By By BRIAN HAINES, Brian@wdnweb.com, Sports Writer
Washington’s season came to a halt on Friday as it ran into a staunch South Brunswick team and fell 39-7 in the first round of the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs.
The sixth-seeded Pam Pack (5-7, 4-3)) struggled to establish its running game against the No. 3 Cougars (10-2) and fell behind 19-0 by halftime.
South Brunswick was able to keep the Pam Pack offense in check by suppressing running backs William Ellegor and Marquin Hill, while intercepting QB Jimmy Williams twice in the first half.
“We were just physically out-matched,” Washington coach Sport Sawyer said. “We weren’t able to get anything generated offensively. Defensively, they have some good backs who were able to run through the holes and score on some quick pitches.”
Ellegor scored the team’s lone touchdown in the second half.
Sawyer said he tried to diversify the offensive attack but the Cougars where up to the challenge.
“We tried to mix it up and go about half run and half pass but they were able to move our line around a little bit,” Sawyer said. “We just couldn’t get it going.”
While Washington struggled to get its rushing attack going, it also had trouble slowing down the Cougars’ ground game.
“They ran the ball pretty effectively tonight,” Sawyer said. “They ran some good quick pitches and were able to get some points.”
The loss puts an end to an exciting Pam Pack season, and after the game Sawyer praised the season-long effort of his seniors.
“Some of the guys we had like seniors Kevin Chapman, Marquin Hill, Johnny Broadway and William Ellegor hardly ever came off the field. There are some other seniors as well, but those four played hard on both sides of the ball,” Sawyer said. “I know some teams have players that go both ways but on the 3-A level, to hardly ever get off the field is real tough and those guys did a great job. I’m just proud of all those seniors.”