RALEIGH – West Bladen junior Hezekiah Adams and East Bladen senior Masion Brooks have been named to the 2023 HighSchoolOT All-State Football Team.
Adams was selected to the Second Team All-State Special Teams as a returner/athlete. The speedy junior returned 2 punts for touchdowns and 2 kickoffs for touchdowns. Adams also passed for 244 yards and 3 touchdowns, rushed for 124 yards and 3 touchdowns, and caught 19 passes for 421 yards and 4 touchdowns. As a defensive back he intercepted 3 passes and was credited with 35 tackles.
Brooks was chosen to the Third Team All-State Team for 2-way performers. The burly halfback rushed for 2,106 yards and 40 touchdowns as the Eagles reached the Class 1A Eastern Semifinals. Brooks was good enough as an Edge performer on defense to be selected to the 2023 Shrine Bowl Team.
Adams’ kickoff return touchdowns were 83 yards against Clinton and 85 yards against Havelock. He returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown against South Columbus and 47 yards for a TD against Fairmont.
Other key performances : 231 all-purpose yards, 2 receiving touchdowns and a rushing TD in 47-14 win over East Columbus; 188 all-purpose yards, receiving touchdown and a rushing TD in 27-15 loss to Class 1A Eastern runner-up West Columbus; 212 all-purpose yards, 3 touchdowns vs. Havelock.
Brooks turned in a monster performance of 359 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns on runs of 60, 26, 51, 49, 56, 27 and 54 yards in 65-36 win over Pender. A 76-yard TD run highlighted a 3-touchdown 237-yard game in a key 40-15 victory over South Columbus. He also rushed for 206 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 28-6 win at Heide Trask. The 235-pound back racked up 160 yards and 3 touchdowns in win over West Bladen.
In the playoffs, Brooks rushed for 161 yards and 4 touchdowns in 47-14 win over Rosewood; 135 yards and 4 touchdowns in 25-18 victory over Pinetown-Northside; and 128 yards and 4 touchdowns in 57-14 win over North Edgecombe.
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