ELIZABETHTOWN – Junior Xavier Wooten ran for 186 yards and 5 touchdowns to lead East Bladen to a 53-29 Four County Conference football victory over Union.
Senior teammate Ethan Hines piled up 150 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries as the Eagles ground out 425 yards rushing and held a 428 to 202 edge in total yards.
“We ran the ball well,” said Eagle Coach Robby Priest. “The line did a better job of coming off the ball. We moved Xavier to fullback. He reminds us of Farrell (Murchison) with his running style. He’s just not 6-2, 235 like Farrell. He had a big game for his first game at fullback.”
The Spartans fumbled on their first snap of the game and Eagle junior Lahkeyd Lesane recovered on the Union 47 yardline. East Bladen covered the 47 yards in 7 plays to take a 7-0 lead.
Ethan Hines started the drive with a 17 yard run and capped it with a pair of 9-yard carries. Hines circled left end on the 9-yard touchdown run. Sophmore Pierce Melvin split the uprights with the extra point with 9:07 on the first period clock.
The Eagles fumbled on the first play of their next possession, and Donavan Hayes recovered for the Spartans at the East Bladen 46. On fourth down, quarterback Nadir Goodwin fired a 34 yard touchdown pass to Hayes. The extra point failed and the Eagles led 7-6 with 4:26 left in the quarter.
Another East Bladen fumble late in the period was recovered by Union’s Chris Nash and gave Union possession at the Eagle 13 yardline. Sophmore Trey Underwood banged through the middle from 4 yards out for the touchdown. Nash ran the 2-point conversion that put Union up 14-7 seven seconds into the second quarter.
The Eagles lost 3 fumbles and an on-side kick to finish with 4 turnovers in the game. “Every game it seems like the same thing,” said Coach Priest. “If we hold onto the ball, I like our chances.”
The Spartans then pounced on their own on-side kick to regain possession at their own 47 yardline. Union drove 43 yards to the Eagle ten yardline, but the drive bogged down and Noel Rodriguez’s 27-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Eagle junior Bernard Robinson.
After the blocked field goal, the Eagles flew 91 yards to the end zone in just 3 plays. Ethan Hines charged into the line, pulled out of a tackle and scooted 81 yards to the Union 5 yardline.
“That long run was huge in getting ‘Old Mo’ – momentum back on our side,” said Coach Priest. “Ethan always seems to step up when we need him to make a play.”
Wooten powered through the left side from 5 yards out on the next play for the touchdown. Wooten also blew through the line again to score the 2-point conversion standing up and edge the Eagles ahead 15-14 with 6:56 before halftime.
The Spartans responded with a 56-yard, 5 play drive. A 25-yard pass from Nadir Goodwin to Hayes ignited the drive. Goodwin scampered 14 yards on a quarterback draw, before Union scored on a 2-yard run. Goodwin hit Ty Travers with the conversion pass to vault Union on top 22-15 with 4:18 on the clock.
Another Union on-side kick failed and gave the Eagles the ball at their own 49 yardline. On the next play, Wooten bolted 51 yards through the right side for the touchdown. Melvin tied the game 22-22 with 4:07 remaining in the half.
The Spartans fumbled the ensuing kick-off, and East Bladen senior Kyle Tatum recovered the ball at the Union 9 yardline. Three plays later sophmore James Higgins popped through the line from 3 yards out for the touchdown and a 28-22 lead at halftime.
The Eagles started the second half with a 49-yard drive in only 8 plays. Wooten galloped 26 yards to ignite the drive. The teams traded penalties until a roughing the passer penalty on fourth-and-25 produced a first down for East.
Three plays later Wooten plowed through the line from 5 yards out for the touchdown and a 34-22 East lead with 6:45 remaining in the quarter.
The Spartans rallied with a 47-yard drive in 7 plays. A 19-yard run by Goodwin moved the ball to the 2 yardline, and senior Tamah Chestnutt dove over the goalline on the next play. Rodriguez kicked the point to trim the margin to 34-29 at the 4:01 mark.
On the second play after another Spartan on-side kick failed, Wooten rammed through the line and raced 46 yards for another touchdown and a 40-29 Eagle lead with 3:15 left in the third quarter.
A 15-yard run by Wooten moved the Eagles to the Union 16 on their next possession, but the final East Bladen fumble of the game was recovered by the Spartans Vance King at the 16.
After giving up one first down, the Eagle defense rallied and Robinson and junior Xavia McDowell dropped Goodwin for a 15-yard loss back to the Spartan 14 yardline.
Ethan Hines returned the Union punt 12 yards to the Spartan 24. On the next play Wooten blew through the line and sprinted 24 yards for his fifth touchdown of the night. Melvin kicked the extra point for a 47-29 Eagle lead 2 minutes into the final period.
East Bladen’s second offense took the field on their next possession. On the first play, junior Trevares Carter darted through the line and sprinted 54 yards for the final Eagle touchdown with 7:52 on the clock. Carter finished with 62 yards rushing on just 2 carries.
Goodwin completed 7 of 22 passes for 98 yards, and carried 15 times for 55 yards. “That No. 11 (Goodwin) hurt us,” added Priest. “ He is really quick.”
The Eagles improved to 3-2 in league play and 5-4 overall and will travel to rival West Bladen Friday night
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