RALEIGH – Oakboro, a small town in Stanly County, is home to nearly 2,000 people. On Friday, one of those people claimed a $1 million prize in the $200 Million Blowout game.

Jerry Owens scratched off the big prize after purchasing the lucky $20 ticket at The Corner Store on Oak Grove Road in Stanfield.

“It hasn’t hit me yet that I’ve won the lottery,” Owens said. “But it’s a real nice feeling.”

A $1 million prize in the game can be claimed in 20 annuity payments of $50,000, or a one-time payment of $600,000. Owens chose the lump sum, worth $415,506 after required state and federal withholdings.

The $200 Million Blowout game went on sale Oct. 7, 2014 with four top prizes of $4 million and 16 $1 million prizes. As of Friday afternoon, three top prizes and ten $1 million prizes remain to be claimed in the game.

Ticket sales made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion for the state last year. North Carolina Education Lottery net proceeds will be used this year to help pay salaries of teachers and teacher assistants, for pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, school construction and repair, and need-based college scholarships and financial aid.

For details on how $24 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Stanly County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.