The Washington Pam Pack is headed to the state championship for the first time in 58 years after defeating Elizabeth City Northeastern, 41-17, in the eastern regional finals Friday night at Choppy Wagner Stadium.

The win earns Washington a meeting with the East Lincoln Mustangs on Saturday, Dec. 13 at BB&T Field in Winston-Salem.

“It was a tough battle there. They have a good team,” said head coach Sport Sawyer. “We just decided we wanted to play next week and hopefully bring a championship to Washington.”

In front of packed house, the Pam Pack defense stood toe-to-toe with the top offense in Class 2-A, led by senior quarterback Gedari Liverman, who entered the contest having recorded more than 3,000 yards of offense individually. Defensive coordinator Jon Blank’s secondary held Liverman to just 6-for-18 passing with no touchdowns through the air.

Early on, both defenses sternly limited the ground game, as Washington’s Markel Spencer and Northeastern’s Liverman had difficulty finding open space. Later in the first quarter, a lengthy drive from the Eagles, powered by the 5-11, 215-pound Jamel Foster, resulted in the first red zone opportunity for either team.

Led by Eric Peartree, Jamond Ebron and Rayekwon Satterwaite, the Pam Pack front seven, with its back against the goal line, stuffed two Foster runs, while a delay of game penalty pushed Northeastern back. The drive would finish with a 32-yard field goal from kicker Shawn Swayne.

On the ensuing kickoff, Swayne booted a short kick to around the 35-yard line. Satterwaite reeled it in, eluded a pair of oncoming defenders and rocketed down the far sideline for a 63-yard touchdown.

Despite the boost from the Washington special teams, the offense still struggled to pick up yards in bunches. After a Northeastern four-and-out, Washington strung together a five-minute drive downfield and worked its way to within the 20-yard line. But after a group of Eagles linebackers stuffed the run on three-straight plays, Ben McKeithan’s 25-yard field goal sailed inches past the right upright — no good.

In a battle between defenses, Washington took a 7-3 lead into halftime.

“(We’re) a very good defense. They get after it, fly around, make plays and that gives our team the opportunity to make offensive plays,” Sawyer said.

Following an offensively dormant first half, it was Liverman and Foster who caught a second wind out of the gate.

On the first drive, Foster pieced together six runs for 35 yards. To cap it off, Liverman hooked around the line on a bootleg and successfully extended his arm over the pylon, recapturing the lead for the Eagles.

Northeastern quickly forced a punt, but a bad snap would hand the ball right back to the Pam Pack on the Eagles’ 29-yard line. Then, with 3:35 left in the third quarter, Spencer toed the sideline untouched for a 30-yard touchdown.

“He just has a burst of speed, he’s able to hit the hole and that gives us an advantage on any play,” Sawyer said.

Up 13-10, an interception from Diavontrei Moore gave the ball back to the offense on the opposition’s 27-yard line, once again. For Northeastern, it was one turnover too many because quarterback Patrick Thompson would eventually find Javon Whitney for a 27-yard touchdown reception on the third play from scrimmage. The Pam Pack took a 20-10 lead into the final quarter and refused to look back.

Through the final eight minutes, Spencer finally broke out and recorded two 20-plus-yard touchdown runs. Even scat back Stepfon Rodman found the end zone with an eight-yard run.

“We practice how we play. If you hit the sideline hard in practice, you’re going to do it in a game,” Rodman said.

“We just play as a team. The defense does what it has to do and the offense does what it has to do. We come together as one. I’m feeling real confident we’re going to bring a championship back to Washington.”

Rodman finished with 68 yards and a touchdown on six carries, while Spencer notched a game-high 151 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. Thompson was also 4-for-4 passing for 58 yards and a touchdown.

For Northeastern, Foster notched 64 yards on 15 carries and Liverman was held to just 57 yards.