The turning point

HAVELOCK - First-year Havelock High School football coach Jim Bob Bryant frequently reminds his players of a meaningful set of numbers: 2-9, 2-9, 3-8.

Those numbers represent the previous three seasons for the Rams. Although Bryant cannot do anything to erase them, he is already in the process of helping people forget about them.

After three straight sub-par seasons, the Rams are intent on winning under their new leader this year. Bryant has injected excitement into Havelock by introducing preseason rituals and revitalized his team by implementing changes on both offense and defense. Led by a strong offensive line and explosive running back, the Rams are looking to define the 2008 season as the program's turning point.

"It's going to be a good season this year," Havelock senior Charlie Millea said. "We've gotten a lot of work done in the preseason and hopefully it's going to turn out good for us."

At 6-foot-5, 295 pounds, Millea is one of the leaders of a reconstructed offensive line that features three of the largest players you'll ever find on a high school football field. Six-foot-7, 295-pound guard Corey Robinson and 6-foot-4 285-pound left tackle Deylan Buntyn will also be responsible for creating running room for senior running back Mike Henderson.

As a junior, Henderson ran for 1,627 yards, including a school-record 379 yards in a game against West Carteret.

"We had one of the best running games in the conference last year," Millea said. "Hopefully, we're going to build on that and make it one of the best in the state."

Bryant's arrival prompted changes on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Rams will run a spread-option offense, orchestrated by sophomore quarterback Danny Webster Jr. and senior quarterback Justin Russell, who threw for 653 yard and one touchdown as Havelock's starter in 2007.

Bryant plans on using both signal-callers this season.

"It worked for Florida, maybe it will work for Havelock," he said.

Defensively, Bryant has introduced a 3-5-3 scheme. Webster Jr., Mike O'Brien, Stephen Labrador, Cody Toler, Robbie Hollister and Trey Jones are all expected to see significant time filling the five-linebacker formation.

The Havelock secondary will be led by R.J. Bryant and Alex Bell. As a junior, Bell recorded seven interceptions.

"I think we've got a good chance to win the conference and go pretty deep in the playoffs, if we can just stay focused," Bell said. "I think most of us are where we need to be to do that."

Bell credited two first-time preseason rituals with helping the team develop chemistry. Bryant introduced the Black/White inner-squad scrimmage and the Havelock Jamboree in an effort to generate interest from the community.

The events also helped the younger players on the team get a feel for the Friday night lights, Bell said.

"I think it was good," he said. "It gave them a sense of how it's going to be during games, so they won't be as nervous in their first game."

Although the Rams finished 3-8 last season, Bryant claims they were a better football team than their record indicated. The difference between winning and losing often times came down to Havelock's tendency to turn over the football on offense.

The Rams averaged more than four turnovers per game last season. Bryant's first order of business this season will be to change that.

"They could have just as easily been 7-4 last year, if not for turning it over," he said. "If you have less than two turnovers a game on offense, you're going to have a chance to win every Friday night."