Football: Washington Game - Postgame Observations

November 15, 2009

By Kevin McCloskey of Western Alamance High School

Photos courtesy of Kay McCloskey


So we're fighting through a tropical storm in the middle of November.  Its also Friday the 13th.  Bad omens, right???   Maybe for most teams, but not for the Warriors.  For the first time all season (at least as good as I can remember), the Warriors did outstanding in the turnover department!!!!   ZERO fumbles.  ONLY 1 interception.  Amazing considering the misty rain and windy conditions. 

In Coach Capps' pre-game speech, he stressed that this Warrior team would be defined by its defense.  In previous years, the offense carried the torch.  But this season, this team would be known by its defense.   How prophetic Coach Capps' speech turned out to be as the Warrior defense was just phenomenal in this game.

The Pam Pack scored easily the first time it touched the ball early in the first quarter.  It only took them 3-4 plays to take an early 6-0 lead.  I confess...  I was worried.   The Pam Pack definitely showed some flashes of speed (I even heard them compared to Reidsville in terms of overall team speed).   But after that initial touchdown, it was "lights out" by the Warrior D!!  Washington never seriously threatened for the remainder of the game and the Warrior offense tacked on 21 unanswered points.

Lets make it a point to stress that in a game like this, the kicking game is critically important.  And Jr kicker Kevin Lewis did a fantastic job all the way around.  He did miss a 42-yard FG attempt into the windy mist, but all of his other kicking duties (PATs, kickoffs, and punts) were exemplary.  By keeping the Pam Packed pinned deep in their own territory, "Kicker Kev" helped the Warrior defense hold the Pam Pack scoreless after their opening possesion.

The score could have easily been even more lopsided.  To Washington's credit, they stopped WA on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line with just a few seconds to go in the first half.  WA also turned the ball over on downs inside the Pam Pack 10-yard line on the opening possession of the second half.  Put a couple of more TDs on the board and it could have easily been 35-6.  But lets not be greedy for points.  I'll take a 21-6 playoff win any day!

We don't know our second round opponent just yet.  The White Oak (Jacksonville) vs. Hertford County game was postponed until Saturday evening.  I have someone who will be sending me text updates and I will post them as they come in.  So stay tuned to wahs.ihigh.com for updates and, potentially, travel plans for next week.  If Hertford County wins, then the Warrior Nation will hit the road and travel to Ahoskie.  If White Oak pulls the upset, then we will host the Vikings next week in A.M. Primm Stadium.

The first set of game pictures are up (and attached to this article).  More will follow tomorrow.

Video highlights from tonight's game will be available in a few hours (by early Saturday morning). 

Special note regarding the video highlights...  Coach Capps allowed me into the locker room to video the pre-game pep talk.  Its something you will want to see.  So make sure you watch the video highlights.