“We were really sloppy the last 20 minutes of the first half,” Seymour said. “We got some quick goals early by getting the ball wide, but the last 20 minutes of the first half was kind of a stand still. In the second half we were dominant. Overall we played really well.”

Michael Ferguson finished with three goals for his second consecutive hat trick. He scored the first two goals of the game less than eight minutes after opening kickoff. His first goal came off a long pass by fellow team captain Johnny Tripp. Ferguson’s second tally may have been the most impressive goal of the season for the Yellow Jackets.

Stephen Warren came down the right sideline and booted a long pass toward the far post. Ferguson headed the ball into the back of an empty net.

‘It felt good when it left my foot,” Warren said. “It feels even better when you know you have guys who can finish like that against a good team like Rocky Mount.”

Roanoke Rapids (3-0) grabbed a 3-0 lead slightly more than 13 minutes into the game when Tripp took a pass from Ferguson and out ran Rocky Mount defenders before blasting a shot past keeper Drew Thompson.

Ferguson completed his hat trick less than three minutes into the second half when he took a Warren cross and tapped it into the net.

Javier Apparicio completed the scoring with a goal in heavy traffic in front of the Gryphons’ net with 26:27 left on the clock.

After three games the Yellow Jackets have outscored opponents 15-1, all 3A schools.

“Back-to-back shutouts is a great way to start at home,” Seymour said. “And Michael, seven goals in three games — what a great start he’s had.”