By Sonny Jones
The offensive line provided the opening. Tim McLean’s speed took it from there.
McLean rushed for 314 yards on only 11 carries and had scoring runs of 79, 41, 62 and 58 yards Friday night as East Bladen celebrated homecoming by outscoring Red Springs 42-26 in a Southeastern Athletic Conference football game at Lenon Fisher Stadium.
“I feel like we practiced hard all week and we were looking forward to this opportunity,” said McLean, a senior who had rushed for 225 yards and hadn’t scored in four games this season, according to MaxPreps. “We’ve had a rough season so far so it was good to come out here and get the win. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. (The offensive line) made me proud.”
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Masion Brooks had 143 yards rushing and scored on a 32 yard run in the third quarter that gave the Eagles (3-4, 2-1 SAC) a 21-6 lead.
East Bladen rushed for 541 yards on 35 carries for an average of 15.5 yards per attempt behind the offensive line of Collin McKoy, Jadon Pridgen, Connor Britt, Britt Sasser and Rodney Lacewell along with tight end Aniyaes Betha.
“Both guards are sophomores and both tackles are sophomores,” East Bladen coach Robby Priest said. “They got an opportunity to play and they made the best of it.”
Red Springs quarterback Jeffery Colton Locklear completed 12 of 20 passes for 234 yards with a touchdown and interception. The TD pass went to Chris Bryant, who caught eight for 147 yards. The Red Devils (1-2, 0-2 SAC) were playing their first game since Sept. 17 because of COVID-19 protocols.
Red Springs is scheduled to host West Bladen on Tuesday and Fairmont on Friday and play at Clinton on Oct. 19 in an effort to make up postponed games.
“We only had one game to worry about this week,” Priest said. “I know everybody else is going through it. It was worth it. Had a great of week of practice.”
East Bladen beat rival West Bladen 16-8 on Sept. 28 and lost at Fairmont 20-8 three days later.
East Bladen finishes the regular season by playing conference leaders St. Pauls (4-0, 2-0) on Oct. 16 and Clinton (4-1, 2-0) on Oct. 29 in between a meeting against offensive powerhouse Midway (4-3, 1-2) on Oct. 22.
“I feel like this gave us the momentum we need to come back and make the playoffs and maybe get the big dub, state,” McLean said.
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East Bladen Homecoming Court
Queen: Azariah Rhodie. King: Marvin McKiver
Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
After the East Bladen defense held Red Springs on a first and goal from the 8 with help from a holding penalty on the first possession of the game, McLean ran off right tackle and down the sideline for 79 yards and his first touchdown that gave the Eagles a 6-0 lead with 4:34 left in the first quarter.
Locklear’s 22 yard pass to Bryant for a Red Springs score with 1:46 left in the second quarter tied it at 6-all, but McLean raced 41 yards, again down the right sideline, for a touchdown with 31 seconds remaining before half. Sherman Moore’s conversion run gave East Bladen a 14-6 advantage.
Brooks plowed his way up the middle for a 32 yard touchdown run and Blaine Pope kicked the first of his four extra points as East Bladen opened a 21-6 lead with 9:29 remaining in the third quarter.
Jerrick Thompson’s 5 yard run pulled Red Springs within 21-14, but McLean scored from 62 yards out on the first play from scrimmage following the kickoff that put East Bladen ahead 28-14.
Monroe, from the 1, and McLean, from 58 yards, scored for the Eagles in the fourth quarter. Mishon Wilson and Locklear ran for scores for Red Springs.
“I’m just happy,” Priest said. “It was homecoming, a lot of distractions during homecoming week. I thought they handled it good. I thought they kept the main thing the main thing throughout the whole week. They did a good job of staying focused.”
Azariah Rhodie was named homecoming queen and Marvin McKiver was named homecoming king for East Bladen during halftime ceremonies.
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