By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
BETHEL — Travis Daniels helped ease Sport Sawyer’s pain.
Daniels galloped for 330 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Washington Pam Pack to a 35-13 win over the North Pitt Panthers in Friday’s season opener.
Daniels’ career night helped alleviate some of the pain Sawyer was feeling as he hobbled off the field on crutches. The Pam Pack’s fourth-year head coach was blindsided during a play and injured his knee.
Immediately after the game, Sawyer went to the hospital for X-rays.
As Sawyer was headed to the hospital, Washington defensive coordinator Jon Blank remained on the field and praised Daniels’ effort.
Jamont Jones got the Pam Pack (1-0) off to a super start. The senior took the opening kick and raced 82 yards for a touchdown, giving Washington a 6-0 lead just 15 seconds into the game. Justin Meekins added the first of his five PATs for a 7-0 advantage.
North Pitt (0-1) threatened to tie the game on its second series, driving to Washington’s 8-yard-line. However, Chase Tripp stuffed Vontrell Moss for a 5-yard loss on fourth-and-one, giving the Pack the ball.
On the next play, Daniels broke loose for an 87-yard touchdown run to give Washington a 14-0 lead.
Tripp came up big all night for Washington. He finished with 14 tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries.
Jones certainly stepped up as he picked off two passes to go with his kickoff return for a touchdown. Tony Turnage also had an interception for the Pack.
After another big stop by the Pack defense, Daniels plowed over from a yard out for a 21-0 lead with 8:09 remaining in the first half.
The Panthers were able to get on the scoreboard at the 3:58 mark when Maurice Williams scooted in from 11 yards out. The score was set up when North Pitt blocked a Washington punt — something they did twice during the game.
It appeared the score would remain 21-7 at the half, but Daniels had one last trick up his sleeve. Faced with a fourth-and-forever, Daniels took a handoff, darted left, juked right and then had clear sailing for a 39-yard scamper to the end zone on the final play of the half, giving the Pack a 28-7 cushion.
It stayed that way until the fourth. Anthony Williams, who ran for 117 yards on 14 carries, gave North Pitt some hope when he scored on a 15-yard run to pull the Panthers within 28-13.
But Daniels put the exclamation point on his night one play later, rumbling 65 yards for his fourth score to ice the game.
Austin Thompson was efficient at quarterback for the Pack. He hit 5-of-13 passes for 41 yards. Jones was his favorite target as he hauled in four passes for 39 yards.
The Pack plays its home opener next Friday night against Tarboro in the annual Victory Bell Bowl.
(Editor’s Note: Readers can check out the new sports blog at http://wdnsports.blogspot.com/)
Washington North Pitt
13 First Downs 13
39-378 Rushes-Yards 43-212
41 Passing Yards 100
13-5-0 Pass-Comp-Int 16-7-3
5-23.2 Punting 4-28.5
4-2 Fumbles-Lost 3-2
10-94 Penalties 5-42
Washington 14 14 0 7 — 35
North Pitt 0 7 0 6 — 13
Scoring Summary
W — Jamont Jones 82 kickoff return (Justin Meekins kick), 11:45, 1st
W — Travis Daniels 87 run (Meekins kick), 4:34, 1st
W — Daniels 1 run (Meekins kick), 8:09, 2nd
NP — Maurice Williams 11 run (Maurice Williams kick), 3:58, 2nd
W — Daniels 39 run (Meekins kick), 0:00, 2nd
NP — Anthony Williams 15 run (kick failed), 9:01, 4th
W — Daniels 65 run (Meekins kick), 8:46, 4th