By John Clark
GOLDSBORO – Junior Xavier Best’s 52-yard pass interception return for a touchdown on the 1st offensive snap of the 2nd half ignited a 32-7 East Bladen blitz that carried the East Eagles to a 47-14 victory over Rosewood’s Eagles Friday night in the 3rd round of the NCHSAA Class 1A State Football Playoffs.
Coach Robby Priest’s Eagles, the No. 13 seed in the East, improved to 8-5 and will travel to top-seeded Tarboro (11-0) Friday night. Tarboro defeated Southeast Halifax 36-0 Friday night.
Best made a leaping catch of Giovanni Pineda’s pass and dashed 52 yards down the right sideline to the end zone. Pineda was under pressure from East senior Kalec Autry on the play. Senior Blaine Pope kicked the extra point for a 22-7 lead.
“The Pick-6 was the play of the game,” said Priest. “It flipped momentum and got ‘Ole Mo’ back on our side.” From that point on East Bladen outgained Rosewood 240 yards to 55 yards in the 2nd half.
“Our defense is getting better,” continued Priest. “They are flying to the ball. Our offensive front played better tonight. I thought they really dominated play.”
The evidence of the offensive line’s good play was reflected in the statistics. Senior Masion Brooks rushed 21 times for 160 yards and 4 touchdowns. His running mate, senior Na’Toren Corbett, gained 152 yards on 15 attempts as East Bladen racked up 355 yards rushing and 413 total yards.
Junior quarterback Kewone Maynor completed 2 of 5 passes for 58 yards and a touchdown. Junior Malaki Moore caught both passes including a 39 yarder for a touchdown.
After Best’s touchdown, East Bladen forced a 3-and-out then started a 71-yard scoring drive that consumed 6 plays and ended with the Maynor-to-Moore 39-yard TD pass. A mishandled snap foiled the conversion, but the lead grew to 28-7 at the 7:27 mark of the period.
Three plays later Best picked off another Rosewood pass to give East the ball at their own 43 yard line. The winners overcame a holding penalty and ground out a 57-yard, 12-play drive that featured a 15-yard run by Brooks and a 10-yard burst by Corbett. On the 1st play of the final quarter. Brooks blasted through the line and powered 20 yards to the end zone. The conversion failed but the lead had reached 34-7.
Rosewood finally interrupted the onslaught with a 52-yard, 4-play drive that began with a 36-yard pass from Pineda to junior Talan Collins. Senior David Lamm gained 11 yards then scored on a 3-yard run. Junior Kearney Collins booted the conversion to trim the margin to 34-14 with 10:06 on the clock.
The Goldsboro squad attempted an onside kick, but it didn’t go far enough, and East took over at the Rosewood 46. Corbett bolted through the line, cut back and gained 33 yards. On the next play Brooks pounded the left side and galloped 13 yards for his 4th touchdown of the game. Pope tacked on the conversion for a 41-14 lead at the 9:06 mark.
East regained possession on downs, overcame a holding penalty and covered 47 yards in 4 plays. Corbett sped through the line for 18 yards. Junior Jaylen Suggs banged through tacklers to pick up 18 yards, and junior Jamere Stephens darted 18 yards for a touchdown that pushed the lead to 47-14. East took a knee on the conversion.
Lamm was the Rosewood workhorse gaining 113 yards (96 in the 1st half) on 19 carries. Pineda completed 7 of 13 passes for 86 yards but suffered 2 interceptions. Rosewood finished with 127 yards rushing and 213 total yards.
East took the opening kickoff and marched 52 yards in 4 plays. Corbett broke loose on the right side, cut back left and scooted 41 yards. Brooks bulled through the line from 8 yards out for the touchdown. Corbett charged across the goal line on the 2-point conversion for an 8-0 lead with 9:41 on the clock.
Rosewood answered with a 76-yard, 12-play scoring drive. Lamm rushed 5 times for 35 yards on the march, before Pineda connected with senior Micah Cox on a 19-yard scoring pass. Collins added the conversion 1:20 before the quarter break to trim the margin to 8-7.
East responded with a 69-yard drive in 9 plays. Corbett’s 10-yard run, and runs of 10, 9 and 9 yards by Brooks highlighted the drive. Maynor fired a swing pass to Moore who flew 19 yards down the sideline, before Brooks barreled into the end zone from 4 yards out. Pope drilled the conversion kick for a 15-7 East lead 8:56 before halftime.
Senior Matthew Kemp sacked Pineda 2 plays later and knocked the ball loose. Senior Jadon Pridgen recovered for East at the Rosewood 43, but the threat was ended on downs.
Lamm popped free on a 31-yard run as Rosewood drove to the East 27 before being stopped on downs 3:09 before halftime.
Rosewood, the No. 12 seed, finished with a 7-6 record.
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