03/29/2024
Spread the love

The Battle for the Bell continues Friday night when West Bladen’s Knights travel to Lenon Fisher Stadium to take on the East Bladen Eagles in a game that has play-off implications.

A victory for Coach Robby Priest’s Eagles would cement the No. 2 Class 2-A play-off spot from the Four County Conference for East Bladen. A Knight victory would create a 3-way tie for that No. 2 spot between East Bladen, West Bladen and Midway. All three of those teams will probably receive play-off spots.

The Knights won the first game between the schools in 2000, but the Eagles have won the next 13 meetings. Two years ago East won 28-7, last year the Eagles posted a 42-14 victory.

Last week, Eian Hines’ 6-yard touchdown run with 1:41 remaining pulled out a 12-8 victory for the Eagles. A Union fumble set up the winning score. “We were lucky,” said Coach Priest.

Eian Hines rushed for 129 yards against Union and now has totaled 712 yards and 7 touchdowns for the season. Ethan Hines, his twin brother, missed the Union game with an injury but leads the Eagles with 726 yards and 9 rushing touchdowns. Ethan has also returned 3 kick-offs and a punt for touchdowns.

Junior Kyle Tatum has added 522 yards and 9 touchdowns to the Eagle attack, and senior fullback Nikita Owens has contributed 377 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns.

Senior quarterback Alex Coates has thrown for 228 yards and 2 touchdowns. Senior Ty McMillian is expected to be cleared to play after an injury suffered against Pender, but how much he will be able to play Friday is uncertain.

Senior Zachary Johnson has caught 7 passes for 173 yards, and sophmore Sincere Smith has snagged 5 passes for 152 yards. Place-kicker Jesus Ramos has converted 31 of 36 extra point attempts.

Senior Chris Cromartie leads the Eagle defense with 64 tackles, 5 sacks and has also blocked a punt. Junior Derrick Burney has recorded 58 tackles, and sophmore Xavia McDowell follows with 55 tackles and has recovered 4 fumbles.

Junior Michael Walter has made 5 quarterback sacks and has 4 fumble recoveries. Tatum has returned a pass interception for a touchdown and recovered 2 on-side kicks.

The Eagle offense averages 30 points, 285 rushing yards and 322 total yards per game. The East Bladen defense has allowed 17 points per game.

“The focus has been there this week,” said Coach Priest. “The guys are pumped up and have gone at it hard in practice even though it has been sloppy and wet out there.”

Coach Russell Dove’s Knights sliced a 14-0 Midway lead to 20-15 last week, but the Raiders turned a blocked Knight punt into a touchdown, then were the beneficiary of an inadvertent whistle that nullified a Knight fumble recovery and iced a 33-15 victory.

Senior Malique McDowell ran for 68 yards and a touchdown against Midway and leads the Knight rushing attack with 707 yards and 4 touchdowns. Junior James Moore led the Knights with 74 rushing yards and a touchdown against the Raiders. Moore has 596 yards and 3 touchdowns for the season.

Sophmore B. J. Drake follows with 544 yards and 4 touchdowns, and senior Daquan Lennon has contributed 432 yards and 3 touchdowns. Lennon has also returned a kick-off for a touchdown.

Senior quarterback Stefan McDonald has thrown for 221 yards and 2 touchdowns. McDonald has also returned a punt for a touchdown. Senior Hunter Prevatte tops the West receivers with 5 catches for 48 yards. Senior Ray Jones has made 14 of 14 extra point kicks.

Senior David Gittens leads the Knight defense along with junior linebacker Hunter Pait. Ricky McLaurin has returned an interception for a touchdown.

The Knight offense has averaged 23 points, 271 rushing yards and 300 total yards per game. West Bladen has given up 28 points per game.

“This is a big rivalry game, but it has been kind of lop-sided lately,” said Coach Dove. “We hope to change our fortunes Friday. Everybody is healthy and ready to go out there and do the best we can.”

To share on social media, use https://bladencounty.org/?p=32279

About Author