By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
ELON — Scott Baytala and Cole Hartley fought tough all season. In the locker room after Friday night’s 21-6 loss to the Western Alamance Warriors, the two couldn’t fight back the tears.
Washington’s (6-6) season, one filled with injury and adversity, came to an end with the loss in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A state playoffs.
Washington coach Sport Sawyer, whose team lost 35-12 to the Warriors in the 2006 state playoffs, was proud of his team’s effort all year, especially his seniors.
“Each senior group leaves their legacy,” Sawyer said. “This senior group, by far, gave it their all and didn’t quit. They faced a lot of adverse conditions.
“Tony Turnage, Cole Hartley, Ronnie Woolard and some other guys really gave it their all. Times haven’t been very easy for us, but they gave it their all.”
The Pack, the No. 10 seed, actually jumped out to a 6-0 lead on the No. 7 seed Warriors (9-3). Turnage (14 carries, 70 yards) broke off a 55-yard touchdown run on Washington’s second offensive play of the game.
However, the Pack wouldn’t find the end zone again, and had trouble moving the ball against the Warriors.
“Offensively, we’ve struggled all year,” Sawyer said. “We were never able to get anything going.”
The Pack defense, led by Hartley, Woolard, Marquin Hill and Kevin Chapman, were solid again. The defense kept the Warriors from scoring on a 4th-and-goal play inside the Pack 1-yard line at the end of the first half.
“The defense has been solid all year,” Sawyer said. “They have no reason to hang their heads.”
The Warriors were able to capitalize on a Pack turnover to take the lead late in the first quarter. Dominique Bridges (8 of 17, 90 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) hit B.J. Bunn (4 catches, 36 yards) for a 17-yard score. Kevin Lewis tacked on the PAT for a 7-6 lead.
Western Alamance made it 14-6 about midway through the second quarter. After a 36-yard pass by Bridges, and a 14-yard run by the quarterback, Bridges (12 carries, 82 yards, 2 Tds) scored from a yard out.
The Pack defense did a nice job in stopping the Warriors from scoring early in the third quarter despite getting deep into Washington territory.
However, Western Alamance tacked on another score late in the third to pretty much put the game out of reach. Facing a 4th-and-1, Bridges got past the line and raced 36 yards for a score and a 21-6 lead.
With Turnage (2 of 13, 36 yards) having trouble hitting receivers, the Pack offense basically stalled.
Having 11 penalties for 81 yards didn’t help matters either.
Kaschief Foreman added 51 yards on carries for Washington, while Keane Graham had 25 yards on 11 totes.
Sawyer is hoping for a better showing next season.
“We need guys who do work in the classroom, in the weight room and on the field,” Sawyer said. “Being a Pam Pack football player isn’t just about playing football.”
Washington Western Alamance
7 First Downs 10
35-146 Rushes-Yards 40-148
36 Passing Yards 90
13-2-0 Pass-Comp-Int 17-8-1
7-29.4 Punting 4-38.2
4-2 Fumbles-Lost 3-0
11-81 Penalties 6-50
Washington 6 0 0 0 — 6
Western Alamance 7 7 7 0 — 21
Scoring Summary
W – Tony Turnage 55 run (kick failed), 9:48, 1st
WC – B.J. Bunn 17 pass from Dominique Bridges (Kevin Lewis kick), 4:45, 1st
WC – Bridges 1 run (Lewis kick), 4:29, 2nd
WC – Bridges 36 run (Lewis kick), 3:45, 3rd