HAVELOCK — Havelock struggled to hold on to the ball during a rainy first half on Saturday. The Rams lost the ball on their first two possessions of the game, but quarterback Corey Cooper accounted for a pair of first-half touchdowns to help them cruise to a 38-0 victory over Washington.

Cooper connected with Khalil Barrett on a 21-yard pass in the second quarter for Havelock’s first score of the season. He stuck to the ground with a 30-yard touchdown run that put the Rams ahead, 14-0, with 8:09 left before halftime.

While Havelock’s offense moved the ball with ease, it oftentimes was unable to find the end zone. The Rams fumbled the ball nine times while the Pam Pack was able to limit turnovers.

“I thought our defense did great. They didn’t give (Washington) a chance to get in the end zone,” Havelock coach Jim Bob Bryant said. “Our offense, we moved the ball, but we kept putting it on the ground. When you put the ball on the ground nine times, we’re lucky to get out of here with a win.

“I don’t chalk it up to the rain because Washington didn’t put the ball on the ground and they had to play in the same conditions we did. I chalk it up to our guys not being mentally focused.”

The size mismatch up front and the raw talent of the opposing defense kept Washington’s offense stagnant throughout the entire game. Special teams proved to be a play-making avenue for the Pam Pack. Even though he struggled to grab the ball right away, Quashawn Gaynor was able to take a late-game kickoff return across midfield.

“I thought that special teams played decent tonight because we haven’t done a whole lot of that live,” Washington coach Sport Sawyer said. “I did think they played pretty well.

“As a team, overall, we fought. I think we learned a whole lot. But, offensively, this is eight-plus quarters with no score, counting scrimmages. That’s unacceptable.”

Punter Ben McKeithan was reliable in the many times he was called upon, too.

While the offense couldn’t get much against the Rams, Frederick Holscher performed admirably in his first start at the varsity level. He was crisp on his handoffs and many incompletions had more to do with Havelock’s secondary.

“I think he was in a tough position,” Sawyer said, noting that, among other things, he had to work with some slippery pigskins. “I think he kept his composure. It’s tough to learn, but, at the same time, there was nothing really there.”

Washington’s start to the season doesn’t get any easier. The Pam Pack’s next test will be Friday night against another championship-caliber team in Tarboro.