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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
WILMINGTON – Wilmington Laney scored two touchdowns in the final 25 seconds of the first half en route to a 31-7 non-conference football victory over East Bladen.
Four Eagle turnovers – 2 fumbles, a muffed kick and a blocked punt – stopped 2 Eagle drives inside the Buccaneer 20 yard line and set up a Laney touchdown and field goal.
“We put the ball on the deck too many times to beat anybody, and Laney is a good team,” said East Bladen Coach Robby Priest.
Sophomore quarterback Sherod Sidbury was the story for Laney. Sidbury completed 7 of 10 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 95 yards and 2 more touchdowns.
The Buccaneers took the opening kick-off and marched 80 yards in ten plays to take a 7-0 lead. Sidbury fired a 43-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Jason Billingsea to cap the drive. Senior James Hoffman booted the extra point for a 7-0 lead at the 8:12 mark.
Laney’s onside kick sailed out-of-bounds giving the Eagles the ball at the Laney 47. Junior Bernard Robinson bolted through the middle for 18 yards and a first down at the Buc 27 yardline. The Eagles reached the 21, before losing the ball on downs at the Laney 25.
The Buccaneers ground out a 61-yard, 14-play drive that stalled at the Eagle 14 yard line. Hoffman’s 31-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.
After an exchange of punts, the Eagles mounted a 59-yard, 6-play scoring drive. Robinson charged through the middle for 11 yards. Senior Ethan Hines raced around left end for 19 yards on the counter play, then picked up 12 more yards.
Ethan Hines flew around the left side again on the counter to score the touchdown from 16 yards out. Sophomore Pierce Melvin’s extra point kick tied the game 7-7 with 1:52 left in the half.
Laney answered with a 59-yard drive. Senior Austin Nalley gained 11 yards on a fourth down carry that had a facemask penalty tacked on. Sidbury then hurled a 25-yard pass to Micah Hairston that moved the ball to the East one. Sidbury sneaked into the end zone for the touchdown and – with Hoffman’s kick – a 14-7 lead with 25 seconds on the clock.
The on-side kick was muffed by the Eagles, and Laney’s Trevor Pender recovered at the Eagle 46. On the final play that was snapped with 2.2 seconds left, the Bucs faked a double reverse with the ball being pitched back to Sidbury who threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Alfahiym Walcott who caught the ball at the Eagle 12 and darted into the end zone. Hoffman converted for a 21-7 halftime lead.
The Eagles regrouped at halftime and started the second half with a 54-yard, 15-play drive that reached the Laney 18 yard line. However Buc linebacker Cayman Czesak ripped the ball away from an Eagle runner to end the threat.
“I thought we were a little rusty in the first half,” said Coach Priest. “But we came out, settled down and moved the ball down the field until the turnover.”
The Buccaneers responded with a 78-yard, 10-play drive that was capped by Sidbury galloping 21 yards around left end for the touchdown. Hoffman’s kick made it 28-7 with 1:02 remaining in the quarter.
Senior Ryan Daborowski blocked an Eagle punt to give Laney the ball at the East Bladen 20 yard line. The Bucs picked up one first down but had to settle for a 31-yard field goal by Hoffman.
The Eagles covered 44 yards in 8 plays on their next possession. Junior Xavier Wooten ripped off runs of 13 and 10 yards, and Robinson picked up 13 more. However a lost fumble at the Laney 10 yard line ended the drive.
Ethan Hines led the East Bladen offense with 13 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown. Robinson gained 62 yards on 9 rushes, and Wooten finished with 45 yards rushing on 11 attempts.
Laney held a slight edge on the ground with 200 rushing yards compared to 186 for East Bladen. However Sidbury’s 175 passing yards gave the Bucs a 375-195 advantage in total yards.
East Bladen, now 2-2, will host Midway Friday at 7 p.m. in their Four County Conference opener
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