The Eagles lead the series 3-1. In the first year of the two new schools in 2001, West Bladen, under Coach Raymond, came out on top, 34-21. Jason Biggs' 2002 team lost to the Eagles 28-0.
The following year, under Coach Andy Clark, West lost 38-12, and last year the Eagles took a 34-0.
Coach Lenon Fisher has been at the helm at East Bladen all five years. Fisher is in his 26th year at the school. Clark is in his third year at West.
Both teams go into tonight's game with 3-3 overall records. East Bladen is 2-0 in Southeastern 1A/2A Conference play and West Bladen is 1-1 in league play. For the first time ever, the two schools are in the same conference.
East Bladen is playing in the 1A division, and West is among the 2A teams in the league.
The two have not played a common opponent.
The Knights opened conference with a 27-26 overtime win over Fairmont, before losing to Red Springs 19-7 last week.
The Eagles have dominated it first two conference games. East ran past South Robeson 41-7 in the league opener before beating St. Pauls 36-0 last week.
East Bladen seemed to be struggling some early on playing a tough non-conference schedule. Whiteville slipped past the Eagles in the season opener. Following a big win at Richlands, East suffered one of their biggest loses in years, falling to South Columbus, 41-14.
The Eagles fell behind Clinton 14-0 in the first half the following week before taking a 14-12 loss.
Fisher was pleased with his team's second half performance against Clinton, and felt the squad stayed on track with the win over South Robeson and the first half of the contest against St. Pauls.
East led 36-0 at halftime against the Bulldogs, and Fisher thought his team lost some of its intensity in the second half.
The Knights two non-conference losses were close contest. After running past Overhills in the season opener, West lost to South Brunswick, 28-22.
The following week the Knights pulled of a big upset when they defeated 4A Wilmington Ashley 27-13 in a game played at Ashley.
The following week, West allowed Hobbton to get away with a 33-32 win.
Clark was happy with his team's performance against the powerful running game of Red Springs. The Knights led that game 7-6 at halftime, before letting the contest slip away in the second half.
East and West both have very good offensive backfields. West quarterback Austin Hillis, and East's Dom Whittington have played solid. Neither team throws a lot.
Whittington completed at five pass attempts last week for 148 yards. Hillis completed 3-of-6 passes last week for 55 yards.
East has used several different running backs this year. Donavan Richardson, who has missed a couple of games with an injury, gained 82 yards on only five carries last week.
Joseph Graham, Daniel Evans and Daniel Long have put up impressive numbers running the ball for West Bladen.
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