By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Thanks to finishing first among the Class 3-A teams in the Coastal Conference, the Washington Pam Pack earned its first home playoff game since 1999.
The Pam Pack (8-3), which earned the No. 6 seed, plays host to the South Granville Vikings (8-3) on Friday in the NCHSAA 3-A state playoffs at J.G. “Choppy” Wagner Stadium. The Vikings, the No. 11 seed, are from the Mid-State Conference.
The winner will face the survivor between No. 3 seed Rocky Mount (11-0), ranked second in the state, and No. 14 seed Union Pines (7-3) in the second round.
The Pack is looking for its first playoff win since a 51-7 victory over Eden Morehead in the first round of the 1999 state playoffs.
Washington lost in the first round of the playoffs in its previous four trips — 35-12 to Western Alamance in 2006, 23-20 to Grays Creek in 2005, 50-14 to Wilson Hunt in 2004 and 35-14 to Manteo in 2002.
The Pack earned a No. 2 seed and was poised to host a playoff game against No. 15 seed Greensboro Dudley in 2001. However, Washington used an ineligible player during the season and was forced to forfeit the playoff game, along with its 11 regular season games.
Washington will be joined in the playoffs by seven area 1-A teams.
The undefeated and third-ranked Plymouth Vikings (11-0), who picked up a 48-7 win over Perquimans in Saturday’s regular season finale, earned the top seed. Coach Robert Cody’s Vikings will play host to No. 16 seed Cape Hatteras (2-8).
The winner will face the survivor between No. 8 Manteo (5-5) and No. 9 seed North Edgecombe (5-5).
Coach Asim McGill, a former standout at Washington High School, led his Williamston Tigers to the Atlantic Conference championship and a No. 2 seed. The Tigers (8-3) will play host to No. 15 seed Weldon (3-7).
The survivor will battle the winner between the No. 7 seed Roanoke Redskins (7-4) and the No. 10 seed Northside Panthers (3-8), who play Friday in Robbersonville.
Coach Richie Ange guided the Jamesville Bullets (8-2) to their fourth straight conference championship. The Bullets, who earned the No. 3 seed, welcome the No. 14 seed Northampton-West Hurricanes (4-6) into town. The winner will take on the survivor between No. 6 seed Creswell (7-3), who earned a home playoff game, and No. 11 seed Perquimans (5-6).
Mattamuskeet (4-7), the No. 12 seed, will play at No. 5 seed Northampton-East (7-3). The winner between the Lakers and Rams faces the winner between No. 4 seed Jones (7-3) and No. 13 seed SE Halifax (4-6).