough for football, though Hudgins didn’t want to rush it.
The coach gave in on Oct. 20, about a month after Snipes’ injury. The senior made a tackle in his lone snap against Kinston Parrott, but his knee didn’t feel right.
“I made a tackle and my knee hurt a little bit,” Snipes said. “I was just trying to get out there and make something happen. It was scary again because I thought I re-injured it, but even for one play it was nice get back on the field.”
Two weeks went by before Snipes would test his knee again. This time he played five snaps in the second half of a semifinal win over Faith Christian and his knee held up just fine.
“He got that tackle (against Parrott), but then didn’t feel confident in his knee,” Hudgins said. “It was a heartbreaker because we thought maybe he wouldn’t be able to finish the season. He brings a lot to our team when he plays.”
“As a defensive end, especially in eight man where there is so much space, his job is to contain and Jarret knows how to do that. He has a way of making the field feel smaller than it is.”
That type of player is just what the Eagles will need if they are to shut down a Parrott team that gained 281 yards on the ground in the first meeting. Snipes has the ability to funnel outside runs back inside with his speed.
He’s played the position at the varsity level since his sophomore season, and wanted nothing more than to play in a title game. The Eagles loss in the semifinals last season to a Raleigh St. David’s team they beat by 52 points earlier, made this season Snipes and the rest of the seniors one last chance to play for a title.
“This is probably the last time I will suit up for a game,” Snipes said. “All I want to do is to help contribute in a state championship game.
Elsewhere, quarterback Isaiah Thomas returned practice on Thursday for the first time since he injured his left knee in a semifinal win over Faith Christian. Thomas participated in drills while wearing a brace.
Thomas has been the best player on the field this season, and turned in a huge game the last time the Eagles played Parrott. Thomas ran for 213 yards and threw for 147 in the win. And while the junior will start on Saturday, Hudgins doesn’t expect the quarterback to have those rushing numbers again.
Thomas can make just as big of an impact with his passing ability, and that’s what the Eagles will count on on Saturday.
“He won’t run for 200 again,” Hudgins said. “But if he can throw for 200 and the rest of the guys can run, we’ll be all right.”
By PATRICK MASON
Sports Writer ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Friday, November 10, 2017
Overlooking the gymnasium at Rocky Mount Academy is another floor with several small rooms and offices. Football jerseys were draped over a table in one room, while another housed dozens of helmets.
The space is tidy, except for a large poster propped against a wall outside one of the rooms. The words ‘Ring Chasin’ headlines a poster containing the Eagles football schedule, and the final scores of the first 11 games - all wins - are written in black marker.
One spot remains empty, waiting for the outcome of Saturday’s 6 p.m. kickoff of the 2-A NCISAA state championship game against Kinston Parrott.
“These guys are ready,” coach Terrell Hudgins said. “They want this.”
It is the first time since 2014 that the Eagles will be playing for a title. They will do so against a Parrott team that came within a yard of potentially handing the Eagles their first loss of the season when the teams met on Oct. 20.
This time, RMA will add a new wrinkle into already stout defense. His name is Jarrett Snipes.
Snipes was nervous about what the doctors were going to say. The senior defensive end prepared himself for bad news, then he prepared himself for worse news.
Snipes knew early in the season that he was part of a talented team that had a chance at making an appearance in the state championship game. So when the senior injured his knee in a Week 5 blowout against Southampton Academy, the initial fear was that Snipes tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.
Right away he figured he would miss out on a chance to play for ring and that his career was over.
“It was tough because at first they told me I probably tore my ACL and that the timetable would be something like 12 months,” Snipes said. “That was hard to take. But after some tests I found out it was a PCL strain instead. That made me happy.”
The less-serious injury left the door open for Snipes to play again this season. He tried to stay in shape, and spent practices by keeping up with plays and watching film. He bugged Hudgins to let him play as soon as doctors said his knee was stable enough for football, though Hudgins didn’t want to rush it.
The coach gave in on Oct. 20, about a month after Snipes’ injury. The senior made a tackle in his lone snap against Kinston Parrott, but his knee didn’t feel right.
“I made a tackle and my knee hurt a little bit,” Snipes said. “I was just trying to get out there and make something happen. It was scary again because I thought I re-injured it, but even for one play it was nice get back on the field.”
Two weeks went by before Snipes would test his knee again. This time he played five snaps in the second half of a semifinal win over Faith Christian and his knee held up just fine.
“He got that tackle (against Parrott), but then didn’t feel confident in his knee,” Hudgins said. “It was a heartbreaker because we thought maybe he wouldn’t be able to finish the season. He brings a lot to our team when he plays.”
“As a defensive end, especially in eight man where there is so much space, his job is to contain and Jarret knows how to do that. He has a way of making the field feel smaller than it is.”
That type of player is just what the Eagles will need if they are to shut down a Parrott team that gained 281 yards on the ground in the first meeting. Snipes has the ability to funnel outside runs back inside with his speed.
He’s played the position at the varsity level since his sophomore season, and wanted nothing more than to play in a title game. The Eagles loss in the semifinals last season to a Raleigh St. David’s team they beat by 52 points earlier, made this season Snipes and the rest of the seniors one last chance to play for a title.
“This is probably the last time I will suit up for a game,” Snipes said. “All I want to do is to help contribute in a state championship game.
Elsewhere, quarterback Isaiah Thomas returned practice on Thursday for the first time since he injured his left knee in a semifinal win over Faith Christian. Thomas participated in drills while wearing a brace.
Thomas has been the best player on the field this season, and turned in a huge game the last time the Eagles played Parrott. Thomas ran for 213 yards and threw for 147 in the win. And while the junior will start on Saturday, Hudgins doesn’t expect the quarterback to have those rushing numbers again.
Thomas can make just as big of an impact with his passing ability, and that’s what the Eagles will count on on Saturday.
“He won’t run for 200 again,” Hudgins said. “But if he can throw for 200 and the rest of the guys can run, we’ll be all right.”
