By By BRIAN HAINES, Brian@wdnweb.com, Sports Writer
If Friday night’s game against D.H. Conley happens to be the final one for the Washington seniors then they could not have asked for a better way to say goodbye to J.G. “Choppy” Wagner Stadium.
The Pam Pack strung together a series of spectacular events as it managed to overcome a six-point deficit with under a minute left in the fourth quarter to pull out a 42-41 overtime win over Coastal Conference rival D.H. Conley in coach Brian Paschal’s return to Washington for the first time since he guided the team.
The two teams entered the contest having matching 3-1 conference records, and after the Vikings scored on a 3-yard Keith Clark run in overtime, it appeared they would be the ones that would hold on to second place. However, Conley kicker Chad Hardin missed the ensuing PAT, making it a 41-35 ball game as the Pam Pack took the ball.
Facing third-and-goal from the 5-yard line, quarterback Jimmy Williams play-faked the run and was able to roll out to his right, turn the corner and get the ball across the goal-line, making the Pack one extra-point away from improving its record to 5-4 (4-1).
That extra-point would be far from easy as kicker Jack Rodman had already missed two up to that point, including a critical PAT with :04 left in the fourth quarter. However, Rodman was as cool as the crisp 50 degree air that permeated Wagner Stadium and split the uprights for the game-winning point as the kicker’s kick set off a wild celebration.
“We had two teams that fought real had,” Washington coach Sport Sawyer said. “They fought to the end and we fought to the end. Unfortunately in a game like that someone wins and someone losses. It was just a great effort.”
The Pam Pack honored seniors Raphael Gibbs, Kevin Chapman, Jake Skirko, Johnny Broadway, William Ellegor, Shareem Wilkins, Raheem Slade and Darnell Windley before kickoff.
Ellegor had a monster game touchdowns on runs of 2, 31 and 29 yards, respectively, as he and Hill, the fullback, led a Pam Pack rushing attack that racked up 340 yards.
Ellegor’s last TD came at the end of the third quarter and tied the game up a 21. It was a special teams play that allowed the Pack to take the lead as it blocked a Vikings punt at their own 28-yard line. The ball rolled back into the end zone, and though it was recovered by Conley, it was a safety for Washington and 23-21 lead.
It appeared as though Washington blew a golden opportunity as it fumbled the ball away on its ensuing possession, but Windley made up for it as he picked off Conley QB Harding for a 55-yard TD to go up 29-21.
The Vikings retaliated with two straight scores, as the last one gave them a 35-29 lead with 1:02 left in the game.
The Washington offense started its final drive of regulation at the 25-yard line with less :56 on the clock as the team that had only passed two times up to that point now had to drive 75-yards, quickly.
Washington needed a break and got exactly that as Williams rolled out, and under pressure, fired the ball deep down the center of the field where it was tipped by Conley’s Avery Thompson and fell into the hands of Washington’s Keane Graham 60 yards down the field.
Williams made his second huge play of the drive when he scrambled 17 yards on fourth-and-nine 18 second left to keep the drive alive. Appropriately enough, the drive would end with a Williams 1-yard TD run that tied the score and sent the game into overtime.
Washington D.H. Conley
14 First Downs 18
46-340 Rushes-Yards 50-285
60 Passing Yards 89
1-3-1 Pass-Comp-Int 6-10-1
2-33 Punting 2-35
2-2 Fumbles-Lost 2-1
7-35 Penalties 4-40
D.H. Conley 6 8 7 14 6 — 41
Washington 13 0 8 14 7 — 42
Scoring Summary
W — William Ellegor 2 run (Jack Rodman kick) 8:19, 1st.
W — Ellegor 31 run (Rodman kick failed), 7:04, 1st.
D — Chris Dizon 5 run (two points failed), 3:24, 1st.
D — Keith Clark 1 run (Bryant Beaulieu two points), 10:40, 2nd.
D — Clark 1 run (Chad Hardin kick), 7:00, 3rd.
W — Ellegor 29 run (Johnny Broadway two points), :27, 3rd.
W — Safety, 11:08, 4th.
w — Darnell Windley 55 interception (Rodman kick failed), 8:53, 4th.
D — Jaquel Daniels 3 run (two points failed), 4:50.
D — George Bailey 8 run (Beaulieu two points), 1:02.
W — Jimmy Williams 1 run (Rodman kick failed) :04, 4th.
D — Clark 3 run (Hardin kick failed), OT
W — Williams 5 run (Rodman kick) OT.