Sometimes the schedule makers score too. The powers that be had no idea when they penciled in Beddingfield to play at Washington tonight that it would be a battle for the driver’s seat in the Eastern Plains Conference, but that’s exactly what tonight’s showdown is.
The fact that it also happens to be the same night that three players and one team will be inducted into the Washington Walk of Fame is just a two-point conversion after a breathe taking touchdown.
At 7:30 p.m. the Bruins (5-3, 2-0) will kickoff against the Pam Pack (6-2, 2-0) for sole possession of first place in the conference, while at halftime former star running back Travis Daniels, softball standout Charity Watson, three-sport star Adrian Bowen and the 1947 football team will be inducted into the Washington Walk of Fame.
With Washington royalty on hand, there’s no doubt the Pam Pack football team will be aiming to impress.
“The Washington Walk of Fame is for people who played, coached and are associated with athletics at Washington High School and represented it in a good manor, so it means a lot to for us to go out and play well and represent the school well,” Washington coach Sport Sawyer said.
The Pam Pack arrives at tonight’s prime time matchup hot on a four-game winning streak, with the last one being a 27-14 victory on the road against North Edgecombe.
Once again, Washington received tremendous production from the running back tandem of Markel Spencer and Stevie Green as the duo combined for 315 yards and three touchdowns on 34 attempts.
Spencer sprinted for 183 and two scores, while Green galloped for 132 and a touchdown.
While the ground game has been consistent, so has the defense. The unit came up with a key goal line stand at the end of the first half, while Jamond Ebron returned an interception 62 yards for a touchdown.
Sophomore LB Brandon Jackson’s breakout season continued as he racked up a team-high 13 tackles, while senior DTs Travon Wallace and Baylone Guilford tallied 11 each.
“I think our defense is really coming together. Coach (Jon) Blank and the other coaches have really done a good job,” Sawyer said. “We’ve put in some red zone defenses that are really starting to pick up. (Edgecombe) had the ball at the four-yard line and we were able to keep them out end zone at the end of the first half.”
That Pack defense will be tested tonight, specifically the secondary, as Beddingfield will bring its spread attack to J.G. “Choppy” Wagner Stadium.
“They throw the ball a lot. They’ve thrown for over 1,000 yards this season,” Sawyer said. “They spread the field out and if the quarterback doesn’t see anybody open he can tuck it and run. They have some nice targets to throw out. They’re receivers run good routes.”
Throughout the season Washington has shown a propensity to rise in the second half of games, which is always a great trait, but tonight Sawyer would like to see his team start the way it finishes.
“All year long when you look at our points we haven’t scored many in the first half,” Sawyer said. “We need to get some points on the board in the first half. We need to play all four quarters, we still haven’t done that yet offensively.”