Looking for a good news story about high school athletics?

The Charlotte Observer provided one recently about the opening week of the NCHSAA football playoffs. Information from The Charlotte Observer follows:

“Towards the end of Mount Airy’s 47-14 playoff win over Monroe’s Central Academy, Mount Airy put in a special needs player, Austin Bowman.

“Bowman had run the ball at the end of some games but had never scored. Mount Airy was near the Central goal line and Central coach Tad Baucom, who knew of Bowman’s story, had an idea. He wanted Bowman to score.

“Baucom was out of timeouts but asked the refs to stop the game to coordinate a treat for Bowman. Baucom consulted Mount Airy coach Kelly Holder and then he consulted his defense.

“Everybody was in agreement to make a very special moment happen.

“On the next play, Central’s players dove out of the way and let Bowman finish his three-carry, 38-yard night with a 16-yard touchdown run. You should’ve seen Bowman’s face

“And after the game, the teams met and prayed at midfield and Bowman got the game ball.

” ‘There is a buzz in our school that hasn’t left us yet,’ Baucom said. ‘This may be the best loss that any of us have ever experienced. I know it is in my 32 years of coaching.’

Our thanks to The Charlotte Observer for reporting the story and to those who called it to our attention.