By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
YEATESVILLE — Austin Thompson’s arm and a staunch Washington defense led the Pam Pack to a 48-8 thumping of Northside in this Beaufort County rivalry Friday night.
Thompson threw for three touchdowns and 167 yards in three quarters of play before he got the fourth quarter off. By then, the Pack (2-1) led the Panthers (0-3) by 33 points.
It was actually a tight game for the first 15 minutes as the teams played to a 0-0 deadlock after one quarter. Northside’s defense, led by the ferocious play of Aaron McKinney, Zak Manning and Trent Midgett, did a good job of keeping Washington star running back Travis Daniels bottled up. While Daniels did finish with 132 yards and a score on 22 carries, the Northside defense forced the Pam Pack to throw the ball.
Thompson, who completed 8-of-13, threw his first score of the night on a 33-yard floater to Jamont Jones (four receptions for 50 yards) with 9:33 to play in the first quarter. That’s all the Pack would need as the Washington defense, led by the likes of Chase Tripp and David Tyson, was ridiculous.
Washington held Northside to just one first down and nine yards of total offense. Three botched snaps, where Northside lost two fumbles, cost the Panthers 51 yards.
Dakuan Spencer picked off a William Rushton pass over the middle and found daylight down the sideline, racing 42 yards for the score and a 13-0 lead. Manning blocked Justin Meekins’ PAT try to keep it at 13-0.
On Washington’s next series, Thompson found a wide open Michael Moore (three catches for 114 yards) down the sideline for a 35-yard TD strike, taking advantage of a blown coverage by the Panthers.
Daniels, who saw two touchdowns get negated by penalty earlier in the game, bolted in from two yards out for a 27-0 lead early in the third quarter. For Daniels, who has now run for 626 yards in three games, it was his seven TD of the year.
Daniels’ back-up, Roray Razor, also found the end zone. Razor, who ran for 68 yards on five totes, scampered in from 37 yards out to make it 34-0.
Northside managed to get on the scoreboard — for the first time this season — when Colby Mason returned the ensuing kick 88 yards for a score. McKinney tacked on the 2-point conversion run to make it 34-8.
Thompson capped off his evening with a 56-yard scoring strike to Moore with 43 seconds remaining in the third.
Washington finished the scoring when Northside fumbled the ball and Melvin Spruill pounced on the ball in the end zone for the score.
Rushton, who shook off an injury from earlier in the game, and D.J. Sattherthwaite led Northside with 16 rushing yards apiece.
Both teams have byes next week. Washington returns to action Sept. 14 at home against Nash Central, while Northside plays at North Edgecombe.
Washington Northside
12 First Downs 1
35-229 Rushes-Yards 30-(-4)
167 Passing Yards 13
13-8-0 Pass-Comp-Int 7-3-1
2-39.0 Punting 6-35.6
0-0 Fumbles-Lost 4-2
6-60 Penalties 2-20
Washington 0 20 21 7 — 48
Northside 0 0 8 0 — 8
Scoring Summary
W — Jamont Jones 33 pass from Austin Thompson (Justin Meekins kick), 9:33, 2nd
W — Dakuan Spencer 42 interception return (kick blocked), 7:53, 2nd
W — Michael Moore 35 pass from Thompson (Meekins kick), 5:27, 2nd
W — Travis Daniels 2 run (Meekins kick), 7:37, 3rd
W — Roray Razor 37 run (Meekins kick), 4:43, 3rd
N — Colby Mason 88 kick return (Aaron McKinney run), 4:29, 3rd
W — Moore 56 pass from Thompson (Meekins kick), 0:43, 3rd
W — Melvin Spruill fumble recovery in end zone (Meekins kick), 2:49, 4th
Seahawks’ offense sputters in loss
By BRIAN HAINES
Sports Writer
CHOCOWINITY — Southside’s first year coach David Hines couldn’t ask for a better time to head into a bye week as his Seahawks got blanked for the second week in a row losing 41-0 to Pamlico on Friday in Chocowinity.
The Seahawks struggled in all aspects of the game during their home opener as their defense let up nearly 200 yards of offense, while Southside accumulated only 45 total yards.
Pamlico busted out of the gate in the first quarter and after a long kickoff return were positioned at the Seahawks’ 15-yard line. Five plays later the Hurricanes had their first touchdown on a Fraqwan Jones quarterback keeper. Jones would score two TD’s on the night.
Southside’s defense played respectably in the first quarter forcing two fumbles which gave the Seahawks’ offense two quality scoring chances.
Cody Fulford recovered the first Hurricanes’ fumble their 20-yard line, while Floyd Moore pounced on the second one at the Hurricanes’ 35-yard line. On both possessions the Seahawks failed to pick up a first down.
Pamlico pulled away from Southside in the second half behind the running of Aaron Northern and a strong offensive line. Northern was a bulldog all game long as he picked up large chunks of yards running up the gut of the Seahawks’ defense and making shifty cuts when needed.
Hines said his defense needs to improve on its fundamentals.
Offensively, Southside failed to get any production from any of its backs as it rushed 38 times for 45 yards. Hines said injuries to the line and some of his skill players played a factor in the team’s disappointing offense.
One injury that severely weakened the Seahawks’ line was the loss of Geoffrey Weston. The lineman was injured in the third quarter and laid on the field for nearly 30 minutes before being taken away by the paramedics. Hines said Weston took a hit to the lower back but had all feeling in his arms and legs. Hines didn’t speculate on when Weston would return and was on his way to visit him after the game.
Pamlico Southside
10 First Downs 4
37-173 Rushes-Yards 38-45
22 Passing Yards 0
1-6 Pass-Comp-Int 0-1-1
1-20 Punting 5-22.8
3-2 Fumbles-Lost 2-1
5-40 Penalties 1-10
Pamlico 7 6 14 14 — 41
Southside 0 0 0 0 — 0
Scoring Summary
P — Fraqwan Jones 2 run (Marco Bouw kick), 9:43, 1st.
p —Jones 1 run (Bouw kick failed), :25, 2nd.
P — Larick Northern 5 run, (Bouw kick) 4:29, 3rd.
P — Terry Brantley fumble recovery (Bouw kick), 2:57, 3rd.
P — Caleb Henthorn 5 run (Bouw kick), 11:53, 4th.
P — Travon Mays 6 run (Bouw kick), 6:50, 4th.