East Bladen Finds Their Groove in Second-Half Surge Against North Duplin

Austin Smith
Oct 9, 2025
3 min read

ELIZABETHTOWN, NC — East Bladen’s boys soccer team walked into Monday night’s road matchup against North Duplin with something to prove, not just to the scoreboard, but to themselves.

Coming off a tough stretch that tested their chemistry, the Eagles responded with a commanding 3-0 victory built on teamwork, energy, and execution.

The opening half was scoreless, but far from stagnant. East Bladen dominated possession, outshooting the Rebels 19-3, though the final touch seemed to be missing.

Head Coach Jay Raynor’s halftime challenge was simple: take chances.

“We played a great first half from having the ball and applying pressure,” Raynor said. “We moved it well, but we weren’t breaking lines. Everything stayed in front of their backline instead of getting in behind them. At halftime, I told them we lacked an edge, I’d rather us take a half-chance than wait for the perfect one.”

That message clearly resonated. Just over a minute into the second half, Damian Sanchez put East Bladen on the board, finishing off a rebound from Ishaq Algozy’s effort. It was the spark the Eagles needed.

In the 58th minute, Landyn Scott doubled the lead with an assist from Algozy and Debo, who delivered a pinpoint throw-in, one of several dangerous set pieces on the night.

Just two minutes later, Algozy found Jayce Hatcher on the back post for the third goal, sealing the win in a flurry of well-connected team play.

“Those were great, team-oriented goals,” Raynor said. “Damian followed up a shot from Ishaq. Landyn scored off a throw that Debo placed perfectly, and Ishaq served a perfect ball to Jayce on the back post. All things we’ve been working on recently, and they finally came together tonight.”

While the offense came alive, the defense quietly put together one of its most complete performances of the season.

Colton Daly and Fox Sutton split time in goal, each delivering key moments, Daly with a late one-on-one save, and Sutton with a strong punch-out on a free kick in the first half.

Ethan Metz locked down the right side, and Tyler Eason’s work rate stood out as the Eagles controlled the midfield.

“Ethan was lock-down for us at right back tonight,” Raynor said. “His confidence is growing every game. Easton had another great match, and Tyler gave us a big second half. We’re asking a lot from him, but he never complains, he just plays hard.”

Raynor also highlighted Debo’s all-around performance, noting how his throws and defensive awareness changed the flow of the game.

“Perfect placement and great adjustment,” he said. “We’ve talked about valuing our set pieces, and Debo gave us that edge tonight.”

Beyond the starters, East Bladen’s depth made its mark. Every player saw time on the field, something Raynor said meant a lot to him.

“We got a chance to go deep on our bench tonight, and that’s always a great night, especially with a win,” Raynor added. “Our freshmen…Jackson Moffitt, Miguel, Bryson Britt, JP Miranda, and Gunner Lewis…all gave us great minutes. They came in with energy and made plays. That’s the kind of depth that builds programs.”

In the midfield, Salvador Estrada stepped up when the Eagles pushed Algozy higher up the field, showing confidence and aggression in his minutes.

“We need that from him,” Raynor said. “And I think he needed that too.”

The 3-0 win lifts East Bladen to 8-5-3 overall and 5-2-1 in the 1A/2A Carolina Conference, keeping them in striking distance of both Union and Hobbton in the standings, and in the race for playoff seeding.

The Eagles currently sit #22 in the 2A RPI Rankings, just behind Hobbton (#21) and Union (#20).

The closing stretch will determine whether East Bladen can push into the top tier and potentially earn a postseason bye: