By Trever Lloyd
As the regular season of football winds down in Bladen County, November gets closer and closer. Many residents and student-athletes are now going to have to figure out what to do with their free time when the final game is played. Since time is winding down and we as sports fans love to remember the days of our favorite teams dominating or are unfortunately reminded about times that our team was the one being dominated, let’s look back to 47 years ago at what football used to look like in Bladen before the East Bladen Eagles and West Bladen Knights.
According to The Southeastern Times Bladen Sports article written by John Clark on October 4, 1976, Clarkton High School gave fans and students a reason to celebrate on the school’s homecoming night. The Blue Devils slashed and gashed their way to a 40-20 victory against the Parkton Bruins. The Blue Devils put on a clinic, tallying over 400 rushing yards that faithful night. Then, sophomore running back
Curtis Chancey was the one who led the rushing barrage on his way to setting the then-school record for most single-game rushing yards with 216.
Going down 211 to Bladenboro, the Bulldogs were able to win a close one against the Delco Trojans. Former Bladenboro quarterback Greg Goodwin put his team on his back in the 16-14 victory. Goodwin accounted for all the team’s points as he ran for two touchdowns and punched in a pair of two-point conversions on the ground and the air after both scores.
Up in Tar Heel, the Panthers were able to beat the Rowland Cobras once they stopped beating themselves. Fumbling and penalties were the story for the Panthers that night. While they won 14-6, the team could’ve won by more if it wasn’t for their own self-inflicted wounds.
Unfortunately, the last team located in Bladen County didn’t have the same success as their counterparts. As the East Bladen Cougars were on the wrong side of a 28-6 outing against the Red Springs Red Devils. The Devils’ Defense was the real star of the outing as they shut down the Cougars offense. Holding them a total of just four first downs the entire game. East Bladen’s only score of the game came on a Red Devil fumble in the second quarter scooped by Lee Dale Autry, who took it to the house for a 27-yard touchdown Return. On the offensive side of the ball Red Springs dominated the Cougars in the trenches, rushing for over 300 yards.
As this football season winds down and we transition from fall to winter. Once the last snap is played in Bladen, football will no doubt be missed. However, people can still get together and talk about moments that happened until it is time for kickoff come next season. Look for more in this stories from this series next week.
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