WALLACE- Wallace-Rose Hill capitalized on a trio of East Bladen turnovers and one big pass play that propelled the Bulldogs to a 41-21 Four County Conference victory Friday night.
The Bulldogs, the defending Class 1AA state champions, held only a 392-337 edge in total yards, but turned two of the Eagle turnovers into touchdowns and stopped an East Bladen drive with the other one.
Still the Eagles only trailed 17-14 when Bulldog quarterback Aliza Carter hurled a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jalyn Pollock that converted a third down and 23 yards to go situation with only 16 seconds left in the first half. After senior Yahir Cano’s conversion kick, the Bulldogs led 24-14 at intermission.
Wallace-Rose Hill took the second half kick-off and ground out 47 yards in ten plays to reach the Eagle 5 yardline. However a 30-yard loss on an intentional grounding penalty resulted in Cano booming a 47-yard field goal that padded the lead to 27-14.
The Eagles picked up one first down before losing a fumble at their own 39 yardline. Two plays later Desmond Newkirk broke through the middle and dashed 39 yards for a touchdown and a 34-14 lead after a Cano conversion kick.
On the next Bulldog possession, Carter scrambled 30 yards to the Eagle 12 yardline, and after a Wallace penalty, Carter circled right end and dove for the pylon to complete a 26-yard touchdown run. Cano’s kick upped the count to 41-14 eight seconds into the final quarter.
East Bladen responded with a 63-yard, 14-play march that was stopped on downs at the Bulldog 17 yardline. Ethan Hines’ 15-yard run was the biggest play of the drive.
After an 8-yard Wallace-Rose Hill punt gave the ball back to the Eagles at the Bulldog 25, sophmore James Higgins blasted through the line for 12 yards.
Two plays later Ethan Hines bolted 8 yards for the touchdown. Sophmore Pierce Melvin split the uprights with the extra point that trimmed the margin to 41-21 with 1:39 remaining.
After the teams traded 3-and-outs to start the game, the Bulldogs pounded out a 62-yard, 13-play drive that reached the East 2 yardline. On fourth down Cano booted a 19-yard field goal for a 3-0 Wallace-Rose Hill lead.
The Eagles answered quickly as junior Xavia McDowell bulled through the line for 8 yards, and Ethan Hines scooted 14 yards on a counter play.
Junior quarterback Quinton Bedsole was drilled as he lofted a pass to Eian Hines who outleaped a pair of Bulldog defenders for the reception at the Bulldog 30 then raced down the right sideline to complete the 57 yard touchdown play and vault the Eagles ahead 6-3 with 42 seconds left in the period. The extra point attempt was wide left.
Wallace-Rose Hill covered 60 yards in 5 plays aided by a horse collar penalty to retake the lead. Newkirk banged into the end zone from a yard out on the first play of the second quarter, and Cano converted again for a 10-6 lead.
McDowell busted through the line and rumbled 23 yards to start an Eagle drive. East Bladen reached the Bulldog 25 yardline, but a fumbled snap gave the ball back to Wallace-Rose Hill.
The Bulldogs moved 41 yards in 6 plays to the East Bladen 34, but a shotgun snap ricocheted into the air and was grabbed by senior Anthony Falvo at the East 36 yardline.
Bedsole was hammered attempting to pass on the next play and left the game momentarily with the injury. Two plays later the Bulldogs’ Javonte Williams picked off an Eagle pass and sprinted 42 yards for a touchdown. Cano’s kick made it 17-6 Bulldogs.
The Eagles fought back with an 80-yard drive in 8 plays. McDowell pounded the middle for gains of 9 and 7 yards. Ethan Hines ripped off runs of 12 and 7 yards, before popping through the middle and scooting 39 yards down the left sideline to the Bulldog three.
Junior Xavier Wooten powered off the right side from 2 yards out for the touchdown. Wooten wouldn’t be denied on the 2-point conversion run pulling out of a tackle and diving over the goalline on sheer second effort to whittle the margin to 17-14 with 3:33 on the first half clock.
“I liked the way we came out and played,” said East Bladen Coach Robby Priest. “We didn’t quit – just too many turnovers and little things. When you don’t get but 3 days of practice after being off for 2 weeks, you don’t get to work on the little things. At least nobody got hurt after 12 days off.”
Ethan Hines rushed 23 times for 138 yards and a touchdown to lead the Eagle offense. McDowell gained 66 yards on 10 carries, and Wooten picked up 41 yards and a touchdown on 11 attempts.
Bedsole completed 2 of 6 passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. Eian Hines had the 57-yard TD reception.
Newkirk led the Bulldogs with 121 yards rushing on 16 carries. Malcolm Gray ran 17 times for 89 yards, and Carter and Quavion Baysden both finished with 53 yards rushing.
The Eagles, now 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the league, will host Union for Homecoming Friday.
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