Eastern Wayne faces biggest test of season

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 5, 2013 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

HAVELOCK -- Teams that yearn to win a state 3-A championship know the road goes through this tradition-rich town that's become a football factory during Jim Bob Bryant's tenure on the sideline.

And it's been a dead end street for the opposition each of the last two years.

The two-time defending state champion, unbeaten Havelock hopes that current trend continues when it entertains unheralded Eastern Wayne in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A eastern championship game Friday evening. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

The winner heads to Raleigh on Dec. 14.

"We've been playing some good football the last couple of years (and) have had a great influx of talented players here," a modest Bryant said. "We've got some kids who have bought into our program, and done the work in the offseason and during our spring workouts. It's a year-round program here.

"And I've got an assistant coaching staff that does a great job preparing these kids every week."

The No. 1-ranked Rams put their 28-game win streak on the line against the third-seeded Warriors, who are enjoying their best season in program history. Until earlier this month, Eastern Wayne (11-2 overall) had not experienced a postseason victory since 1978.

Havelock (14-0) is making its fifth straight appearance in the east final and seventh overall since 1986.

"They will be the best team that we've played all year," Bryant said. "They remind us a lot of ourselves. They're good offensively and defensively. They're not real big, but they're active and have athletes who can run around on the field and make big plays."

Defense has been Eastern Wayne's calling card in the postseason.

The Warriors have permitted just five touchdowns and one safety in 12 quarters of play. They shut down run-oriented West Carteret and Southern Nash, and flustered Eastern Alamance's spread attack last Friday. The Eagles committed four turnovers, converted just one of three offensive possessions inside the red zone and had two extended drives end on punts.

Winning the battle in the trenches is crucial again this week.

"Offensively, we've got to move the chains and not turn the ball over, which has been our thing all year," said Bryant, whose team is plus-12 in turnover margin against opposing teams this season.

"Defensively, we need to limit their big plays plays and make them drive the entire field. Then we need to win on special teams."

Eastern Wayne controlled the tempo in the second half against Eastern Alamance. However, two of the Warriors' four drives ended on turnovers, including a 14-play march that almost consumed the final six minutes of the fourth quarter.

The Warriors amassed 286 yards of total offense, including 264 on the ground. Sophomore KK Best piled up 200 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries.

Junior quarterback Mitch Pike completed just five passes and threw a second-half interception.

"Defensively, we played a strong game," EW head coach Bubba Williams said. "Offensively, we did what we needed to do to win. We have to have a better passing game to beat Havelock. Our receivers kept slipping and didn't get off the jam very well.

"We've worked on that in practice."