Rams ready to tackle playoffs

Havelock High football coach Jim Bob Bryant calls it the third season. Only difference is the season ends after the first loss.

Havelock enters the 3A playoffs against Southern Guilford at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Havelock High.

The Rams (10-1) drew the No. 3 seed for the playoffs. Southern Guilford went 5-6 during the regular season, losing 14-9 to Asheboro last week.

"They don’t run anything all that different from what we’ve seen," Bryant said of the Storm.

That doesn’t mean Southern Guilford doesn’t have his respect.

"They’re in the playoffs for a reason," Bryant said. "They had to win some games to get here. Everybody is capable of winning games and everybody can play."

Southern Guilford surrendered 302 rushing yards in the loss to Asheboro last week. The Storm led 9-0 in the first quarter but failed to score the rest of the way, despite 150 yards rushing and 95 yards receiving from running back Warren Scott.

The Storm finished fourth in the Mid-Piedmont Conference, losing three of their last four.

Havelock lost 34-25 to Washington in the first round of the playoffs last year, but Bryant said this year’s squad is nothing like last year’s group.

"There’s a lot of difference between the way this team approaches a game," he said. "They’re different players and they prepare differently."

And, Bryant believes the Rams are going to have to be prepared against Southern Guilford.

"They’re coming out of a good conference," he said. "We can’t just show up and expect to win."

Bryant said his players should have no problem forgetting about last week’s 42-40 triumph over West Craven.

"We accomplished our goals in the second season, which was an undefeated record and a conference championship," he said. "Now, we have to get ready for our third season."

Tickets for the game are $7, and season passes won’t be honored, as per state rules. Advance tickets for $7 will be sold at Havelock High School during school hours on Thursday and Friday.