By Staff
By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
It’s been 52 years since the Washington Pam Pack advanced beyond the second round of the state high school football playoffs.
If the Pack is to end that long run, it will have to beat an undefeated team on the road. Washington (8-4), the No. 7 seed, faces the eighth-ranked and unbeaten West Craven Eagles (12-0), the No. 2 seed, in tonight’s second-round game of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Class 3A state playoffs.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
The Pack, which took a 34-25 win over Havelock last week to earn its first playoff victory since 1999, fell 16-6 at home to West Craven during the regular season. Washington posted a 14-13 win at West Craven last year, and owns a 12-10 series lead.
Besides dealing with the mastermind of Clay Jordan, the exceptional head coach of the Eagles, and all the West Craven offensive weapons, the Pack will have to deal with likely frigid conditions.
The winner of tonight’s game faces the survivor between No. 3 seed Kinston (10-2) and No. 6 seed SouthWest Edgecombe (9-2) in next week’s third-round game. If Washington is that team, it will be the first time since 1956 that the Pack has advanced that far.
Washington beat Henderson 13-0 in the first round of the 1956 state playoffs, then topped Rockingham 38-0 in the second round. The Pack eventually fell 33-6 to Canton Pisgah in the Class AA state finals.
The Pack will have to contend with West Craven’s explosive offense, which erupted for 45 points in a 45-21 win over Bertie last week. Brett Mooring threw for 266 yards and four touchdown passes, two of them to Justin Hardy.
Mooring is among the state leaders in a number of quarterback categories. He’s completed 195-of-325 passes (60 percent) for 3,138 yards and 26 TD passes.
Three of his receivers have over 740 receiving yards. Erik Highsmith, who has verbally committed to play at the University of North Carolina next year, leads the Eagles with 62 receptions for 1,179 yards and 12 scores. Ryan Murphy has 53 catches for 825 yards and five scores while Hardy has 44 grabs for 747 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Pack defense, led by the likes of Chase Tripp, Weasel Moore, David Tyson and Xeavier Ernul, did a superb job in shutting down the Eagles in the regular-season game. Mooring was just 8-of-20 for 124 yards and two interceptions. Mooring ran for 45 yards and a touchdown, while the West Craven special teams blocked a punt and returned it for a score.
The Pack has some firepower of its own on offense. Senior quarterback Austin Thompson has completed 123-of-207 (59.4 percent) passes for 1,736 yards and 19 TD tosses. He’s also scrambled for 237 yards and five more scores.
Thompson’s leading receivers are Dakuan Spencer (38 catches for 589 yards, 9 TDs), Mike Moore (37 catches for 435 yards, 5 TDs), Mike Godley (22 catches for 349 yards, 3 TDs) and Tony Turnage (21 catches for 333 yards, 3 TDs).
Turnage leads the ground attack as he’s rumbled up 680 yards and four touchdowns on 93 carries. Turnage has really picked up his game of late, running for 259 yards and three scores in the last two games.
Spencer has added 462 rushing yards and five scores. William Ellegor, who has gained 90 yards and a touchdown in the last two games, will also get some carries.
While most teams are home, Sawyer is glad his team is still practicing. He’s hoping to keep that trend going next week.
WASHINGTON PLAYOFF HISTORY
Washington has 16 playoff appearance since 1972. The Pack holds a 3-15 playoff record in that time.
As a No. 7 seed, Washington won 34-25 over Havelock in the first round of the 2008 state playoffs.
As a No. 6 seed, lost 41-40 in double overtime to South Granville in the first round of the 2007 state playoffs.
As a No. 14 seed, lost 35-12 to Western Alamance in the first round of the 2006 state playoffs.
As a No. 12 seed, lost 23-20 to Grays Creek in the first round of the 2005 state playoffs.
As a No. 14 seed, lost 50-14 to Wilson Hunt in the first round of the 2004 state playoffs.
As a No. 15 seed, lost 35-14 to Manteo in the first round of the 2002 state playoffs.
As a No. 2 seed, lost by forfeit to Greensboro Dudley in the first round of the 2001 state playoffs after it was determined the Pam Pack had used an ineligible player during the course of the season.
As a No. 3 seed, beat Eden Morehead 51-7 in the first round of the 1999 state playoffs.
Lost 45-15 to Burlington Williams in the second round of the 1999 state playoffs.
Lost 34-14 to Oxford in the first round of the 1998 state playoffs.
Lost 35-14 to Western Guilford in the first round of the 1997 state playoffs.
Lost 36-12 to Oxford Webb in the first round of the 1996 state playoffs.
Lost 24-19 to Southern Durham in the first round of the 1995 state playoffs.
Lost in the first round in 1994
Lost 47-7 to Tarboro in the first round of the 1993 state playoffs.
Beat Henderson 22-7 in the first round of the 1991 state playoffs.
Lost 30-22 to Eden Morehead in the second round of the 1991 state playoffs.
Lost 28-20 to Southern Durham in the first round of the 1988 state playoffs. It was the team’s first playoff appearance in 22 years.
Lost 23-7 to Roxboro in the first round of the 1966 state playoffs.
Lost 33-13 to Rockingham in the first round of the 1964 state playoffs.
Lost 7-0 to Hamlet in the first round of the 1963 state playoffs.
Beat Hillsboro Orange in the first round of the 1959 state playoffs. Lost to Rockingham 20-6 in the second round of the 1959 state playoffs.
Beat Rockingham 38-0 in the second round of the 1956 state playoffs.
Beat Henderson 13-0 in the first round of the 1956 state playoffs.
Beat Rockingham 38-0 in the second round of the 1956 state playoffs.
Lost 33-6 to Canton Pisgah in the Class AA 1956 state finals.
Lost 48-19 to Henderson in the first round of the 1952 state playoffs.