By JORDAN HONEYCUTT

New Bern Sun Journal

 

There were some blemishes very visible to Havelock head coach Jim Bob Bryant after Friday’s 50-13 victory at Washington, but some points of brilliance as well.

The Rams scored 37-unanswered points to start the game and did not surrender a first down to the Pam Pack until the third quarter.

Junior running back Tony Sharpe picked up right where he left off a year ago, rushing for 177 yards with three touchdowns on 16 carries.

“I thought defensively we were very aggressive and shut down their run game very well with our first string guys out there,” Bryant said.

“Football games are won and lost up there on the lines and we controlled the line of scrimmage tonight on both sides.”

Junior Corey Cooper, in his first varsity start, passed for 161 yards with a 71-yard touchdown strike to Quinzel Lockhart and threw two interceptions.

Havelock’s biggest dull moment in an otherwise polished performance was its four turnovers (two interceptions, two lost fumbles).

“Whether it’s your first varsity start or your 15th, we never expect turnovers at Havelock,” Bryant said. “We will start addressing those issues tomorrow at practice.”

Washington, trailing 37-0 early in the third quarter, hadn’t had a first down yet in the game facing 4th-and-2 when Pam Pack coach Sport Sawyer got a little tricky.

Washington faked a punt and Jarquez Keyes took off around the left side and made some nice moves to find the end zone from 62 yards out.

“We hadn’t had a first down and facing 4th-and-short, so we had to try something and figured what the heck?” Sawyer said.

“They have a great team over there (at Havelock) and will be right there with the best in the state again and they manhandled us tonight.”

Several Rams were in new positions and had strong showing including H-back Mark George with two catches for 27 yards, as well as Khalil Barrett who caught three balls for 46 yards and a touchdown.

The win for Havelock was the program’s 32nd-consecutive road victory, dating back to a 2009 loss at Kinston.