03/29/2024
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ELIZABETHTOWN – Junior Rasean McKoy ran for 171 yards and 3 touchdowns Friday night to lead East Bladen’s Eagles to a 55-12 Three Rivers Conference victory over East Columbus in the Eagles Homecoming game.

McKoy needed only 7 carries to amass almost half of the Eagles 350 rushing yards. “RaSean’s just turning into one of those dudes,” said East Bladen Coach Robby Priest. “He is just getting better and better. His offensive line did a great job blocking for him tonight.”

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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong

The Eagles covered 64 yards in 2 plays on their initial possession. After senior Lawson Hester picked up 10 yards, Rasean McKoy stepped through a pair of tackles on the right side and galloped 54 yards for a touchdown. Senior Gabe Barber kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead only 47 seconds into the game.

A snap over the Gator punter’s head was recovered by Eagle senior Kaleb Robbins at the East Columbus 11 yard line. Hester dashed around right end on a quick-pitch for the touchdown on the next play. Barber tacked on the point for a 14-0 East Bladen lead at the 8:23 mark.

RaSean McKoy bolted 27 yards on the Eagles’ next possession and a late hit penalty on the play set East Bladen up at the Gator 16 yard line. However, East Columbus’ Fisher Reaves intercepted an Eagle pass in the end zone to stop the threat.

The Gators then marched 80 yards in 10 plays. Senior Monzelle Campbell reeled off runs of 24, 11 and 20 yards before capping the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. A run for the conversion failed but the lead was sliced to 14-6 with 9:03 left before halftime.

The East Columbus kick-off only rolled 2 yards giving East Bladen possession at the Gator 42. On the next play RaSean McKoy bolted 42 yards on a counter-play for the touchdown. Barber split the uprights on the conversion for a 21-6 Eagle lead with 8:51 on the clock.

Four plays later Eagle senior ZaQuis Leach scooped up a Gator fumble and darted 31 yards to the end zone. Barber booted the point for a 28-6 East Bladen lead at the 6:55 mark.

Another Gator fumble was recovered by Lawson Hester at the East Columbus 35 yard line. Senior Kasey Price bulled through the line for a 19-yard gain. Two plays later Rasean McKoy sprinted around right end on an 18-yard TD run. Hester, the holder on the conversion attempt, scooted around left end on a 2-point conversion run that grew the lead to 36-6.

An 88-yard kick-off return of the second-half kick-off put East Columbus at the Eagle 8 yard line. Two plays later Reaves circled left end on the quarterback keeper for the touchdown that narrowed the gap to 36-12.

East Bladen senior Antoine Jordan recovered the Gators onside kick attempt, and the Eagles rolled 51 yards in 6 plays. Hester ripped off runs of 9 and 7 yards, and Price pounded the middle on runs of 16, 3 then 7 yards for the touchdown that padded the lead to 42-12 with 8:28 left in the quarter.

Another miscue on the snap to the Gator punter gave East Bladen the ball at the East Columbus 30 yard line. RaSean McKoy popped free for 17 yards, and Price plowed through the line for 14 yards. Hester carried 4 yards for the touchdown. Barber booted the conversion to up the count to 49-12 with 6:01 on the clock.

The Eagles moved 71 yards in 7 plays on their next possession. Senior Desyias McKoy highlighted the drive with runs of 10, 5 and 23 yards. Sophmore Raymond Autry, Jr. banged through the line for 20 yards, and Leach plowed 2 yards for the touchdown and the final 55-12 margin with 9:44 left in the game.

“I liked that we came out focused,” said Priest. “A lot of times during Homecoming week there are a lot of distractions, but we did a good job of keeping the main thing the main thing.”

Price finished with 62 yards rushing on 6 carries. Hester ran for 41 yards on 5 attempts. Autry added 36 yards on 3 rushes.

Campbell led the Gators with 83 yards rushing on 11 attempts.

The Eagles improved to 4-3 in the TRC and 4-5 overall and have an open date next week before hosting West Bladen in their season finale.

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