By RONNIE WOODARD

The Daily Reflector

 

FARMVILLE — With some top skill players on the sideline, Farmville Central’s effective use of standout senior linebacker Edward Davis on offense resulted in a 20-yard touchdown reception that looked to be the decisive fourth-quarter score in Friday night’s 2-A Eastern Plains Conference showdown against Washington.

But visiting Washington’s top playmaker — running back Markel Spencer — provided an even bigger play, racing 89 yards for an unlikely game-winning score in Washington’s 13-12 victory. Spencer outran the Jaguar secondary and crossed the goal line with 54.6 seconds remaining and the Pam Pack (6-1, 1-0) missed the extra point, but its defense made a final stand against Farmville (6-1, 0-1) for the win.

FC came into the contest ranked No. 4 in 2-A and Washington was eighth.

“I kind of let it slip my mind that Markel Spencer was the guy that can beat us,” FC coach Scott Gardner said. “We knew coming in that he was the the only kid that had more speed than we did.”

Pam Pack coach Sport Sawyer was planning for a pass play after Spencer’s run.

“But with his speed, he was able to hit it,” Sawyer said of Spencer, who also scored Washington’s other TD, a 25-yard scamper in the second quarter as part of his 173-yard effort on the ground.

Washington’s Ben McKeithan going 1-of-2 on extra points and the Jags failing on both of their two-point conversions ended up being key plays.

Kashon Baker led FC with 166 rushing yards, but he was limited in the second half because of an injury. Fellow speedster Malik Smith caught two passes for 67 yards during the first half, including a 31-yard TD for a 6-0 lead, but he suffered a leg injury late in the second quarter and didn’t return.

Davis ran 22 yards on a reverse before his TD catch made it 12-7 Jaguars with 9 minutes, 3 seconds remaining, and Washington punted on the ensuing drive. Farmville then used the clock to its advantage and got to the Pam Pack 11-yard line before turning the ball over on downs with about a minute left to play.

Washington started the ensuing drive with an incomplete pass. At that point, the Pam Pack had compiled 27 offensive yards in the second half before Spencer darted for the winning score.

“I thought it was going to be a battle,” Gardner said. “I thought we would have to grind it out.”