By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — Tony Turnage provided the spark Washington desperately needed.
After wasting several scoring opportunities in the first half, and clinging to a 7-0 halftime lead over winless D.H. Conley, Washington used Turnage’s 81-yard kickoff return to jump-start the offense. William Ellegor, who scored three times for Washington, bolted around the right corner for a touchdown one play later, igniting the Pack to 27 second-half points en route to a 34-0 Coastal Conference victory Friday night.
“I think that lifted the whole team up,” said Turnage, who finished with over 200 yards in returns. “For that to be the first play to start the second half, I really think that got us hyped. I think that just got us going for the rest of the second half.”
Washington (5-4, 3-2) had its chances in the first half, getting as close as the Conley 35-yard line on five separate occasions, but the Pack managed just Ellegor’s 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. That came gift-wrapped from the Vikings (0-9, 0-5), who fumbled the ball deep inside their own territory.
Penalties, seven of them for 55 yards, was the bugaboo in the first two quarters for Washington.
But Washington made some halftime adjustments, and came out with more intensity and focus. Ellegor, who ran for 97 yards and the three scores on just nine carries, scored on runs of 6 and 49 yards in the third quarter.
Turnage (59 yards on carries) scored on an 18-yard run in the fourth quarter, while quarterback Trey Harris (99 yards on 12 carries) added a 9-yard scoring run in the final quarter.
In total, Washington, which scored on four straight drives to start the second half, finished with 321 yards on the ground.
“We just had to challenge the guys (at halftime),” Pam Pack coach Sport Sawyer said. “These guys can play some football. You give our backs a chance, they’re going to make some plays.
“Our (offensive) line can be very good. They just have to believe in themselves and give these (backs) a chance.”
Washington’s defense held the Vikings to 134 yards of total offense, and just five first downs.
Keith Clark had a solid night for Conley, running for 88 yards on 25 carries.
“This was a good win,” linebacker Cole Hartley said. “We just have to do this the next two games.”
The Pack plays host to South Central next Friday night, before closing the regular season at home against West Carteret the following week.
Washington D.H. Conley
14 First Downs 6
43-321 Rushes-Yards 44-119
16 Passing Yards 15
7-1-1 Pass-Comp-Int 6-1-0
2-31.0 Punting 7-34.3
3-1 Fumbles-Lost 2-1
8-60 Penalties 3-25
Washington 0 7 13 14 — 34
D.H. Conley 0 0 0 0 — 0
Scoring Summary
W – William Ellegor 4 run (Hatteras Brooks kick), 9:40, 2nd
W – Ellegor 6 run (Brooks kick), 11:42, 3rd
W – Ellegor 49 run (pass failed), 4:05, 3rd
W – Tony Turnage 18 run (Brooks kick), 10:42, 4th
W – Trey Harris 9 run (Brooks kick), 7:32, 4th