03/27/2024
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East Bladen High SchoolELIZABETHTOWN – East Bladen’s Eagles open the 2017 NCHSAA Class 2/A Football Play-offs Friday night when they host the James Kenan Tigers from Warsaw.

The Eagles and Tigers have not met on the gridiron since 2010. East Bladen posted regular season victories over James Kenan 25-0 in 2009 and 49-35 in 2010.  In 2006 and 2007 the Tigers claimed Class 1A third round play-off victories over the Eagles.

This season the Eagles claimed a huge 35-16 opening victory on the road at Clinton then split their first two games in Three Rivers Conference play winning 14-6 at Whiteville and dropping a 14-13 decision to South Columbus.

East Bladen closed the regular season with 7 straight wins surviving challenges from Fairmont 42-38 and St. Pauls 34-28. The Eagles’ 8-1 conference record secured a share of the Three Rivers title along with Whiteville and South Columbus.

Senior Xavier Wooten has rushed for 1,274 yards and 20 touchdowns to lead the Eagle offense. Junior halfback Eric Chancy has totaled 469 yards and 8 touchdowns. Fullback Xavia McDowell has added 409 rushing yards to an East Bladen attack that averages 277 yards rushing and 313 total yards per game.

Seniors Quinton Bedsole and Sincere Smith have split time at quarterback for the Eagles. Bedsole threw for 279 yards, while Smith threw for 119 yards and ran for 163 yards. Smith is also the team’s leading receiver with 8 catches for 193 yards. Junior Shy Pone who returned a kick-off for the winning touchdown against Fairmont gives the Eagles another weapon.

The Eagles averaged 35 points per game and allowed only 12 ppg. Wooten led the defense with 59 tackles, senior Lakeyed Lesane followed with 40 tackles, and senior Davonta McIver had 36 tackles and 3 fumble recoveries. Smith led the team with 3 pass interceptions.

The Tigers finished fifth in the East Central 2A and posted a 3-7 overall record. However James Kenan losses were 49-7 to No. 1 2AA seed East Duplin, twice to Class 2A No. 5 seed Wallace-Rose Hill by scores of 50-0 and 34-10, 49-12 to No. 9 2A seed Clinton, 42-7 to Class 3A Jacksonville Northside and 31-23 to No. 14 2A seed Goldsboro.

Junior John Thomas Avent directs the James Kenan spread offense that features speedy senior Teshawn Savage, junior Rasheed Simmons and 240-pound fullback Jibril Johnson. Junior Jalen Faison is Avent’s favorite receiver.

Defensive leaders for the Tigers include linebacker Savage, Johnson, safety Deandre Burgess, defensive end Dontae Miller and Donte Legette.

Gametime Friday night will be 7:30 and the Eagles will honor military veterans at halftime.

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