By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Sport Sawyer might blame the rain, but the Washington Pam Pack coach seemed a bit misty-eyed Friday night.
He also wore a big smile, and breathed a huge sigh of relief, after his Pam Pack ended 37 years of frustration. For the first time since 1970, the Pack topped the J.H. Rose Rampants, 33-30, in a wild Coastal Conference clash at a wet, soggy J.G. “Choppy” Wagner Stadium.
The Pack (5-3, 3-1) didn’t secure the win until Austin Thompson took a knee with 24 seconds showing on the clock.
Washington, which overcame two special-teams miscues and a botched quick-kick, had two late goal-line stands to keep the Rampants (3-5, 1-3) at bay.
The Pack ended its conference rivalry with Rose tied with a 23-23-3 mark in the series. The Rampants are moving to a new conference next year.
Thompson’s 14-yard touchdown run with 1:33 to play in the third quarter gave the Pack a 33-28 lead. It would prove to be the difference.
Washington clung to that lead to the bitter end. The Rampants couldn’t capitalize on a couple golden opportunities.
With 5:40 to play in the game, Pack defensive back Donte Moore intercepted Rose quarterback Jordin Staton (11 of 28, 124 yards, one TD, one INT) in the end zone to snuff out one threat.
A botched quick-kick by the Pack gave Rose the ball at the Washington 13-yard line with 4:16 to play. Kyle Shultz, filling in for an injured Staton, was picked off by Dakuan Spencer at the Pam Pack-12 to end another threat.
On the ensuing possession, Pack punter Justin Meekins kicked the ball out of the end zone for a safety, pulling Rose within a field goal with 49 seconds remaining.
The Rampants called for a fair catch on the kickoff, leaving them at their own 48 with 42 seconds to play. A hobbled Staton misfired on four straight passes. On the final play, the Rampant QB had no time to throw as Pack linebacker Weasel Moore, who led the team with 12 tackles, applied heavy pressure.
When the game started, coming under a downpour, it looked like Washington would cruise to victory. Thompson (15 of 21, 276 yards, two touchdowns) hit Mike Moore with a 39-yard scoring strike on the team’s second play from scrimmage. It was the first of several huge receptions for Mike Moore, who finished with eight receptions for 125 yards.
Washington increased its lead to 13-0 late in the first quarter when Thompson hit Spencer (three catches, 48 yards, TD) on a nifty 12-yard shovel pass. The score was set up by a 52-yard hookup between Thompson and Michael Godley (four catches, 103 yards).
Just when it looked like Washington would pull away, a muffed punt return by the Pack set Rose up perfectly. One play later, Jamal Satchell (17 carries, 35 yards) scored on a 2-yard dive.
The Pack answered as Spencer bulled his way in from 3-yards out to make it 20-7 midway through the second quarter. The score was set up by passes of 33 yards to Spencer, 33 and 18 yards to Mike Moore and a roughing-the-passer penalty against Rose.
The Rampants responded with two scores in under three minutes to take the lead. Satchell fired a 16-yard touchdown strike to Dontrell Harris (seven catches, 80 yards, two TDs) on a halfback pass.
Xaine Cosby then broke off a 50-yard TD jaunt off a fake punt. Warren Harvey’s PAT, coming with 16 seconds left in the half, gave Rose a 21-20 lead.
The Pack came out fired up to start the second half. Tony Turnage, who suffered a swollen eye earlier in the game, broke off a 78-yard scoring run on the second play of the third quarter. It was the junior’s first carry of the game, and his first touchdown run of the season, which gave the Pack a 27-21 advantage.
Staton’s 13-yard scoring strike to Harris moments later gave the lead back to Rose, 28-27, with 8:21 to play in the third.
It stayed that way until Thompson’s scoring burst late in the quarter, which made it 33-28. The senior QB’s touchdown was set up by passes of 29 yards to Godley, 24 yards to Mike Moore and Spencer’s 7-yard run on fourth-and-three at the Pack 41.
Washington is on the road next week as it visits 4AA defending state champion New Bern. The Pack returns home Oct. 31 to face the Havelock Rams. It will be Walk of Fame night for the Pam Pack.
J.H. Rose Washington
15 First Downs 15
37-153 Rushes-Yards 28-146
140 Passing Yards 276
31-12-2 Pass-Comp-Int 21-15-0
6-38.0 Punting 4-27.3
1-1 Fumbles-Lost 6-2
14-119 Penalties 10-78
J.H. Rose 7 14 7 2 — 33
Washington 13 7 13 0 — 30
Scoring Summary
W – Austin Thompson 39 pass to Mike Moore (Justin Meekins kick), 9:57, 1st
W – Thompson 12 pass to Dakuan Spencer (kick failed), 3:00, 1st
R – Jamal Satchell 2 run (Warren Harvey kick), 0:50, 1st
W – Spencer 3 run (Meekins kick), 7:35, 2nd
R – Satchell 16 pass to Dontrell Harris (Harvey kick), 3:06, 2nd
R – Xaine Cosby 50 run (Harvey kick), 0:16, 2nd
W – Tony Turnage 78 run (Meekins kick), 11:05, 3rd
R – Jordin Staton 13 pass to Harris (Harvey kick), 8:21, 3rd
W – Thompson 14 run (run failed), 1:33, 3rd
R – Safety, Meekins kicked ball out of end zone, 0:44, 4th