The Knights enter the contest with a 3-4 overall record and 1-2 in league play. West lost a closely contested game with East Bladen Monday night, falling 19-13 following a late Eagle touchdown.
Three of West Bladen's losses have come by scores of six points or less. The lone loss than came by more than six points was against Red Springs two weeks ago when the Knights fell 19-7.
Along with the six point loss to East Bladen, West lost by six points to South Brunswick and by one point to Hobbton.
West Bladen's wins came with a 40-14 victory over Overhills, a 27-13 win at Ashley and a 27-26 overtime win over Fairmont.
Good defensive play by the Knights along with the running of Joseph Graham, Daniel Evans and Daniel Long had led to the team's success.
Tonight's contest will be big as West is trying to get enough wins to qualify for a State playoff berth.
Coach Andy Clark feels that four wins would qualify his team for a spot in the playoffs. Only one 1A and one 2A team from the conference will automatically qualify for post season play. Other teams will be seeded according to their record to fill out the bracket.
East Bladen, West Columbus and South Robeson are the 1A teams in the league, and West Bladen, Fairmont, St. Pauls and Red Springs are the 2A members.
South Robeson got off to a slow start this year, losing its first five games before finally coming with a 20-14 win over St. Pauls last week.
The Mustangs are 1-5 overall and 1-1 in league play, and have been outscored 192-67 through the six outings. West Bladen has outscored its opponents 168-152
The Mustangs' closest contest through the five losses was a 30-12 set back against Ayden-Grifton, but South's opponents have been strong including contest against unbeaten Gray's Creek, Providence Day and Whiteville. The conference loss came against a very good East Bladen team.
It may be tempting for the Knights to look past the Mustangs because of their record, but they can't afford to do that.
West lost to South 15-14 last year, and the Knights lone win over the Mustangs came two years ago at South Robeson.
In 2003 the Knights fell to South 32-14, and in 2001, the first year for West Bladen, the Knights lost to the Mustangs 29-6. That year West had opened the season with five consecutive wins before losing to South.
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