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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
FAIRMONT – East Bladen’s Eagles survived four lost fumbles and six scoreless ‘Red Zone’ trips to squeak out a 28-27 Three Rivers Conference football victory over Fairmont Friday night.
Behind the wizardry of Duke signee Jordan Waters who accounted for 302 yards of total offense, the Golden Tornadoes sliced a 28-7 East Bladen lead to 28-27 with 6:13 left to play.
Two plays later the Eagles coughed up their fourth fumble of the game at their own 43 yardline. A 21 yard run by Waters gave the Tornadoes a first down at the East Bladen ten yardline.
The Eagle defense stiffened and on fourth down Fairmont’s Cameron McPhatter attempted a 27-yard field goal from the left hashmark, but the kick sailed just outside the right upright with 1:52 left to play.
A 6-yard run by senior Eric Chancy and a 5-yard carry by junior Lawson Hester netted the clinching first down for the Eagles and enabled them to run out the clock.
“The defense bailed us out there again at the end,” said Eagle Coach Robby Priest. About the six scoreless trips to the ‘Red Zone,’ Priest noted, “We missed assignments, backs ran through the wrong holes and let the ball be stripped away.”
Hester galloped 17 yards for a touchdown on the Eagles first possession of the game. Junior Gabe Barber booted the first of his 4 extra points, and East led 7-0 at the 8:41 mark.
Senior Jordan Payton partially blocked a Fairmont punt to give the Eagles the ball at the Tornado 26 yardline. A 12-yard run by sophomore Rasean McKoy picked up a first down at the nine, but 3 plays later Fairmont’s Cameron Harrington recovered an East fumble at the 3 yardline.
Fairmont responded with a 97-yard drive in 9 plays. Quarterback Jahkeem Moore scrambled for 27 yards, then connected with Jayvon Morris on passes of 43 and 31 yards. On both of those plays Morris snatched the ball away from defenders.
Waters darted into the end zone from 10 yards out for the touchdown, and McPhatter kicked the extra point to knot the score 7-7.
On the first play following the kick-off, sophomore quarterback Zach Meares hurled a long pass down the right sideline to junior Tayshaun Berkeley who reeled in the ball and outran the defense to complete a 75-yard touchdown play. Barber tacked on the conversion for a 14-7 East lead 35 seconds before the quarter break.
Following a short Fairmont punt, Hester broke loose for a 29-yard run as the Eagles drove to the Tornado 4 yardline before turning the ball over on downs.
After forcing another Tornado punt, the Eagles covered 36 yards in 5 plays. Meares connected with senior Shy Pone on a 22-yard pass play then circled left end from a yard out for the touchdown. Barber drilled the conversion for a 21-7 lead 6:02 before halftime.
Two plays later Payton jarred the ball loose from a Fairmont runner, and Chancy recovered for the Eagles at the Tornado 33 yardline. Hester bolted 13 yards to the 20, and the Eagles reached the 14 yardline before being stopped on downs.
Pone returned a Fairmont punt 50 yards to the Tornado ten yardline, but an Eagle runner fumbled at the goalline and Fairmont recovered at the 4 yardline.
The Eagles drove 65 yards in 7 plays to begin the second half. Rasean McKoy dashed 12 yards for a first down then popped free off the left side and sprinted 44 yards for a touchdown. Barber added the conversion for a 28-7 East lead with 8:50 left in the third period.
Fairmont answered with a 74-yard drive in 11 plays. Waters scooted 22 yards for a first down then fired a 9-yard touchdown pass to Savonte McKeithan. The ball went through a receiver’s hands and into the chest of McKeithan. A bad snap foiled the conversion kick and kept the margin at 28-13 at the 4:32 mark.
The Eagles bounced back with a 51-yard, 12-play drive, but once again were stopped on downs this time at the Fairmont 19 yardline.
On fourth down from his own 20 yardline, Waters scrambled 80 yards for a Fairmont touchdown. His conversion pass was broken up, and the Eagle lead stood at 28-19.
After Pone returned the kick-off to midfield, the Eagles drove 32 yards in 7 plays, but another lost fumble at the 18 yardline ended the threat.
Three plays later Waters found Morris streaking down the right sideline. Morris hauled in the pass and broke a tackle to complete a 69-yard touchdown play. Waters connected with Moore for the 2-point conversion that trimmed the East lead to 28-27 with 6:13 remaining.
The Eagles rushed for 294 yards, and Meares completed 3 of 4 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. Resean McKoy rushed 10 times for 118 yards and a touchdown, and Hester finished with 100 yards rushing and a touchdown on 18 carries. Chancy gained 78 yards on 24 carries. Berkeley’s 75-yard touchdown catch led the Eagle receivers.
The Tornadoes passed for 216 yards and ran for 199 to hold a slight 415-405 edge in total yards. Waters rushed 14 times for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns, and completed 10 of 18 passes for 134 yards and 2 more touchdowns.
Moore connected on 3 of 10 passes for 82 yards and caught 5 passes for 44 yards. Morris had 3 pass receptions for 143 yards and a touchdown.
“I would rather play bad and get the win, than lose and be told how good we played,” said Coach Priest.
East Bladen improved to 3-0 in the TRC and 4-1 overall and will host St. Pauls Friday night.
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