The ability to rush the ball and defend the run will factor greatly into Washington’s success this season and after participating in a scrimmage with Croatan on Wednesday Pam Pack coach Sport Sawyer was happy with the work of his linemen on both sides of the ball.
“I thought they did a pretty good job against a pretty good sized Croatan team,” Sawyer said.
The offensive line paved the way for senior QB Jimmy Williams and sophomore RB Markel Spencer to make big gains in the run game.
“Jimmy and Markel ran the ball pretty well,” Sawyer said. “We actually ran the midline only about three times but each time we gained about 18 to 20 yards.”
On the flip side, Sawyer said he was impressed with the play of his defense.
“I thought our linebackers played pretty good. Jaquez Columbus, Tarahje Burke, Karim Topping and Jamond Ebron all did a nice job,” Sawyer said. “Up front on our defensive line Jack Rodman, Baylone Guilford and Cory Grady did a pretty good job. I thought as a team we looked pretty good for a scrimmage.”
In order for the Pam Pack to build on its 5-6 record of a year ago the team will need its veteran players to step up and so far they have done just that.
“We have some guys that have been playing varsity for three years now like Dylan Cutler, Jack Rodman, Jimmy Williams, D.J. Bell and Jaquez Columbus and I think they’re focused,” Sawyer said. “We have a job to do. We have to go out there and play some sound football and I really believe that these guys are ready to be leaders and are focused on playing football.”
Washington is closing in on its Aug. 17 season opener at home against North Pitt and Sawyer said that execution will be the major focus during the remainder of the preseason.
“We have to fine-tune some blocking and tackling issues,” Sawyer said. “Then, we have to work on some special teams, we’ve done it some but not a whole lot. We just have to go out and build upon what we did in the scrimmage.”