By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
With West Craven and Havelock having a two-game lead with two games to play in the Coastal Conference standings, it appears Washington is looking to secure third place. The Eagles and Rams are both 5-0 in the conference, and 8-1 overall.
The Pam Pack (5-4, 3-2), winners of two straight, is tied for third with the South Central Falcons (6-3, 3-2). Those two teams meet tonight in a key conference battle at J.G. “Choppy” Wagner Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Washington has won five of six meetings with South Central, including last year’s 26-20 victory. The Falcons picked up their lone win in the series in 2006, a 28-21 nod.
Coach Sport Sawyer’s Pam Pack team, which has struggled to put points on the board for the bulk of the season, finally broke through with 27 second-half points in last week’s 34-0 victory at winless D.H. Conley.
Washington used a strong running attack, compiling 321 yards on the ground, to break away from the Vikings. William Ellegor had a career night with three touchdowns and 97 yards rushing on just nine carries. Quarterback Trey Harris added 99 yards rushing and a score while senior wingback Tony Turnage, who had a monstrous return game, finished with 59 yards rushing and a touchdown.
The passing game was virtually nonexistent for the Pack, as Harris completed just 1 of 7 passes for 16 yards. The sophomore was intercepted once.
On the season, Harris is 25 of 65 (38.5 percent) for 386 yards, throwing four touchdown passes and six picks.
The Pack defense was outstanding, pitching its third shutout of the season.
In its five wins this season, Washington has allowed a grand total of five points. In its four losses, the Pack has surrendered 110 points.
Senior linebacker Ronnie Woolard leads the team with 96 tackles, five fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.
Cole Hartley has 73 tackles and Marquin Hill 68. Amiar Johnson’s five sacks are a team-high, as are Turnage’s four interceptions.
The Falcons, directed by coaching great Walt Davis, are coming off a 9-3 win over White Oak. Jaquelle Cherry’s 36-yard interception return for a score in the fourth quarter was the difference.
Ethan Cochran was 6 of 11 for 59 yards. Jason Robinson led the ground game with 77 yards rushing on 14 carries.
South Central has had trouble finding the end zone of late, scoring just 23 points in the last three games.
A win by the Pack tonight would move Sawyer into third place (38 wins) on Washington’s all-time win list behind J.G. “Choppy” Wagner (154 wins) and Brian Paschal (40 wins).
Washington ends the regular season at home against West Carteret (5-4, 1-4) in next week’s Senior Night game.
SOUTHSIDE AT WILLIAMSTON
The Williamston Tigers are hoping to celebrate Senior Night in style. Coach Asim McGill’s team (7-2, 4-1) will be looking for their fifth straight victory when it faces the Southside Seahawks (4-5, 2-3) in tonight’s Four Rivers Conference game.
Williamston, which looks to have second-place locked down and is hoping for a little help to overcome unbeaten Manteo (9-0, 5-0) for the conference championship, is coming off a 55-20 win over Northside. Cedric Moody has rushed for 948 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Tiger offense. K.J. Brown has hauled in 34 passes for 580 yards and a pair of scores.
Coach David Hines and his Seahawks are coming off a tough 48-45 loss to Roanoke, giving up a big lead and losing on the final play of the game. It was the second straight setback for the Seahawks.
Quarterback Terrill Moore leads Southside with 1,152 yards of offense (910 passing, 642 rushing). The sophomore has rushed for 11 scores and thrown for eight more.
Lonnie Williams has 577 yards rushing and eight touchdowns. Willie Ruffin has 26 catches for 427 yards and four scores.
Williamston ends the regular season at Roanoke next week. Southside plays host to Northside in the annual Anchor Bowl.
ROANOKE AT NORTHSIDE
The Northside Panthers and Roanoke Redskins meet for the second time this season. Northside (2-7, 0-5) earned a 26-18 win at Roanoke (2-7, 2-3) on Sept. 18.
The Panthers, who will be celebrating Senior Night in today’s Four Rivers Conference clash, look to stop a five-game skid.
The Redskins have won their last two games, including last week’s thrilling comeback win over Southside.
Northside travels to Southside for next week’s Anchor Bowl. Roanoke plays host to Williamston.
PLYMOUTH AT MANTEO
The Plymouth Vikings will be looking to hand the Manteo Redskins their first loss of the season in tonight’s Four Rivers Conference game.
The Vikings (6-3, 3-2) stopped a two-game slide with a win over Camden last week.
The Redskins (9-0, 5-0) rallied to knock off Perquimans last week. A win guarantees Manteo at least a share of the conference championship.
The Vikings picked up a wild 32-26 double-overtime win against the Redskins last year.
Plymouth ends the regular season at home against Perquimans next week.
JAMESVILLE AT CRESWELL
The explosive Creswell Tigers can lock up the Tideland Conference championship with a win against visiting Jamesville tonight.
The Tigers (7-0, 5-0) earned a 46-6 win over the Bullets (4-3, 4-2) on Sept. 25.
Jaquan Bryant (751 yards rushing, 11 TDs), Timell Sawyer (601 yards rushing, six TDs) and Garry Blount (355 yards rushing, six TDs) lead the Creswell rushing attack. Blount also has 17 receptions for 407 yards and seven more scores.
The Creswell defense is led by Timothy Roughton (79 tackles) and Xavier Owens (12 sacks).
The Bullets, picking off our passes in the process, are coming off a 34-12 win over Mattamuskeet.
Creswell visits Columbia next week. Jamesville plays host to Cape Hatteras.
COLUMBIA AT MATTAMUSKEET
The Columbia Wildcats will be looking for their fifth win of the season, and second over Mattamuskeet, when they take on the Lakers in tonight’s Tideland Conference game.
The Wildcats (4-3, 4-2) picked up a 30-24 win over the Lakers (1-5, 1-5) on Sept. 25.
Columbia is looking for its third straight win.
Mattamuskeet is coming off a 34-12 loss to Jamesville. Matt Macon had 17 tackles for the Lakers in the setback.
This is Mattamuskeet’s final game of the regular season.
Columbia plays host to Creswell next week.