JIM BOB BRYANT EARNS ASSOCIATED PRESS HONOR

Havelock High School head football coach Jim Bob Bryant has been named The Associated Press high school football coach of the year for North Carolina.

Bryant guided his Rams to a third straight North Carolina High School Athletic Association state football championship. Havelock posted a 16-0 mark for the year and defeated Concord in the NCHSAA state 3-A championship game, beating the Spiders by a 21-13 count at Carter-Finley Stadium. Derrell Scott led the way for Havelock in the final, scoring three touchdowns on runs of 51, 20 and 96 yards.

It was Bryant’s second AP award in the last three years. He received seven of a possible 13 votes from sports writers across the state.

North Rowan’s Joe Nixon was second in the voting, while Eastern Wayne’s Bubba Williams and Morganton Freedom’s Blair Hardin also received votes.

Havelock has won 47 of 48 games over the past three seasons, losing only to New Bern last year.