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Man Cave Media
Mammoth Awards

You don't hunt the mammoth.
You become one.

Categories
2026 Winners

Where Down East Gets Its Due

The Mammoth Awards were built on a simple idea: the Down East prep sports season produces plays, performances, and stories all year long that never get a proper spotlight. The Mammoth Awards give them one — a night to recognize the athletes, coaches, and teams who made the season worth watching, decided by the people who watched it most closely.

The Herd Council

Every Mammoth Award nominee and winner is reviewed by the Herd Council — Man Cave Media's panel responsible for keeping the process fair and grounded in what actually happened on the field this season. The inaugural Herd Council: Steve Goodson, Chris Miller, Dave Miller, Chris Raynor, and Preston Kelly.

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Nominees and winners themselves are chosen by community vote, not picked by the Herd Council directly — the Council's role is oversight of the process (making sure categories and nominees are set up fairly), not casting the deciding vote. Make sure this distinction is clear on the page: the community picks the winners; the Herd Council keeps the process honest.

Award Categories

  • The Mic Drop

  • The Knucl;e Dragger

  • The Highlight Reel

  • The Root

  • The Fire

  • Upset of the Year

  • Play of the Year

  • Game of the Year

  • Clutch Performance

  • Team Performance of the Year

  • Coach of the Year

  • Girls Team of the Year

  • Boys Team of the Year

  • Female Athlete of the Year

  • Male Athlete of the Year

2026 Winners — Inaugural Class

The 2026 winners were chosen by a community vote, with over 1,500 ballots cast over a four-week period for the student-athletes in the area.

  • The Mic Drop — Destiny Holmes, Jacksonville Girls Basketball

  • The Knuckle Dragger — Josh Smith, White Oak

  • The Highlight Reel — Amari Pearson, Jacksonville

  • The Root — Tyler Jones

  • The Fire — Amaire Caines

  • Upset of the Year — Croatan 14, Havelock 7 (Football)

  • Play of the Year — Edrick Pineda, White Oak

  • Game of the Year — Northside 30, Croatan 28 (Football)

  • Clutch Performance — JJ Gulat, Dixon

  • Team Performance of the Year — Dixon Girls Soccer

  • Coach of the Year — Don Hoff, White Oak Wrestling

  • Girls Team of the Year — Dixon Girls Soccer

  • Boys Team of the Year — Jacksonville Cardinals Football

  • Female Athlete of the Year — Kinsey Cave, East Duplin

  • Male Athlete of the Year — Kannon McBride, Croatan

Presenting Sponsor

Davis Heating & AC is a locally owned heating and cooling company serving Jacksonville and the surrounding area. Owned by Jay Davis, the company provides residential and commercial HVAC service, repair, maintenance, and system installation.

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As an American Standard Customer Care Dealer, Davis Heating & AC focuses on dependable service, straightforward communication, and helping customers keep their homes and businesses comfortable year-round.

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We thank them for their support of our student-athletes and our high school sports teams.

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Community Nominations
And Voting

Know Someone Who Belongs in the Herd?

The Mammoth Awards are built around the people who make our community a better, more interesting, and sometimes more entertaining place to live. And it all starts with you.
 

Nominations for the 2027 Mammoth Awards open in June 2027

When nominations open, you’ll be able to submit someone for consideration by providing:

  • Nominee’s name

  • Award category

  • A short reason they deserve to be considered
     

What Happens After You Nominate Someone?

Pretty simple.
 

1. YOU NOMINATE
The community submits nominations for each Mammoth Awards category.
 

2. THE HERD COUNCIL SETS THE BALLOT
Once nominations close, the Mammoth Awards Herd Council reviews the submissions and determines the final nominees in each category.
 

3. THE COMMUNITY VOTES
When the ballot is set, voting opens to the public. 2027 Community Voting Opens: June 2027

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4. WE ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS
The votes are counted, the herd gathers, and the 2027 Mammoth Award winners are announced during the annual Mammoth Awards ceremony.
 

2027 Mammoth Awards: TBD
 

Nominate. Vote. Celebrate.
 

You don't have to wait until voting begins to get involved. First, help us find the people who deserve to be considered. Then the Herd Council sets the ballot. Then you help decide the winners.
 

Nominate → Herd Council → Community Vote → Mammoth Awards

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