After waiting nearly 10 months to avenge its season-ending loss to eventual state champions Havelock in the third round of the playoffs last season, Washington had to wait two more hours to play the rematch as a late thunderstorm forced both teams to take cover in the gym and wait out the storm before the start of Friday night’s season opener.
It was 9:30 p.m. when the teams finally got back on the field, but once again the Pam Pack could not buck the Rams as it fell 28-6 Friday night.
Despite the long delay, the Pam Pack (0-1, Eastern Plains) came out pumped up for the first quarter as the defense forced the Rams (1-0, Coastal Conference) to punt on their first possession, while the offense’s ability to convert a fourth-and-inches on its own 31 sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Spearheaded by a stout effort by the Pam Pack defensive line, Washington was able to force the two-time defending state champs to punt three times in the opening quarter, which lead to a 0-0 tie going into the second.
It was their the tide turned as star senior running back Derrell Scott sloshed through turf for a 38-yard TD run and a 7-0 lead with 9:52 remaining in the half.
Washington struck back five minutes later when it blocked a punt and took possession at its own 45-yard line. Five plays later junior RB Markel Spencer weaved his way through traffic and bounced to the right sideline for a 30-yard touchdown, making the score 7-6 Rams.
Havelock answered on its ensuing possession when QB Travis Sabdo hit Michael Bowman on screen pass, and Bowman turned it up field 62 yards to go ahead 14-6.
The Rams were able to benefit from their screen game again late in the third quarter when Michael Bowman took a pass and dashed 73 yards to up the lead to 21-6 with 3:23 left in the third.