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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
ELIZABETHTOWN – Sophmore quarterback Zach Meares threw for 3 touchdowns Friday night to lead East Bladen to a 49-0 Three Rivers Conference victory over East Columbus.
The Eagles struck quickly with a touchdown only a minute and seven seconds into the game. Meares connected with Xavier McKoy on the 8-yard scoring pass, and junior Gabe Barber nailed the first of 7 extra points.
Senior Eric Chancy capped the second Eagle scoring drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Barber booted the conversion for a 14-0 lead at the 4:53 mark of the first period.
Junior Lawson Hester bulled into the end zone from 2 yards out midway the second quarter to boost the Eagle lead to 21-0 after Barber added the point.
Meares fired an 11-yard touchdown pass to senior Shy Pone with 1:31 left in the half. Barber tacked on the point for a 28-0 lead.
The Eagles were back in scoring territory in the closing minute of the half, and Meares tossed a 5-yard scoring pass to Pone as the lead grew to 35-0 after Barber’s kick with 13 seconds on the first half clock.
Hester dashed 9 yards for his second touchdown of the game midway the third period. Barber split the uprights again for a 42-0 lead.
Josh McKoy intercepted an East Columbus pass with ten minutes left in the game and returned it for the final Eagle touchdown. Barber finished a perfect night with his seventh extra point kick in seven attempts.
A running clock was used in the fourth quarter due to the 42-point Eagle lead.
Meares completed 6 of 8 passes for 60 yards and the three touchdowns. Chancy carried 7 times for 64 yards and a touchdown. Hester finished with 61 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns on 8 attempts. Kasey Price rushed 3 times for 39 yards.
Pone caught 4 passes for 44 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Eagles rushed for 189 yards and had 249 yards of total offense.
The East Bladen defense held East Columbus to 97 yard rushing and 58 yards passing. The Eagles recovered two fumbles and had one pass interception.
Coach Robby Priest’s Eagles improved to 5-0 in the TRC and 6-1 overall. East Bladen will host Red Springs in a key TRC make-up game Tuesday at 7 p.m.
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