ELIZABETHTOWN– A false start on a two-point conversion changed the momentum from Manteo back to the Eagles Friday night at East Bladen, as the Eagles advance to the 2A Eastern semi-finals with a 38-21 victory over Manteo.
East Bladen (9-3) will face the eight-time and reigning state champions Tarboro on Nov. 28. The Eagles almost dethroned Tarboro two years ago, falling 20-13 after being tied at the half.
“I’m proud of how we can grind out a win we did not play our best,” Eagles Coach Robby Priest. “Credit Manteo for a hardfought game. It’s good to be practicing on Thanksgiving Day. Tarboro is undefeated for a reason. Well coached with good players on both sides of the ball.”
The Redskins opened with a “squib” kickoff, giving East Bladen great field position to start the game at the Redskin 38 yard line. Two plays later, Jaden Lewis ran to the end zone 21 yards out to give the Eagles their first score of the night. Dashon Campbell added the two-point conversion to put East Bladen ahead 8-0.
After stopping Manteo on downs, Campbell scampered up the middle from four yards out to push the Eagles’ lead to 14-0. Things stayed the Eagles’ way until the end of the second quarter as Drew Brown connected with Conner Pearce for a 33-yard Hail Mary pass. The answered prayer and the Marley Battle extra point made the score 14-7 at the half.
The Redskins carried that end-of-half energy into the second half with a six-play opening drive, ending with a Brown 53-yard bomb to Kai McGilberry to tie the score at 14-14 with the Battle extra point.
East Bladen responded on their next drive, scoring with a Campbell one yard plunge. Keyshawn Kemp nailed the two-point conversion to put the Eagles back ahead 22-14 with 8:30 left in the third quarter.
Manteo did not waste time in retaliating with an eight-play drive, capped off by Brown’s third touchdown pass of the night, again this time to Pearce, to cut the East Bladen lead to 22-20. Here was the play – or mistake – of the game.
The Redskins attempted on the two-point conversion to shift a left tackle to the right side to run a play, with the hope of outnumbering the Eagles on the right side to gain an advantage. This play is commonly called “unbalanced” for obvious reasons. The Redskins never got set, resulting in an illegal motion penalty of five yards.
They had to settle for the point after extra point, leaving East Bladen with the lead 22-21 and momentum with 5:04 left in the third quarter. Manteo never recovered.
Early in the fourth quarter, Riley Collins sacked Manteo’ quarterback Brown, resulting in a 19- yard Julius Battle scoop-and-score. Kemp added the two-point conversion giving East Bladen a 30-21 advantage. Jaden Lewis intercepted Manteo’s Brown on the Redskins following possession. Campbell ran in the final score of the night for the Eagles. Kemp again converted the two-pointer to give the Eagles its 38-21 final score.
Dashon Campbell again had a monster game, rushing for 170 yards on 18 carries with three touchdowns. Jaden Lewis added 169 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. The Eagles rushed for 312 yards as a team. Drew Brown led the Redskins with 138 yards and three touchdown passes. Manteo finishes its season 7-4.
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