By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Travis Daniels ran his way to stardom during his senior season.
The Washington Pam Pack standout ran for 2,290 yards and 22 touchdowns in leading his team to the state playoffs. For his efforts, Daniels was tabbed the WDN’s Offensive Football Player of the Year.
He didn’t slack during the spring. Instead, he ran and jumped his way to the WDN Male Track Athlete of the Year award. Daniels became the first Pam Pack track athlete in over a decade to earn some hardware. He placed fourth in the triple jump at the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Class 3A state track and field meet.
Because of his sensational senior season, coupled with his character, Daniels was named the WDN 2008 Male Athlete of the Year.
Daniels, a 5-11, 175-pound running back, still has one more prep game to play. He’ll compete in the East-West All-Star game in July.
Daniels, who ran for 5,168 yards and 57 touchdowns in his high school career, earned that honor by putting up staggering numbers during his senior season.
He started his season with a phenomenal performance at North Pitt, galloping for a career-high 330 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-13 victory.
Daniels, who was named the Coastal Conference Player of the Year, ran for at least 113 yards in all 12 of Washington’s games. He also scored at least one touchdown in 11 of those contests.
He ran for over 200 yards on five occasions, including a 327-yard, three-touchdown effort in a 41-40 double-overtime loss to South Granville in the playoffs. The last carry of Daniels’ Pam Pack career went for a touchdown.
Daniels tried to mold his game around NFL Hall of Famer, Walter Payton, who was a star with the Chicago Bears.
Sawyer said he was proud of his star running back.
Daniels, who will continue his football career at UNC-Pembroke next year, said he is determined to be the best he can be at all times.
He attributed hard work and his strength in helping lead to his success.
Daniels is looking for continued success with the Pembroke Braves.
Daniels added some speed and endurance to his game thanks to a strong track season. Daniels, who was named the Male Track Athlete of the Year two years in a row, finished his prep track career by placing fourth at state in the triple jump. He earned the medal after soaring 45 feet, 9 inches.
Daniels, who also qualified to state in the long jump and 800-meter relay team, was the leading point-scorer for Washington throughout the year.
While Daniels was proud of his individual achievements, he was more excited about the team’s accomplishments this year.
Daniels credited Sawyer and Blank for helping him achieve his goals.
The Pam Pack star also praised his parents, Joy Daniels and Tim Randolph, for their support.
As Daniels walks away from Washington and heads off to college, he hopes Pam Pack fans and teammates will remember him fondly.
Those big crowds will obviously miss Daniels as well.