By By BRIAN HAINES
Sports Writer
YEATESVILLE — The difference between a 3-A team and a 1-A team was evident on Friday as the higher classified Washington football team rolled to a 34-0 victory over Northside without its starting quarterback and top flanker, who were both injured last Friday.
For one night at least, it was no quarterback, no problem as the 3-A Coastal Conference Pam Pack (2-1) dominated the Panthers (Four Rivers, 1-2)) with its running game, churning out 268 yards on 41 carries and five touchdowns.
Washington can only hope its ground game can continue to produce like it did against the Panthers so it can alleviate the pressure from the loss of star wideout Dakuan Spencer and hold the fort down until starting QB Trey Harris returns from an ankle injury.
The Pam Pack struck quick, as it was clear its team speed was far superior to Northside’s as it was routinely able to get to the outside for large gains.
“Going into this game I didn’t know what to think because we have had some adversity, but our guys played hard,” Sawyer said. “I think speed was a little bit of a difference tonight. We got a few guys with a little bit of speed. Both sides played hard, just the speed made a little bit of a difference.”
Filling in for Harris at QB was senior Tony Turnage, who conducted the offense rather well and showed support for Spencer by sporting his No. 5 jersey.
“For Tony it was his first time really quarterbacking and I thought he did a really good job of that,” Sawyer said.
On its first possession, Washington drove 75 yards on the backs of rushers Kashief Foreman, Darnell Windley, Josh Brown and Turnage. The drive ended on a Foreman 16-yard TD run to take a 6-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Panthers muffed a short, high-arcing Washington kickoff which was recovered by the Pam Pack at the Northside 39. Seven plays later Hunter hit paydirt from six yards out.
Before Northside could even take a snap the underdogs found themselves down 14-0.
“They were just bigger, faster and stronger then we are,” Northside coach Keith Boyd said. “They had a lot of size, strength and speed and we were just out-matched. When they got out on the corner we couldn’t catch them, and when they went up inside they had our way with us.”
When they did have the ball, quarterback Isaiah McCullor and the gang just could not get anything going as the Northside offense didn’t get a first down until late in the second quarter.
The Pam Pack scored two more touchdowns before the first quarter ended as William Elegor knifed his way in from five yards and Turnage scored on a two-yard keeper to take a 28-0 lead into the second quarter.
Sawyer said his team’s fast start was crucial in preventing an upset.
“It was definitely big for us,” Sawyer said. “I felt like after last week (a 31-0 loss to Tarboro) we had to get a positive start, and if not it would be a long night for us.”
The Northside defense stepped up in the second quarter as it held Washington to one score, a William Elegor 18-yard TD run, to go into halftime down 34-0.
With the game out of reach by the third quarter, both teams mixed personnel and tried to work on some things for their respective upcoming games.
Both teams have a bye next Friday, but after that Washington will return to action the following week against Goldsboro on the road, while Northside will travel to Four Rivers Conference foe Roanoke.
Northside Washington
3 First Downs 11
24-40 Rushes-Yards 41-268
-5 Passing Yards 0
1-6-1 Pass-Comp-Int 0-1
4-35 Punting 3-22
2-2 Fumbles-Lost 5-2
7-75 Penalties 1-15
Northside 0 0 0 0 — 0
Washington 28 6 0 0 — 34
Scoring Summary
W — Kashief Foreman 16 run (two points failed), 9:18, 1st.
W — Lindsey Harris 6 run (Harris two points), 6:23, 1st.
W — William Elegor 12 run (Johnny Broadway kick), 3:52, 1st.
W — Tony Turnage 2 run (Broadway kick), 1:10, 1st.
W — Josh Brown 18 run (kick failed) 4:02, 2nd.