Another football season is in the books. It didn’t last as long as many have grown accustomed to because either Washington or Southside reached at least the regional championship in each of the last four years.

This season, Southside made it to the second round only to be knocked off by still-undefeated North Duplin. The Seahawks had to eliminate Northside to advance, ending the Panthers’ season. Washington snuck into the playoffs, but ran into an undefeated opponent of its own in the form of South Granville.

If there was one thing common of all three of Beaufort County’s teams, it was heart. The Pam Pack entered the season with plenty of question marks. They had a relatively experienced defense with Jon Blank — promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach — still calling the plays.

There were returning weapons on offense, too. Quarterback Frederick Holscher came into the season well aware of his role as starter. The senior had Beaufort County’s most dominant player in Hykeem Ruffin beside him, as well as a few skilled receivers.

There were growing pains as the players and new offensive coordinator Perry Owens grew accustomed to each other. The Pam Pack sat at 1-5 halfway through the year. Everything seemed to click into place once everyone settled into the triple-option scheme. Washington leveled North Lenoir and South Lenoir.

That wasn’t enough for a return trip to the postseason, though. The Pam Pack had to earn a win at 2-A Eastern Carolina Conference champion West Craven in its season finale. It did more than simply win. A 47-28 statement victory proved to be the program’s most significant win in two seasons.

Southside, after reaching consecutive regional-championship games, took a step back. For a team so used to winning, it was impressive for the Seahawks to endure the hardships they did. They began the season 4-0 before running into North Duplin for the first time. A tough three-game stretch saw them drop games to the Rebels, Tarboro and Pamlico County.

They bounced back, though. The Seahawks got back in the win column at Jones Senior, then notched a signature 32-13 win at home against Riverside. Southside slipped up in a 16-12 loss to Northside on senior night, but made up for it by blanking the Panthers, 20-0, in the first round of the playoffs.

Northside lost nearly everything on offense from the 2016 team that narrowly lost in the second round of the playoffs. Considering that, as well as its offensive line being ground to salt throughout the year, the Panthers did well to maintain last year’s success.

They displayed as much resolve as any team in the county. Northside endured a four-game losing streak that saw them drop games to Washington and Riverside by a combined seven points. The Panthers got their bye week, then bounced back by winning three of their last five games. The only two they lost were to Tarboro and Pamlico County, which finished atop the 1-A Coastal Plains Conference.

 

FIRST TEAM:

WILL WARREN, QB, JR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: 677 passing yards, 4 TDs, 3 rushing TDs.

 

HYKEEM RUFFIN, RB, SR., WASHINGTON

STATS: 223 carries, 2,005 yards, 29 TDs.

 

TRAJAN RHOME, RB, SR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: 141 carries, 845 yards, 10 TDs.

 

RAYDARIUS FREEMAN, RB, SR., NORTHSIDE

STATS: 104 carries, 697 yards, 10 TDs.

 

DEMETRIUS EBRON, WR, SR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: 17 receptions, 249 yards, 2 TDs; 24 carries, 227 yards.

 

DAWSON ELKS, WR, SR., WASHINGTON

STATS: 206 receiving yards.

 

HUNTER TYLER, TE, JR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: 4 receptions, 83 yards.

 

NAZZIR HARDY, ATH, SR., WASHINGTON

STATS: 76 tackles, 2 interceptions.

 

MATTHEW MARSLENDER, ATH, SR., NORTHSIDE

STATS: 120 carries, 590 yards, 7 TDs; 10-of-28 passing, 137 yards; 36 tackles (14 solo).

 

TYSHAWN ROBERSON, ATH, JR., WASHINGTON

STATS: 581 kick-return yards, 4 TDs.

 

ETHAN COOPER, OL, SR., WASHINGTON

STATS: N/A

 

ZACH GRIFFIN, OL, SR., NORTHSIDE

STATS: N/A

 

QUINTON VICK, OL/DL, SR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: 69 tackles (37 solo), 13.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks.

 

TEDDY MINOR, OL/DL, SR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: 56 tackles (35 solo), 13 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumbles recovered.

 

LOGAN CRAFT, OL/DL, SR., WASHINGTON

STATS: N/A

 

DREW FERGUSON, DL, SR., WASHINGTON

STATS: 48 tackles, 3 fumbles recovered, 1 interception.

 

COOPER ANDERSON, LB, SR., WASHINGTON

STATS: 144 tackles.

 

CAMERON CAHOON, LB, SR., NORTHSIDE

STATS: 106 tackles (41 solo), 7 tackles for loss.

 

BRANDON SULLIVAN, LB, SR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: 47 tackles (30 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 fumbles recovered, 1 interception.

 

PARKER BOYD, LB, SR., NORTHSIDE

STATS: 94 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 interceptions.

 

GRANT JENSEN, DB, SR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: 31 tackles (24 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered.

 

TYRECK BROWN, DB, SR., NORTHSIDE

STATS: 48 tackles (23 solo), 8.5 tackles for loss.

 

TYREE BLOUNT, DB, SR., NORTHSIDE

STATS: 38 tackles (22 solo), 2 interceptions for 107 yards.

 

CODY MODLIN, DB, SR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: 45 tackles (23 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered, 7 passes defensed.

 

HUNTER HALL, KICKER, JR., WASHINGTON

STATS: N/A

SECOND TEAM:

FREDERICK HOLSCHER, QB, SR., WASHINGTON

KA’CI FOREMAN, RB, JR., WASHINGTON

JOHNATHAN CLARK, RB, JR., NORTHSIDE

HAYDEN MAYO, RB, JR., SOUTHSIDE

ZACK GREEN, WR, SO., SOUTHSIDE

DAWSON JACKSON, TE, SR., NORTHSIDE

JAMISON BENNETT, ATH, SR., SOUTHSIDE

JA’QUEZ RUFFIN, ATH, SR., WASHINGTON

SAMUEL ARIAS, OL, JR., NORTHSIDE

ISAIAH BAILEY-POPE, OL/DL, SR., WASHINGTON

AIDAN KELLEY, OL/DL, SR., SOUTHSIDE

LOGAN NICHOLS, OL/DL, JR., WASHINGTON

CLARK O’NEAL, DL, SO., NORTHSIDE

MICHAEL CLARK, LB, JR., WASHINGTON

URIAH LAWRENCE, LB, JR., WASHINGTON

JAMARI NELSON, LB, SO., SOUTHSIDE

ZAKKAI WILSON, LB, SO., NORTHSIDE

TANNER ALLIGOOD, DB, SR., NORTHSIDE

TAIWAN EBRON, DB, SR., SOUTHSIDE

QUAYSHAWN GAYNOR, DB, JR., WASHINGTON

JAHNO BRYANT, DB, JR., WASHINGTON

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

JONQUIL HAYWOOD, RB/DB, JR., SOUTHSIDE

DAVID VINES, RB/DB, SR., SOUTHSIDE

DQ GORHAM, OL, JR., SOUTHSIDE

KHYRIC McCLOUD, DL, SO., WASHINGTON

SHERFIELD SMITH, OL/DL, SO., WASHINGTON

JON’MALIK FREEMAN, OL/DL, SO., NORTHSIDE

KEVON LANGLEY, OL/DL, JR., WASHINGTON

TREY CARTER, LB, SR., SOUTHSIDE