By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
MOREHEAD CITY — Moments after Washington ran away from West Carteret behind 279 rushing yards and two touchdowns by Travis Daniels on a windy, wet Friday night, the Pam Pack became fans of the Havelock Rams.
Washington needed Havelock to upset West Craven in order to secure the top seed from the 3-A portion of the 4-A/3-A Coastal Conference.
The Rams came through, knocking off West Craven 8-0. Washington (8-3, 5-2) will enter next week’s playoffs as the No. 1 seed.
The eight wins posted by Washington are the most in a single season by Sport Sawyer in his four years at the helm of the Pack.
The Patriots (1-10, 0-7), who ended the season with eight straight losses, took a 3-0 lead on John Drewyor’s 28-yard field goal, which was set up by Jared Belknap’s 63-yard pass to Nate Williams.
It was pretty much all Pam Pack after that.
Daniels, who now has 1,963 yards and 19 touchdowns this season, set the tone early. The senior, who has amassed 4,841 yards and 54 touchdowns in his career, ran for 193 yards on eight carries in the first quarter alone.
Jones hauled in scoring passes of 27 and 19 yards from Austin Thompson, who clicked on 6 of 8 throws for 114 yards.
C.J. Jefferson added 71 yards rushing and two scores. Ron’Dayle Floyd got into the end zone on a 15-yard burst in the fourth quarter.
The Pack defense held the Patriots to 235 yards of offense, with much coming in the fourth quarter against Washington’s subs.
After the Patriots took the 3-0 lead, it didn’t take Washington long to answer. Daniels broke off a 61-yard touchdown run to put the Pack up for good.
His 49-yard burst on the next series set up a 2-yard plunge by Jefferson. Daniels has runs of 61, 49, 21, 20, 17, 13 and 12 yards in the opening quarter.
Jones came up with his team-best seventh interception of the season on West Carteret’s ensuing possession. That led to a 27-yard TD reception from Thompson to Jones that gave Washington a commanding 21-3 lead early in the second quarter.
Thompson and Jones hooked up again shortly before the half, this time from 19 yards out that gave Washington a 27-3 cushion. Jones has nine touchdown receptions and Thompson 15 scoring strikes this year.
Jefferson broke off a 74-yard scoring gallop in the third quarter.
Daniels added a 46-yard TD scamper early in the fourth, which ended his night.
Floyd’s 15-yard bruising touchdown run capped the scoring for Washington.
West Carteret found the end zone with just over a minute to play when Belknap hit Mike Rose from 11 yards out.
Washington will find out its playoff fate today.
Washington W. Carteret
19 First Downs 14
34-355 Rushes-Yards 43-128
114 Passing Yards 107
8-6-0 Pass-Comp-Int 13-5-1
2-46.5 Punting 6-24.5
4-1 Fumbles-Lost 4-0
5-44 Penalties 3-22
Washington 14 13 6 14 — 47
W. Carteret 3 0 0 7 — 10
Scoring Summary
WC — John Drewyor 28 field goal, 4:26, 1st
W — Travis Daniels 61 run (Justin Meekins kick), 3:11, 1st
W — C.J. Jefferson 2 run (Meekins kick), 0:41, 1st
W — Jamont Jones 27 pass from Austin Thompson (Meekins kick), 10:45, 2nd
W — Jones 19 pass from Thompson (kick failed), 0:18, 2nd
W — Jefferson 74 run (kick blocked), 0:22, 3rd
W — Daniels 46 run (Meekins kick), 8:55, 4th
W — Ron’Dayle Floyd 15 run (Meekins kick), 6:27, 4th
WC — Mike Rose 11 pass from Jared Belknap (Drewyor kick), 1:12, 4th