By Staff
By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Washington’s final tune-up before the start of the state playoffs was certainly a solid one. The Pam Pack churned out 355 yards on the ground en route to a 41-14 pummeling of the West Carteret Patriots in Friday’s regular-season finale.
Broadway certainly helped the cause. He and the rest of the offensive linemen — Marquin Hill, Johnnie Smallwood, Jamelle Keyes and Kevin Chapman — opened up gaping holes all night long.
Washington (7-4, 5-2) made a statement early against the Patriots (3-8, 1-6). The Pack turned two West Carteret turnovers into 14 points in a span of 49 seconds.
Washington finished in a tie for second place with Havelock (8-3, 5-2), which fell 47-0 to West Craven, in the Coastal Conference standings. The Pack owns the tiebreaker over the Rams by virtue of a 21-14 victory last week.
Pack senior defensive lineman Xeavier Ernul pounced on a loose football on West Carteret’s first play from scrimmage, setting Washington up in prime field position.
Dakuan Spencer (10 carries, 93 yards) scored on a 4-yard run just 1:45 into the game for an early 7-0 lead. It was Spencer’s fourth rushing touchdown, 13th offensive score and 14th overall TD this season.
After senior defensive lineman Cedrik Summers recovered another Patriot fumble, the Pack found the end zone again. Senior Mike Moore (3 carries, 45 yards) scooted in from 20 yards out for a quick 14-0 lead.
The Patriots, who have dropped four straight against Washington, drove deep into Pack territory on the ensuing possession. However, fullback Chase Chapman (20 carries, 101 yards, TD) was stuffed on a fourth-and-three run at the Washington 15-yard line.
The Pack drove the length of the field, thanks largely to the legs of Tony Turnage. The junior, who ran for a career-high 141 yards on 12 carries, picked up 78 of the 85 yards on his own. Turnage caught a 13-yard pass and ran three times for 65 yards, including the final 3 up the middle for a score to make it 20-0.
Pack senior quarterback Austin Thompson didn’t have to throw much. He threw just seven times, completing all seven for 90 yards. Thompson threw his 18th touchdown pass of the season — a 14-yard strike to Mike Moore in the second quarter. He also ran for a score, his fifth of the year, while gaining 10 yards on three totes.
Thompson’s TD toss to Mike Moore capped an 11-play, 94-yard drive. Thompson’s 6-yard scoring run, set up after Weasel Moore blocked a Patriot punt, gave Washington a commanding 34-0 lead at the half.
John John Papillion (six carries, 67 yards) scored on a 28-yard run in the third to get West Carteret on the scoreboard.
William Ellegor answered for the Pack midway through the fourth. The sophomore, who galloped for 53 yards on 10 carries, scored his first varsity touchdown on a nifty 9-yard run.
Justin Meekins, who converted 5 of 6 PATs and didn’t punt once on the night, capped the scoring for Washington with an extra point. It was an exclamation point on a solid night for the senior.
Chapman’s 1-yard plunge closed the scoring.
The Pack will know whether they’ll play at home or be on the road for the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association state playoffs when the pairings are released late this afternoon. Washington will be looking for its first playoff victory since 1999.
West Carteret Washington
14 First Downs 24
40-190 Rushes-Yards 50-355
29 Passing Yards 90
3-1-0 Pass-Comp-Int 7-7-0
3-26.0 Punting 0-0.0
7-2 Fumbles-Lost 4-2
0-0 Penalties 7-60
West Carteret 0 0 7 7 — 14
Washington 20 14 0 7 — 41
Scoring Summary
W – Dakuan Spencer 4 run (Justin Meekins kick), 10:15, 1st
W – Mike Moore 20 run (Meekins kick), 9:26, 1st
W – Tony Turnage 3 run (kick failed), 2:26, 1st
W – Austin Thompson 14 pass to Mike Moore (Meekins kick), 7:45, 2nd
W – Thompson 6 run (Meekins kick), 0:29, 2nd
WC – John John Papillion 28 run (Dalton Knight kick), 0:02, 3rd
W – William Ellegor 9 run (Meekins kick), 6:53, 4th
WC – Chase Chapman 1 run (Knight kick), 1:24, 4th