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By John Clark

PINETOWN – Northside Pinetown’s touchdown on the first play of the final quarter proved to be a wake-up call for East Bladen as the Eagles dominated the final 11:54 and rallied for a 25-18 victory Friday night in the 2nd round of the NCHSAA Class 1A Football Playoffs.

Coach Robby Priest’s Eagles, the No. 13 seed in the East, will travel to No. 12 seed Goldsboro Rosewood Friday night. Rosewood defeated No. 5 seed Bear Grass Charter 48-17.

After Jamie Corprew’s 7-yard touchdown run vaulted the Panthers in front 18-13, Eagle junior Xavier Best returned the Northside kickoff 27 yards to the Panther 48 yard line, and junior Malaki Moore hauled in a 29-yard pass from junior quarterback Kewone Maynor.

“I started to run that pass after we recovered the onside kick to start the second half,” said Priest. “But I decided to save it for later.”

With the Eagle sideline roaring after the pass play, senior Masion Brooks took over and pounded the Panther line for runs of 13, 6 and finally 1 yard for the touchdown and a 19-18 East Bladen lead with 10:09 remaining. Brooks led the Eagle attack rushing 24 times for 135 yards and 4 touchdowns.

The East Bladen defense forced a 3-and-out, and the offense responded with a 73-yard drive that consumed 8 plays and 6 minutes off the clock. Senior Na’Toren Corbett popped through the middle on runs of 30 and 10 yards, and Brooks carried 6 times for 33 yards diving into the end zone on a 6-yard run for the touchdown and a 25-18 lead with 3:24 left.

Two plays later senior Elijah Cain and junior Cole Butler sacked the Panther quarterback for a 9-yard loss. A Northside fumble on the next play was recovered by Brooks, and the Eagles drove to the Panther 14 before taking a knee on the final 2 plays.

After Northside took the lead, East Bladen outscored them 12-0 and gained 135 yards on 15 plays while limiting the Panthers to minus 6 yards on 6 plays.

“I thought our offensive and defensive lines played well,” noted Priest. “They were flying to the football. Kewone played well at quarterback.” Maynor completed 2 of 5 passes for 72 yards – both to Malaki Moore.

Corbett netted 75 yards on 13 rushing attempts as the 2 teams battled to a draw in rushing yardage 217-217. However, the Panthers completed 1 pass for only 2 yards. Corprew finished with 158 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries for Northside. Teammate Malachi Moore rushed 5 times for 66 yards and 2 touchdowns.

“They are a good football team,” stated Priest about the 8-3 Panthers who were the No. 4 seed in the East. “Well disciplined and well-coached.

The Eagles fumbled on their 2nd snap of the game, and Northside capitalized with a 33-yard drive in 6 plays. Corprew picked up 27 yards on 4 carries, before Malachi Moore darted 5 yards for the touchdown and a 6-0 lead.

East senior Jamarius Smith scooted 30 yards to midfield on the kickoff return, and Brooks bulled through the line on runs of 16 and 9 yards before plowing into the end zone from 6 yards out to tie the score 6-6 with 4:55 left in the quarter.

A 36-yard Eagle drive was halted on downs at the Northside 30 yard line, and the Panthers responded with a 70 yard drive in 7 plays. Corprew reeled off runs of 9, 12, 7 and 14 yards, before Malachi Moore skirted right end on a 28-yard TD run that produced a 12-6 lead 4:28 before halftime.

Senior Jadon Pridgen recovered Northside’s onside kick, and the Eagles covered 56 yards in 6 plays. Malaki Moore grabbed a 43-yard pass from Maynor just inside the right pylon to set up the touchdown, and Brooks blasted into the end zone from a yard out on the next play. Senior Blaine Pope nailed the extra point kick to edge East ahead 13-12 at the 1:42 mark.

Junior Jamere Stephens recovered the Eagle onside kick at midfield to start the 2nd half, but an East Bladen fumble gave the ball back to Northside at their own 27.

Malachi Moore gained 33 yards on 3 carries during Northside’s 56-yard, 9-play drive that resulted in Corprew’s go-ahead touchdown to start the final period.