JACKSONVILLE—Veteran coach Phil Padgett, who has guided the Southwest Onslow High School football program for 27 years as head coach and has been one of the state’s most successful coaches, has announced his retirement, according to a report in the Jacksonville Daily News.

            Padgett is retiring at the end of the football season and is stepping down as athletic director and from his teaching duties in addition to coaching.

            He has guided his Stallions to four state football championships and is knocking on the door of the 300-victory mark as a high school head football coach, all at Southwest. His teams also finished as state runners-up on three occasions.

            Padgett also was an outstanding high school baseball coach at Southwest before concentrating solely on football, guiding a team to a state championship series in that sport.

          Southwest Onslow will face Clinton in a battle of perennial football powers on Friday night in the NCHSAA 2-A East Regional final, with the winner advancing to the state championship game.