Pack powers past Knights

Published 12:05 am Saturday, September 8, 2012

Washington running back Markel Spencer (center) runs with the ball during the Pam Pack’s 21-6 win over Riverside Friday night at Riverside High School. (WDN Photo/Brian Haines)

WILLIAMSTON — At halftime the power went out both literally and figuratively for Riverside as it fell 21-6 to Washington on Friday night.
The Knights held a 6-0 halftime time lead when the third quarter was set to begin until the lights cut off, causing a 25-minute delay in the action.
When the lights came back on it was the Pam Pack that held all the power as it dominated the second half with a time consuming ground-and-pound rushing attack that totaled 309 yards and three touchdowns on 47 attempts.
“We had a very sluggish first half, but in the second half we regrouped,” Washington coach Sport Sawyer said. “There was a little time break there and we were able to come out fighting in the second half.”
Riverside (1-4, Four Rivers, 1-A) took the lead in the first quarter as it forced and recovered a Pam Pack (3-1, Coastal Conference, 3-A) fumble at the Washington 44-yard line and seven plays later looked on as Ryan Byrd darted 10 yards for the first touchdown of the game.
The Knights failed on a two-point conversion attempt and held a 6-0 advantage. It was a lead a solid effort by the Riverside defense that allowed the team to stay ahead until halftime.
“We had a 3-A school on the ropes in the first half,” Riverside coach Asim McGill said. “Then we had a light delay and fumbled the ball on our first drive and lost all the momentum.”
The Pam Pack defense jarred the ball loose from RB Jadarian Brown and recovered it at the Knights’ 47-yard line on the Knights first possession of the second half. From there, it was all Markel Spencer and Stevie Green as the two backs grinded their way down the field until Green burst across the goal line from eight yards out to give Washington a 7-6 lead.
Running behind an offensive line that seemed to grow stronger as the game went on, Green was on fire as he rushed for two more TDs, both from four yards out giving him a total of six scores in the past two games.
“It wasn’t pretty, it was kind of straight at you football and the guys were running hard and the linemen stayed on their blocks,” Sawyer said.
The Pam Pack will be back in action next week as it plays at Jacksonville, while the Knights will look to bounce back at home against Manteo.

Riverside    6    0    0    0    —    6
Washington    0    0    14    7    —    21

WHS            RS
First downs    13            5
Rushes-yards    47-309        24-68
Comp-att-int    2-6-0            5-11-0
Passing yards    16            68
Fumbles-lost    1-1            3-1
Penalties-yards    7-50            5-40
Punts        3-42            5-28

Scoring Summary
RS — Ryan Byrd 10 run (two points failed), 3:55, 1st.
W — Stevie Green 8 run (Will Cutler kick), 10:02, 3rd.
W — Green 4 run (Cutler kick), 3:20, 3rd.
W — Green 4 run (Cutler kick), 5:42, 4th.