Time: 7:30 p.m.
Bracket: 3A East
Seeds: No. 6 East Rowan Mustangs vs. No. 3 Havelock Rams
Records: East Rowan 9-3; Havelock 11-1
Power ratings: Ken Massey’s system ranks Havelock No. 57 in the state, while East is rated 111th
Head coaches: Havelock: Jim Bob Bryant; East: Brian Hinson (3rd year, 17-18)
East offense: 20.3 ppg
East defense: 19.1 ppg
Havelock offense: 36.1 ppg
Havelock defense: 14.5 ppg
Havelock vs. winning teams: 2-1, beat West Craven (10-2)n East vs. winning teams: 2-3, beat Carson (7-5) and Hickory Ridge (7-5)n East on the road: 5-0
Havelock at home: 6-0
Who beat Havelock? Kinston (10-2)
Series: First meeting
Next week: Winner takes on No. 2 Hertford County or No. 7 Western Alamance.
Game notes: Havelock won the Coastal 3A.
Havelock junior QB Danny Webster strained a knee four days ago so his status is unknown. Assuming his leaving Monday’s game was just a precaution, he should be a handful. Webster has passed for 2,301 yards, rushed for 1,194 and accounted for 40 touchdowns. He’s also a safety and the punter.
If Webster is out or limited, East’s chances obviously increase exponentially, although Havelock also has a good running back in Andretti George (838 rushing yards) and a beast on the offensive line. Shrine Bowl pick Corey Robinson (6-foot-7, 295) has committed to South Carolina.
East will count on defenders such as Chris Demitraszek and Taylor Lester to slow the Rams and will count on QB Jamey Blalock to control the clock. ó Mike London The similarities start with the numbers. Webster has set a new standard for passing in Havelock this season, breaking three school records: one for passing yards in a game (396), one for 200-yard passing games (five) in a season and another for passing yards in a season (1,890 yards). He also became the first Havelock player to ever pass for 1,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season.