Melton, Pam Pack pick up big EPC win; Eagles sparks Pungo to third straight

Published 5:15 am Friday, September 27, 2024

By Jason O. Boyd

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VANCEBORO, N.C. – Last week’s win at Pamlico County provided a shot in the arm for the Washington Pam Pack. An equally impressive performance to open league play at West Craven on Thursday was even more fun to watch.

The Pam Pack rushed for six touchdowns, three by Kendrick Melton, and spoiled West Craven’s homecoming with a 44-28 victory to open Eastern Plains Conference play. The score was nearly identical to the 41-28 victory Washington got last Friday, its first of the season, but came in different ways.

On Thursday, Washington (2-3, 1-0) stunned the home West Craven crowd with Melton’s big runs and a little trickery near the end of the first half. The Pam Pack defense also came up big in ways that extended Washington’s lead.

A long second half and halftime due to West Craven’s homecoming kind of disrupted Washington as West Craven got two fourth-quarter touchdowns after the Pam Pack led 41-14 after three quarters. Still, Washington’s effort on both sides of the ball was impressive to watch and made head coach Matt Taylor happy with the performance overall.

“It’s important in conference, and that’s why we play our non-conference,” Taylor said. “And we get prepared, so that way when we get to this league, we’ve seen everything we see. We’ve found our identity, and we go and execute our plan.

“Our kids played a helluva first half. I mean, it really was fantastic. We gotta get better at finishing a game, though.”

In last week’s win over Pamlico County, it was quarterback Evan Makepeace (4-of-9 passing, 125 yards, 3 touchdowns) who provided a spark to another stellar game from Melton (183 yards rushing, two TDs). Calek Smaw scored Washington’s first rushing touchdown Thursday while Anderson Thomas added two of his own.

But it was Melton and big holes created by the Washington offensive line that took notice.

After West Craven got a passing touchdown to take an 8-7 lead, Melton and the Pack offense got going. Marek Bates stopped West Craven’s next drive with an interception at the Eagles’ 34. Melton then punched it in from five yards to give the Pack the lead for good at 14-8.

After Washington’s defense stuffed West Craven on fourth down with 5:29 left, Melton rambled up the middle and broke free for a 70-yard touchdown and a 20-8 lead after the conversion kick.

The back-breaker came when Washington got the ball back with 15 seconds left in the half. It looked like the Pam Pack would take a knee and enter the lockerroom. Instead, after a Washington timeout, Melton broke free over the middle and rambled 66 yards for a touchdown and a 27-14 halftime advantage.

“I was gonna take a shot in the formation that came out, and it wasn’t good to do it. So I ended up burning a timeout, and I was just running a play,” Taylor said.

“And Kendrick said, he looked at me and winked and said, ‘Watch this, coach.’ And then he went out there and he ran a 60-yard touchdown. My assistant coach came to the sideline and said, ‘Good call. I said, ‘I ain’t got nothing to do with that. Number 20 makes me look good a whole lot.”

Smaw got the Pack on the board with a 12-yard touchdown run where his teammates pushed the pile forward. Thomas’ two touchdowns came in the third, rolling right and punching it in from four yards out with 9:53 left in the quarter. He swept left and got in from a yard out minutes later after West Craven lost the ball when it got loose on the snap.

“I said this back in June. We may only have 30 dogs, but all those dogs can go hunt,” Taylor said. “So again, credit to all our guys, credit to our coaching staff. Coach (Stephen) Allard called a heck of a defensive game. Offensive line played extremely well.

“And credit to all the coaches and all the dedication they’ve done. It’s been a lot of fun. So, ready for the next one.”

Washington goes to Farmville on Friday.

Pungo Christian sophomore quarterback Carr Eagles was 12-of-13 for 315 yards and five touchdowns in Thursday’s 57-6 win over Northeast Academy. (Jason O. Boyd, The Washington Daily News photo)

Pungo Christian 57, Northeast Academy 6

BELHAVEN, N.C. – The Raiders scored on their opening offensive drive and never let up, improving to 4-1 with their third straight win.

Pungo jumped to a 36-0 lead with four straight touchdowns on pass plays. Quarterback Carr Eagles threw back-to-back touchdowns to Austin Gibbs that covered 38 and 63 yards to push the Raiders’ lead to 20-0. Eagles’ 42-yard scoring run extended the Raiders’ lead to 28-0 with 7:26 to go in the first half.

Eagles scored again on Pungo’s next series, rolling left from 2 yards out for a touchdown and a 36-0 lead. Marshall Medford got Northeast’s only score when he broke free and ran 73 yards for a touchdown to cut the margin to 36-6.

Moments later, Pungo’s Parker Byrd caught a 12-yard pass from Eagles for a touchdown and a 44-6 lead with 3:30 left in the first half.

Eagles finished 12-for-13 for 315 yards and five touchdowns passing while rushing for 56 yards on three carries. Murray also rushed for 70 yards on four carries with two touchdowns.

Byrd had six catches for 140 yards and 10 tackles on defense. McKinney Waters also had 10 tackles.

Pungo has its makeup game with Community Christian in Wilson on Monday before hosting them on Oct. 11.

 

Rosewood 20, Southside 7

ROSEWOOD, N.C. – Southside dropped to 0-5 with a road loss to Rosewood.

The Seahawks fell behind early and never caught up. The Eagles improved to 3-3 with the win.

Southside hosts American Leadership Academy-Johnston on Friday.

 

Northside wins by forfeit

YEATESVILLE, N.C. – Northside’s football team got its first bye week without even trying.

The anticipated bad weather from Hurricane Helene forced the Panthers’ game to be moved to Thursday like everyone else. Fairmont High School, located in Robeson County could not play the game due to travel restrictions from the hurricane. So the Tornadoes chose to forfeit, dropping their record to 0-5 on the season.

Northside improves to 4-2 and will host Pamlico County for Homecoming on Friday.

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