CHOCOWINITY — The physicality, intensity and overall drive was there for Washington’s defense when it scrimmaged at Southside on Friday. It was a pleasant sign for the Pam Pack, which opens its season with arguably its toughest test when it travels to Havelock.

It was a much-needed stride for the defense to bounce back the way it did after coach Sport Sawyer’s disappointment after how things went during last Wednesday’s scrimmage at Edenton. The veteran secondary showed its dominance by largely keeping the opposition out of the end zone. Cooper Anderson had one of the team’s highlights with an interception against Plymouth.

“I thought the defensive intensity was much better (on Friday),” Sawyer said. “They did pretty well. They kept them out of the end zone, except for the second defense. … The secondary has a lot of experience from last year and they played well.

“Our linebackers played a little better, too. I’ve seen some improvement there and our defensive line picked it up a little better. Overall, I think we made some improvements.”

Washington lost a lot of size from last year’s team. Lining up against a big Northside team proved to be an effective measuring stick for the Pam Pack offensive and defensive lines.

“Northside, they’re doing a great job over there. They’re working hard and the players are working hard,” Sawyer said. “They’re going to have a very good season this year. To go against them, with their size and athletic ability, that was pretty good for us.”

The offense, however, didn’t respond as well. The unit, as a whole, lacked that intensity that Sawyer was so pleased to see from the defense. The offense has been a bit behind the curve throughout the preseason, which is understandable given the revamped system and relative youth.

Even so, Sawyer was left wanting more when it came to fundamentals and raw physicality.

“Offensively, we’ve got to make blocks and we’re just not,” he said. “We’ll have a receiver miss a block, we’ll have a lineman miss a block. The game is very simple: block and tackle. We did not block.”

Havelock handled the Pam Pack in Washington, 50-13, to start off last season. Sawyer knows that his squad can’t afford even the slightest lapses in effort as it prepares to open the 2016 campaign.

“Some of these guys, we question ‘do they want to do it,’” Sawyer asked. “I’m hearing excuses. I don’t have time for that. … We’ve got to get players. I don’t care if they’re a foot tall. If they’re going to block and get after it, that’s who I’m going to put out there.”

Sawyer and Washington’s coaching staff reviewed the film from Friday’s scrimmage and used it to highlight what needs to be worked on this week. Now that’s it’s game week, the team’s focus has been less internal and is now aimed at preparing for Havelock.