From need to luxury for PCA announcers; Williamson, Armstrong provide online insight during sporting events

Published 3:15 pm Monday, January 27, 2025

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BELHAVEN, N.C. — Jason Williamson and Darren Armstrong won’t be confused for professional announcers when they call Pungo Christian Academy sporting events on the school’s Facebook page.

The “booms,” “oh my” and other reactions you may hear when you watch are emotions they share without reservation when a member of the Raiders scores a touchdown or sinks a 3-point basket. It’s that love for the sport, their participation in it in the past and their willingness to provide something that’s not available at every school is what brings them back each time the Raiders are in action.

“We had a lot of grandparents who didn’t really want to get out and drive at night,” Armstrong said. “We had college students who were away in school. They had brothers and sisters playing who still wanted to be able to keep up and see some of their games.

“Just those kind of scenarios that we thought, well, we may not do this anymore,” Williamson said. “But then we kept getting requests to keep doing it. So, we’ve kind of added to it.”

Jason Williamson, left, adjusts the equipment while Darren Armstrong talks with a guest during a break from coverage of the Pungo Christian Academy games at home against Northeast Academy on Jan. 16. (Jason O. Boyd | Washington Daily News)

The concept of having games broadcast on the school’s Facebook page started around 2018 and 2019. It was a way to let those who could not attend the games be able to watch. What was a luxury then quickly became a necessity when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Suddenly, the pandemic halted a lot of sporting events and prevented many from attending games. Uniforms included face masks and schools either didn’t play a sport or were limited in how many people could attend the games, usually spaced out.

There were still parents and grandparents who wanted to see their children play those games when activity slowly resumed. So the idea popped up to broadcast the games on Facebook for those interested to watch. It may have only been a few people who tuned in, but it provided a need and emotional boost that helped make that period a little bit easier to handle.

“It really started during 2020, but we were … you gotta think G.K. Pippen was doing it before that,” said Williamson. “… I would say probably 2018 or 2019 is when we really started trying to get it together.

“And then 2020, 2021 is when we started getting with it and trying to get almost every game,” Armstrong said. When COVID hit, that became essential because everybody couldn’t go to the games. The ones who could go to the gym were parents and everybody was scattered out.

“People still wanted to see the games. So, we started taking turns because each one of us had kids playing, so then we could go to our kids’ game.”

Williamson joked that he was more like Bob Uecker, the sports commentator who was not very good playing the game but was great at calling games. He has also coached and provides an element while Armstrong provides play-by-play.

The two got to work more and learn the sports along the way. While one may know more about certain sports than the other, they work together to provide an entertaining broadcast each time. During football season, you’ll find them on top of an old school bus that acts as a stand to see over the action during broadcasts. When in the gym, they are perched behind the scorer’s table.

They get to interview the coaches and players and provide insight into the action that’s going on in front of them. The recent success of teams like the girls’ softball, soccer and volleyball teams that have either won state titles or finished as runner-ups adds a little bit of extra motivation for what they do.

They know a lot of the rules,” Armstrong said of Williamson and others who come on to talk. “I watch it and comment as probably most people sitting at home. So, I can comment and say things that, if I were sitting at home, I would like to know. And then I can turn to these guys for the expertise and the rules and the coaching perspective.”

You can tell they enjoy what they do and want it to continue as long as possible.

“So, we get to walk down with them and interview them and show them off a little bit, treat them a little special, do something neat for them,” Armstrong said. “So, that’s been a big hit.”