It’s rebound week for both East Bladen and West Bladen varsity gridders, as the third week of the Four County Conference arrives.
The Eagles and Knights will each take to the road this week for games, as East Bladen prepares for a battle with Pender County’s Patriots and West Bladen gets ready for a matchup against Heidi Trask.
Last week, the Eagles were forced by heavy rain to move their home game against rival Clinton to Saturday, but the footing wasn’t much better. Still, the Dark Horses brought a stiff defense to shut down the East Bladen running game and just enough offense to earn a 19-7 win.
It was the first game in memory that the Eagles’ only points came from a touchdown pass — this one a 15-yard strike from quarterback Quinton Bedsole to running back Ethan Hines. The Dark Horses’ defense held East Bladen to just 50 yards of total offense in the game.
West Bladen’s home game against Wallace-Rose Hill last Friday had to be moved to Teachey because of a flooded field, and the Knights were humbled with a 49-6 loss by the Bulldogs. Wallace-Rose Hill scored early, often and in nearly every way to build a 43-0 lead after the first quarter.
B.J. Drake’s 88-yard touchdown run gave West Bladen its only score of the game.
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East Bladen at Pender County
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The Eagles and Patriots enter this week’s matchup — which will be played in Burgaw on Thursday at 7 p.m. — with identical 3-3, 1-1 records.
Pender County is coming off a 26-7 win over Midway last Friday.
Pender’s offense, which has scored 164 points this season, is run by junior quarterback Chase Norris, who has passed for just 56 yards and one touchdown. Instead, he will be handing off to running backs Justin Hooper (631 yards and six touchdowns on 75 carries) and Latrell Brown (625 yards and 11 touchdowns on 68 carries).
Through the air, Brown has caught five of Norris’ seven completions for 27 yards and the touchdown.
Defensively, the Patriots have allowed 157 points and is led by defensive ends Linzie McAllister with 45 total tackles, 37 solo, along with two sacks; and Corey Winfield with 26 total tackles and a sack. Treveon Kornegay also has two sacks.
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West Bladen at Heidi Trask
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The 5-1, 1-1 Titans of Heidi Trask will host the 3-3, 0-2 Knights on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Rocky Point.
Trask is coming off a 28-21 win over Union on last week.
The Titans’ offense, which has put up 190 points this season, is operated by junior quarterback Tyrease Armstrong, who has completed 10 of 27 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns. behind him are running backs Steven Jordan (496 yards and seven touchdowns on 52 carries), Tony Holmes (324 yards and two touchdowns on 66 carries) and B.J. Jordan (289 yards and five touchdowns on 36 carries). Armstrong has also toted the ball 46 times for 237 yards and six touchdowns.
Over on defense, Heidi Trask has allowed just 94 points is led by linebackers Foster Williamson with 59 tackles, 34 of which are solo, and a fumble recovery; Steven Jordan with 49 tackles, 22 of which are solo, and an interception; and Tyler Grant with 35 tackles and a sack.
“Trask is very well coached and, defensively, they pursue and get after the ball carrier,” West Bladen coach Todd Pait said. “They have a tailback as good as anyone we have played, and their quarterback runs the offense effectively.”