By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
Washington has made the long trek to Elon once before, coming in the 2006 state playoffs. The Pam Pack is hoping for a happier return home this time out.
The Pam Pack (6-5), the No. 10 seed, will tangle with the No. 7 seed Western Alamance Warriors (8-3) in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A state playoffs in a 7:30 p.m. game Friday. The last time the two teams played, in their first-ever meeting, the Warriors took a 35-12 win in the first round of the 2006 state playoffs.
“This is an exciting time for all of us,” Washington coach Sport Sawyer said. “It’s a long trip, but we’ll make a day of it. We’re excited about it.”
The Pack won its first playoff game in a decade last year with a 34-25 nod over Havelock in the first round.
The Warriors, on the other hand, have been extremely successful in the playoffs of late. Western Alamance ran the tables (16-0) on its way to a state championship in 2007.
That came after the Warriors made it to the state title game and finished runners-up in 2006, 2005 and 2004.
“The same head coach (Hal Capps) is there (from 2006) and they have some very nice people over there,” Sawyer said. “They have a very good football program.”
The winner will face either the No. 2 seed Hertford County Bears (11-0) or the No. 15 seed White Oak Vikings (5-6) in the second round.
Washington will rely on its stingy defense, guided by defensive coordinator Jon Blank, once again. Senior linebacker Ronnie Woolard leads the team with 116 tackles and five fumble recoveries. Senior Cole Hartley (97 tackles) and Marquin Hill (83 tackles) have also been leaders for the Pack this year.
Amiar Johnson leads the team with five sacks, while Woolard has 4.5 to his credit.
“Our defense has been strong all year,” Sawyer said. “We look for that to continue.”
The Pack defense will face a Warrior team that mixes the run with the pass.
“They are about 50-50 (running and passing),” Sawyer said. “They throw a lot of curls and the quarterback runs a lot.”
Dominique Bridges leads the Warriors with 369 yards rushing and eight scores. The 5-9, 165-pound senior is 34 of 74 (45.9 percent) through the air for 280 yards and three scores.
Cody Morris, a 5-11, 160-pound sophomore, has connected on 50 of 106 passes (47.2 percent) for 559 yards and five touchdowns.
Top rushers for the Warriors are Scottie Thomas (280 yards, four scores), Nick Torain (242, two scores) and Chris Sizemore (203).
Western Alamance is led in the receiving game by Jordan Gaines (24 catches, 294 yards, three scores), Torain (14, 205, one) and B.J. Bunn (11, 233, three).
On the other side of the ball, Western Alamance runs a 3-4 defense. Sawyer is hoping his offense can find some consistency, move the ball and avoid big penalties against the Warriors.
The Pack, which won three of its last four to cap the regular season, is led offensively by quarterback Tony Turnage. The senior, who has moved from wingback to quarterback on a handful of times this season, has completed 21 of 50 (42 percent) passes for 277 yards. Turnage has thrown two touchdown passes and a pair of interceptions.
Turnage actually leads the team in receptions (12), receiving yards (203) and receiving touchdowns (3).
He’s added 187 yards rushing and four scores.
Sawyer is hoping to have a healthy backfield, which would be a first. William Ellegor, who leads the Pack with 350 yards rushing to go with four scores, was limited to playing in the defensive secondary last week after being hobbled by injury.
Lindsey Harris (239 yards rushing, one score) has been running gingerly because of an injured leg.
The return of fullback Kaschief Foreman (302 yards rushing, one score) will help, as does the emergence of sophomore tailback Keane Graham, who scooted for 72 yards in his first varsity action last week.
Sawyer is hoping Graham, Jimmy Williams and a few other players off the junior varsity squad will provide a boost.
“We brought up eight (junior varsity players),” Sawyer said. “We’re just looking to see if they can give us a shot in the arm.”
When Turnage does drop back to pass, he has some options. Five players other than Turnage have caught a TD pass this year (Johnny Broadway, Josh Brown, Byron Hopkins, Brandon Price and Harris). Woolard and Hartley have also shown the ability to catch the ball.
Turnage, who leads the Pack with five interceptions on the defensive side of the ball, has proven elusive as a return man. He’s averaging 29.2 yards per kick return and 14.9 yards per punt return.
Hatteras Brooks, who kicked the game-winning field goal against West Carteret last week, is averaging 34.3 yards per punt.
Washington, which finished fourth in the Coastal Conference, is making its 17th playoff appearance since 1972. The Pack holds a 13-16 record in that time.
Western Alamance, which placed third in the Mid-State Conference, is making its 15th playoff appearance since 1972. The Warriors are 28-13-1 in that time.
WASHINGTON PLAYOFF HISTORY
Washington has 16 playoff appearance since 1972. The Pack holds a 13-16 playoff record in that time.
As a No. 7 seed, Washington won 34-25 over Havelock in the first round of the 2008 state playoffs.
As a No. 7 seed, Washington lost 28-7 to West Craven in the second round of the 2008 state playoffs.
As a No. 6 seed, lost 41-40 in double overtime to South Granville in the first round of the 2007 state playoffs.
As a No. 14 seed, lost 35-12 to Western Alamance in the first round of the 2006 state playoffs.
As a No. 12 seed, lost 23-20 to Grays Creek in the first round of the 2005 state playoffs.
As a No. 14 seed, lost 50-14 to Wilson Hunt in the first round of the 2004 state playoffs.
As a No. 15 seed, lost 35-14 to Manteo in the first round of the 2002 state playoffs.
As a No. 2 seed, lost by forfeit to Greensboro Dudley in the first round of the 2001 state playoffs after it was determined the Pam Pack had used an ineligible player during the course of the season.
As a No. 3 seed, beat Eden Morehead 51-7 in the first round of the 1999 state playoffs.
Lost 45-15 to Burlington Williams in the second round of the 1999 state playoffs.
Lost 34-14 to Oxford in the first round of the 1998 state playoffs.
Lost 35-14 to Western Guilford in the first round of the 1997 state playoffs.
Lost 36-12 to Oxford Webb in the first round of the 1996 state playoffs.
Lost 24-19 to Southern Durham in the first round of the 1995 state playoffs.
Lost in the first round in 1994
Lost 47-7 to Tarboro in the first round of the 1993 state playoffs.
Beat Henderson 22-7 in the first round of the 1991 state playoffs.
Lost 30-22 to Eden Morehead in the second round of the 1991 state playoffs.
Lost 28-20 to Southern Durham in the first round of the 1988 state playoffs. It was the team’s first playoff appearance in 22 years.
Lost 23-7 to Roxboro in the first round of the 1966 state playoffs.
Lost 33-13 to Rockingham in the first round of the 1964 state playoffs.
Lost 7-0 to Hamlet in the first round of the 1963 state playoffs.
Beat Hillsboro Orange in the first round of the 1959 state playoffs. Lost to Rockingham 20-6 in the second round of the 1959 state playoffs.
Beat Rockingham 38-0 in the second round of the 1956 state playoffs.
Beat Henderson 13-0 in the first round of the 1956 state playoffs.
Beat Rockingham 38-0 in the second round of the 1956 state playoffs.
Lost 33-6 to Canton Pisgah in the Class AA 1956 state finals.
Lost 48-19 to Henderson in the first round of the 1952 state playoffs.