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LELAND – Junior Lawson Hester rushed for 123 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead East Bladen to a 21-16 non-conference football victory over North Brunswick Friday night.
The Scorpions opened the scoring when junior Demond Perry circled right end and raced 37 yards for a touchdown. Aidan Tobias kicked the extra point for a 7-0 North lead with 6:30 left in the first period.
The Eagles rallied late in the quarter, and Hester banged through the line for the touchdown on a 2-yard run. Junior Gabe Barber split the uprights with the extra point kick that tied the game 7-7 with 31 seconds remaining in the quarter.
Midway the second quarter Hester busted through the line from 6 yards out for the go-ahead touchdown. Barber again converted the extra point to put East Bladen ahead 14-7.
The Scorpions pulled even with 6:23 on the third period clock when Kwesi Clarke darted around right end on a 6-yard touchdown run. Tobias tied the game 14-14 with another extra point conversion.
Moments later Hester broke free down the left sideline and sprinted 76 yards for the deciding touchdown. Barber tacked on the extra point for a 21-14 lead with 4:01 left in the third quarter.
The Scorpions dropped an Eagle runner in the end zone with 24 seconds remaining in the third period for a safety that trimmed the final margin to 21-16.
Sophmore quarterback Zach Meares completed both of his passes for 97 yards. Junior Tayshaun Berkeley hauled in a 72-yard bomb, and junior Xavier McKoy caught a 25 yard pass.
Junior Kasey Price rushed for 52 yards on ten carries, and senior Shy Pone carried 7 times for 26 yards. The Eagles finished with 232 yards rushing and 329 total yards.
Perry led the Scorpion attack with 120 yards rushing on 16 attempts. The Scorpions totaled 203 yards rushing and no yards passing.
“We are putting the pieces together,” said Eagle Coach Robby Priest to WWAY-TV. “It’s coming along slowly. It’s good to get a win anytime – no matter how pretty or how ugly.”
The Eagles, now 1-1, will host Whiteville Friday in their Three Rivers Conference opener.
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