Eight area teams qualifying for football playoffs

Eight area teams qualifying for football playoffs
By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Washington will face a familiar foe in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A state playoffs. Just two weeks after beating the Havelock Rams, 21-7, the Pam Pack will face its Coastal Conference rival in Friday’s first-round playoff game.
The game is slated to start at 7:30 p.m. at J.G. “Choppy” Wagner Stadium.
“I think it will be a heated game,” Washington fifth-year coach Sport Sawyer said. “The last game (Havelock) came here fired up and we were fired up, so I think it will be the same. It will be a huge game.”
Seven area teams earned playoff bids for the 1-A state playoffs.
The No. 3 seed Williamston Tigers (6-5), the Atlantic Conference champions directed by head coach Asim McGill, play host to No. 14 seed Northside (2-9). Coach Keith Boyd’s Panthers, coming out of the Atlantic Conference, qualified despite falling to Southside in Friday night’s Anchor Bowl.
Coach Robert Cody’s Plymouth Vikings (8-3), last year’s 1-A state champions and a No. 5 seed, welcome the No. 12 seed Northampton-East Rams (4-7) into town.
Coach Wayne Rodgers and his Tideland Conference-champion Creswell Tigers (8-1) earned a No. 2 seed. The Tigers will play host to the No. 15 seed Rosewood Eagles (2-7), who hail from the Carolina Conference.
The Roanoke Redskins (4-7) also earned a home playoff game. Coach Brian Paschal’s squad will play host to the Perquimans Pirates (6-5), a No. 10 seed out of the Albemarle Conference.
Coach Richie Ange’s Jamesville Bullets (4-6), a No. 9 seed, will visit No. 8 seed Manteo (5-6). The Redskins compete in the Albemarle Conference.
The No. 13 seed Mattamuskeet Lakers (3-7) also earned a playoff spot. Mattamuskeet, which plays in the Tideland Conference, visits the No. 4 seed Weldon Chargers (9-2).
The Pam Pack (7-4) enters the 3-A playoffs as the No. 7 seed, while Jim Bob Bryant’s Rams (8-3) are the No. 10 seed.
“I figured we’d be around an eight seed,” Sawyer said. “I didn’t think we’d be playing a conference team to start the playoffs, especially since we played them two weeks ago.”
Sawyer is glad the team will open the playoffs at home for the second consecutive season.
“It’s good to play at home,” Sawyer said. “Our fans were very good (Friday night during a 41-14 win over West Carteret). I think being at home will spark some interest.”
Washington will be looking for its first playoff victory since 1999, when the Pack posted a 51-7 victory over Eden Morehead in the first round. Washington fell 41-40 in double-overtime to South Granville in last year’s playoff game.
“We’re not worrying about the past,” Sawyer said. “We’ve been having some fun playing football the last couple weeks and that’s what we plan to keep doing. I’m very excited about it.”