The pre-season is over. Scrimmages are behind us. The plays, along with the individual assignments that go along with each of them, have been put in and mastered by the players — at least that’s the hope of coaches who are the architects of the offensive and defensive alignments.

The 2015 high-school football season is upon us.

Tonight, East Bladen’s and West Bladen’s varsity gridders will take the field in earnest in efforts to notch that first victory — one they hope will start the path to the state’s Class 2-A playoffs.

Coach Robby Priest will lead his Eagles into Tabor City tonight to face the Stallions of South Columbus, while coach Russell Priest will be on his home sidelines as his Knights take on the visiting Mustangs of South Robeson. Both kickoffs will take place at 7:30 p.m.

Most supporters of each team have already been following their hometown boys closely since practices officially started on Aug. 1, but for those who may need a refresher or even a place to begin, the Bladen Journal is presenting its annual season preview of East Bladen and West Bladen in today’s edition. It’s an eight-page section that gives fans a chance to get info on their team — including schedules, rosters and the trio of players to watch from both ends of the county.

Of course, the Bladen Journal will also keep you up to date with weekly previews to each upcoming game in the Friday editions, as well as complete game coverage in the Tuesday editions. And both will be on the website much sooner — at www.bladenjournal.com.

So check out the special section inside, then settle in for the Eagles’ and Knights’ ride through the football season.

W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.

http://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/FootballCover.pdf
West opens at home, East on the road

W. Curt Vincent

cvincent@civitasmedia.com