Some of the names in the East Bladen backfield have changed, but the results are still the same.
The ground-and-pound physicality of Farrell and Larrell Muchison has graduated, but it has been replaced by the slash-and-dash of Ethan and Eian Hines as well as Nikita Owens – all three of whom rushed for over 100 yards Saturday night as the Eagles rolled past South Columbus 36-6.
The game was postponed by lightning and rain Friday night, and the track was still slow and muddy Saturday, but it didn’t slow down the Eagles’ ball-control offense.
East Bladen dominated the statistics holding a 413-172 edge in rushing yards, an 18-7 edge in first downs and a 58-36 advantage in offensive snaps. The Eagles scored on all four first-half possessions and on 5 of 7 possessions in the game. A lost fumble two plays into the second half and a punt with 42 seconds left in the game ended the other possessions.
“We’ve still got some work to do offensively,” said Eagle Coach Robby Priest. “But I am pleased with the way we handled the heat and humidity. Man I was really sweating out there.”
Junior Ethan Hines carried 17 times for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns. Twin brother Eian Hines gained 134 yards and scored a touchdown and a 2-point conversion on 15 rushes. Owens banged through the middle 15 times for 103 yards and a touchdown.
After forcing a Stallion 3-and-out, the Eagles marched 67 yards in 7 plays. Eian Hines bolted 26 yards to start the drive then capped it with a 19-yard touchdown run. Senior Jesus Ramos tacked on the extra point kick for a 7-0 lead with 7:03 left in the opening period.
On the next East Bladen possession, an illegal block penalty pushed the Eagles back to their own 8 yard line. East Bladen covered 92 yards in 11 plays and overcame two more penalties during the drive.
On fourth down and six from the Stallion 49, Coach Priest rolled the dice, and Ethan Hines broke through the line and darted 49 yards for the touchdown. An offside penalty moved the ball inside the two on the conversion, and Eian Hines rammed through the line for the two points and a 15-0 lead 9:27 before halftime.
The Eagles converted 4-of-4 fourth down situations and scored on two of them.“Mark (defensive coordinator Mark Little) didn’t like that first one much,” said Priest. “But after we made it, he said go for it on the next one.”
The Stallions answered with a 50-yard, 7-play scoring drive. Jeffrey Daniels ran 14 yards for a first down, then scooted 17 yards for the touchdown. The conversion run failed and the margin was 15-6 with 6:23 on the clock.
East Bladen answered with a 55-yard, 10-play drive. Eian Hines burst through the line and scooted 24 yards to convert a fourth down and 6 to go play from the Eagle 49 yard line. On fourth-and-one at the South Columbus 7 yard line, junior Kyle Tatum barreled through the line on the 7-yard touchdown run. Ramos kicked the conversion for a 22-6 lead 1:12 before halftime.
A Stallion fumble was recovered by East Bladen junior Michael Walter at the South 38 on the next play from scrimmage. Two runs and a horse-collar penalty put the ball at the 14, and Ethan Hines galloped 14 yards with 19 seconds left. Ramos booted the point for a 29-6 lead.
A 22-yard run by Dennis Leggett and a personal foul penalty moved the Stallions to the Eagle 22 with one second on the first half clock. On the next play, Leggett was stopped at the 12 yard line to end the half.
The Eagles lost a fumble on their second snap of the second half to give South the ball at the East Bladen 25. However the East defense held and stopped the Stallions on downs at the 17.
East Bladen responded with an 83-yard, 10-play drive that featured runs of 10 and 12 yards by Eian Hines and a 31 yard dash by Owens. Owens blasted through the middle again on an 11-yard touchdown run. Ramos added the point for a 36-6 lead with 4:22 left in the third quarter.
The Stallions drove 50 yards to the Eagle 3 yard line but were stopped on downs at the three on the second play of the final period.
East Bladen consumed most of the fourth quarter with a 63-yard, 16-play drive. The Eagles’ second-offense was in the game for the final 3 minutes of the march which was bogged down by a penalty and ended with the only Eagle punt of the game.
“I thought the defense played well,” said Coach Priest. “This was a good start for us. ”
East Bladen now gets ready for the Eagle home opener which will be Friday night against Whiteville.
Scoring Summary
East Bladen 7 – 22 – 7 – 0 – 36
South Columbus 0 – 6 – 0 – 0 – 6
EB – Eian Hines 19 run (Jesus Ramos kick)
EB – Ethan Hines 49 run (Eian Hines run)
SC – Jeffrey Daniels 17 run (run failed)
EB – Kyle Tatum 7 run (Ramos kick)
EB – Ethan Hines 14 run (Ramos kick)
EB – Nikita Owens 11 run (Ramos kick)
Rushing: EB – Ethan Hines 17-142, Eian Hines 15-134, Owens 15-103, Tatum 3-18, Bernard Robinson 3-14, Michael Walter 1-6, Alex Coates 1- (-4); Team 55-413.
Passing: EB – Tyquan McMillian 1-3-0, (-1).
Receiving EB – Owens 1-(-1).
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