ELIZABETHTOWN, N.C. — Coming off a first-round playoff bye, the East Bladen Eagles wasted little time shaking off two weeks of rest Friday night, surging past the visiting Bertie Falcons 49–18 in the second round of the NCHSAA Class 2A state playoffs at Lenon Fisher Stadium.
Entering the postseason as the No. 6 seed in the 2A East bracket, East Bladen (8–3) matched its season high for points scored—having previously put up 49 against Union in its regular-season finale—to eliminate No. 11 Bertie.
East Bladen’s ground-heavy attack has powered the Eagles all season, averaging 35.4 points per game. Junior running back Jaden Lewis has led the charge with 1,529 rushing yards (152.9 per game) and 27 total touchdowns, while senior Riley Collins has added 1,083 rushing yards and 15 total scores. Sophomore Zamarion Pone (4 total touchdowns) and Prince McKoy—who stepped up with 113 yards on 15 carries in the regular-season finale against Union—have provided additional depth out of the backfield.
Defensively, senior Braylon Johnson paces the Eagles with 54 tackles and two fumble recoveries, while junior Joel Lewis anchors the pass rush with a team-high 5.5 sacks alongside Collins (4.0 sacks) and senior Jordan Consola (3.5 sacks). Pone leads the secondary with three fumble recoveries and an interception, joined in the turnover column by Lakota Schmale and Nayshaun Jones with one pick apiece.
The victory sets up a marquee third-round road test for the Eagles next Friday, November 20, when East Bladen travels to Warrenton to face undefeated No. 3 seed Warren County (11–0) at 7:00 p.m. Warren County, the only unbeaten team remaining in the Class 2A field, advanced after eliminating No. 14 East Carteret in Round 2.
Meanwhile, fellow Carolina 1A/2A Conference members Lakewood (8–3), East Columbus (5–6), and West Columbus (6–5) also remain alive in their respective state playoff brackets heading into next Friday’s third-round slate.
© 2026 CoastalCarolinaNews.com | Jones Media Partners LLC
No content from this publication may be reproduced, republished, or repurposed without prior written authorization from Jones Media Partners LLC.
Be the first to comment