ELIZABETHTOWN — Though the grey hairs and sting may still remain after the last two weeks of the football playoff season, East Bladen coach Robby Priest could think of just one word to describe the season his players put together.

“Proud,” he said this week. “I’m just real proud of how the kids responded all season. They stuck together, they were a tight-knit group.”

The Eagles finished the season 9-5 overall, 5-2 in the Four County Conference and 2-1 in the Class 2-A state playoffs. And those from Eagles Nation who observed the three playoff games were treated to something special.

No. 3 seed East Bladen opened the playoffs with a 62-42 win at Lenon Fisher Stadium over No. 6 seed Farmville Central. They then traveled 100 miles north to face No. 2 seed Ayden-Griften and were taken right to the wire — a 21-21 game at the end of regulation that the Eagles won in overtime, 28-21, on a Quinton Bedsole pass to Xavier McDowell and fourth-down defensive stop 24 inches from the end zone. And last week, the Eagles faced No. 1 seed South Columbus in a rematch of the Stallions’ season-opening 29-22 win at East Bladen, and lost a shootout on a two-point conversion with 57 seconds left, 42-41.

“It was a tough loss,” Priest said. “I don’t like to lose. I wanted to be watching film the next day on Edenton Holmes. eed to be practicing all week. I wanted to be on the sidelines again Friday night.”

Still, looking back over the season, Priest had plenty of highs to talk about.

“I thought we had enough pieces at the start of the season,” he said. “I always wish we had more to avoid kids playing both ways, but I knew we had some good players.”

Included in those were senior running back Ethan Hines, who finished the season with 1,920 yards and 24 touchdowns on 244 carries; senior wide receiver Eian Hines, who had eight receptions and four touchdowns; senior defensive back Kyle Tatum, who had two interceptions and three fumble recoveries; junior lineman Caleb Strait, who had 81 tackles and 5.5 sacks; and junior linebacker/running back Xavier Wooten, who had 88 tackles on defense along with 1,008 yards rushing, 13 touchdowns on 164 carries.

“And Quinton (23-of-64 for 508 yards and 12 touchdowns) really got better with every game, so I was happy with the improvements he was making,”Priest said. “Xavier was a real bright spot on both sides of the ball. Both those guys will be back.”

Even after a 2-2 start in the non-conference schedule, Priest wasn’t concerned.

“Not really, no,” he said. “I knew we just needed to keep playing and get used to playing together. It would come.”

And it did — until Hurricane Matthew knocked the wheels off the track.

“I think we were hitting our stride before the hurricane,” Priest said. “And then we had two weeks off, and then we only had two or three days to prepare for Wallace-Rose Hill.

“Still, we played really well against Clinton and Wallace — good enough to win, but we didn’t,” he added. “Those guys have the athletes.”

Now that the season has concluded, Priest said he’s been able to put the whole thing in perspective.

“Hey, we’re a 2-A school, so we’ve been lucky to have 10 guys every year who can play and are good,” he said. “I’ll miss the senior leadership we had this year, but new leaders will step up — and you just never really know who that will be.

“I can’t wait for August,” he added.

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

http://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_EBfootb-EthanH.jpg

http://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_EBfoots-KyleT.jpg

W. Curt Vincent

cvincent@civitasmedia.com