BURGAW – Five East Bladen seniors have been named to the 2023 All-Waccamaw Conference football team. The five who helped lead the Eagles to 3 straight playoff wins and an 8-5 record included Masion Brooks, Rodney Lacewell, J’marius Smith, Jadon Pridgen and Na’toren Corbett.
Brooks who rushed for 2,021 yards and 39 touchdowns was an All-Southeastern Athletic Conference selection in 2021 and 2022. Defensively Brooks recorded 2 sacks and came up with a pair of fumble recoveries. Brooks, a 235-pound bruiser, played Saturday in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.
Lacewell, a 6-4, 300-pound tackle, was a key member of the offensive line that cleared the way for the Eagle offense to rack up 3,574 rushing yards and 4,620 total yards and 65 touchdowns. Lacewell played Saturday for the winning East team in the NCCA East-West All-Star Game.
Smith, a speedy defensive back and kick returner, recovered 6 onside kickoffs and fumbles, caught 4 passes for 27 yards, returned a fumble 51 yards for a touchdown, intercepted a pass and returned 9 kickoffs for 142 total yards.
Pridgen, a 6-2, 195-pound linebacker/fullback, caught 4 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. Pridgen was a standout on defense from his linebacker position for the Eagles.
Corbett, a 180-pounder, rushed for 678 yards and 4 touchdowns, and caught 6 passes for 94 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also recovered 3 onside kickoffs and fumbles.
West Columbus won the conference championship and had the Coach of the Year – Lamonte Williamson; the Offensive Player of the Year – Unique Kelly; and the Defensive Player of the Year – D. J. Bryant. Heide Trask’s Myron McKoy was the Special Teams Player of the Year.
Other West Columbus players receiving all-conference honors were: Jaylen Bellamy, Junior Stewart, Triston Freeman, Ryder Haynes, Ryan Strickland, Jahmir Dorsey, Joseph Specht, Kenny Barfield and Lannon Stewart.
The remainder of the All-Waccamaw includes:
Whiteville – Amadeus Morris, Amari Best, Jamal Faulk, Luke Odham, Alzaish Baldwin, Nallegem Powell, Will Fisher.
Heide Trask – Asher Eason, Martez Davis, Sherrod Henderson, Omar Hill, Nick Bousquet.
Pender – Demari Morgan, Jeremiah Johnson, Daishawn Brown.
South Columbus – Demonta Gore, Rush Blackwell, Mason Parker.
East Columbus – C. J. Waddell, Matthew George, Brison Mintz.
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