03/29/2024
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East Bladen Vs Whiteville football photos by Kenneth Armstrong

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ELIZABETHTOWN – Senior Shy Pone intercepted a Whiteville pass on the last play of the game to preserve a 31-28 East Bladen victory over the Wolfpack in the Three Rivers Conference football opener for both teams.

It was a big win for Coach Robby Priest’s Eagles over a Whiteville team that was tabbed as co-favorites to win the TRC along with South Columbus.

The Eagles scored two touchdowns during a ten second-span of the third quarter two minutes after Whiteville had taken a 21-17 lead. A 51-yard run by junior Jordan Faulk set up junior quarterback Ty Moss’ 4-yard touchdown carry. Senior Ethan Bass booted the extra point.

East Bladen’s Pone took the ensuing kick-off, bolted up the middle then veered left on a 60-yard return. A 15-yard late hit penalty was tacked on to the return and put the Eagles on the Whiteville 16 yardline.

On fourth down from the ten yardline, senior Eric Chancy darted around right end for the go-ahead touchdown. Junior Gabe Barber tacked on the extra point for a 24-21 Eagle lead with 2:16 left in the quarter.

The Wolfpack return man coughed up the ball on the Eagle kick-off, and East Bladen senior Dayveon Washington plucked the ball out of the air and raced 33 yards to the end zone. Barber added the extra point to boost the Eagle lead to 31-21 with 2:06 on the clock.

After an exchange of punts, the Wolfpack drove 78 yards in 11 plays. Junior Jovonte Davis was the workhorse on the drive carrying 5 times for 70 yards. Moss leaped into the end zone from a yard out, and Bass’ conversion sliced the margin to 31-28 with 4:58 remaining.

Camrahn Jamison recovered Whiteville’s on-side kick at the Eagle 49 yardline, but the Eagle defense forced a 3-and-out.

Three plays later the Eagles faced a fourth-down-and-one situation at their own 29 yardline. Pone banged off the right side to pick up the first down by a half yard. It was the sixth fourth down that the Eagles converted in the game.

“I didn’t want to give the ball back to them,” said Coach Priest. “They have too many ways to score fast.” About going for it on eight fourth down plays he added, “I don’t like to punt. It’s like giving up.”

After Pone picked up the key first down, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty advanced the Eagles out to their 46 yardline. The Eagles milked all but 22 seconds off the clock before turning the ball over on downs at the Whiteville 49 yardline.

On the next play Moss threw long down the right sideline, and Pone came up with the interception inside the Eagle ten yardline as the game ended.

“Man that last three minutes was worse than chemo,” chuckled Priest who completed chemotherapy treatments for colon cancer just before the season started.

“I was proud of the way our defense played there at the end,” continued Priest. “And we got a touchdown on special teams that was big.”

The Eagles took the opening kick-off and marched 67 yards in ten plays to take a 7-0 lead. Quarterback Zach Meares tossed a swing pass to Pone who turned it into a 22-yard gain.

Chancy carried 5 times for 31 yards on the drive and banged into the end zone from 2 yards out for the touchdown. Barber kicked the point at the 7:41 mark.

Whiteville answered with a 65-yard drive in 7 plays. Moss completed passes of 20 yards to junior Sammy Shipman and 30 yards to junior Lincoln Ransom. Moss dashed 6 yards for the touchdown, but the kick missed and East still led 7-6 with 4:51 on the clock.

East Bladen responded with a 51-yard, 11 play drive. A 17-yard pass from Meares to junior Lawson Hester highlighted the drive. Chancy rushed 6 times for 20 yards during the drive. On fourth-and-four at the Wolfpack 14 yardline, Barber drilled a 31-yard field goal to pad the Eagle lead to 10-6 with 10:30 remaining in the half.

Whiteville covered 68 yards in 5 plays to take the lead. Moss connected with junior Elijah Currie on a 30-yard pass play. Davis popped free off the left side and galloped 37 yards for the touchdown. Moss ran the 2-point conversion for a 14-10 Whiteville lead 9:11 before halftime.

Back came the Eagles with a 68-yard, 14-play drive that consumed 8 minutes off the clock. Hester cut back and scooted 20 yards to get the drive started. Meares circled right end for ten yards to convert a fourth-and-five play.

Chancy picked up four yards to convert the second fourth down play in the drive. Hester bolted 11 yards to the 5 yardline, and Meares kept the ball around left end on a 3-yard touchdown run. Barber split the uprights with the extra point kick for a 17-14 Eagle lead at the 1:10 mark.

After a short squib kick-off, the Wolfpack capitalized on a personal foul penalty to reach the East 14 yardline before time expired in the half.

Eagle junior Kasey Price recovered a Wolfpack fumble at the Eagle 42 yardline early in the second half. The Eagles drove to the Whiteville 36 yardline before being stopped on downs.

Whiteville rushed for 257 yards in the game led by Davis with 150 yards on 15 carries. Faulk added 62 yards and Moss rushed for 35 yards and 3 touchdowns. Moss completed 5 of 11 passes for 97 yards with one interception.

The Eagles rushed for 215 yards led by Chancy with 94 yards and 2 touchdowns on 19 carries. Hester carried 15 times for 72 yards. Meares ran for 15 yards and a touchdown and completed 2 of 4 passes for 39 yards.

Whiteville held a 354-254 edge in total yards, but the Eagles held a whopping 33-15 edge in time of possession minutes.

“Our offense grew up some in the North Brunswick game,” said Coach Priest.

The Eagles, now 2-1 overall, travel to South Columbus Friday to battle the other TRC co-favorite.

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