By John Clark
East Bladen’s Eagles will make the 126-mile journey to Tarboro Friday night to battle the unbeaten and top-seeded Tarboro Vikings – the ‘Beast of the East’- in the NCHSAA Class 1A Eastern semifinals. Game time is 7 p.m. at 1400 West Howard Avenure.
It will be the first meeting between the 2 teams since a Todd Gurley-led Tarboro team defeated East Bladen 33-7 in the 2010 Class 2A Eastern Finals. At East Bladen in 2009, the unbeaten Eagles were stopped on downs at the 1 yard line late in a 28-22 Eastern finals loss to Tarboro.
Both of those Tarboro teams won 2A state championships then won the state again in 2011. The Vikings won Class 1A state titles in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021. Tarboro won 5 Eastern titles from 2008-2012 and currently has a string of 6 Eastern titles from 2017-2022.
This year’s Vikings have scored 506 points in 11 games while giving up only 66 points – an average winning margin of 46-6. After a 1st round bye, Tarboro posted playoff wins over Northampton County 48-0 and Southeast Halifax 36-0.
Tarboro won the Four County 1A/2A Conference with a 5-0 record, and the Vikings 2 closest games were non-conference wins over Class 2A opponents Hertford County 49-22 and SouthWest Edgecombe 35-20. Both of those teams made the 2A playoffs and finished with identical 10-3 records.
The Vikings feature a 3-pronged ground attack that has racked up 3,560 yards and 62 touchdowns. Sophomore Kamerin McDowell-Moore leads the way with 944 yards and 20 touchdowns. Junior Mason Satterfield follows with 898 yards and 14 TDs, and sophomore Caiden Everette has rushed for 840 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Quarterback Omarion Lewis, a 6-3 senior, directs the Viking attack completing 16 of 27 passes for 350 yards and 5 touchdowns. Lewis has rushed for 106 yards and 5 more touchdowns. McDowell-Moore tops the receivers with 5 catches for 113 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Junior linebacker Christian Gunter sparks the defense with 75 tackles, and junior Cam’ron Harper follows with 68 tackles. Senior Oscar Perez Gaspar has connected on 50 of 52 extra-point kicks.
Coach Robby Priest’s East Bladen squad has claimed 3 straight playoff victories over North Edgecombe 57-14, Northside-Pinetown 25-18 and Goldsboro Rosewood 47-14. The Eagles finished 3rd in the Waccamaw 1A/2A Conference behind West Columbus (11-1) and Whiteville (11-2). Both of those teams are still alive in the playoffs.
The Eagles’ ground-and-pound offense has piled up 3,574 rushing yards and scored 52 rushing touchdowns. Senior Masion Brooks headlines the East runners with 2,021 yards and 39 touchdowns rushing. Senior Na’Toren Corbett has carried for 678 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Junior Kewone Maynor has completed 48 of 121 passes for 895 yards and 10 touchdowns. Maynor has carried for 2 more touchdowns. Junior Malaki Moore leads the receivers with 30 catches for 703 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Junior Xavier Best has intercepted 4 passes and recovered 2 fumbles. Corbett has 3 fumble recoveries. Senior Jamarius Smith and Moore have each recovered 2 fumbles. Senior Blaine Pope has connected on 22 of 30 extra points.
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