East Bladen Opens Season With 18-6 Win Over Trask

East Bladen’s Senior running back #5 Dashon Campbell. 📸 Photos by Kenneth Armstrong (Ken Arm Photo)

ROCKY POINT, N.C. — For the first time in five years, the East Bladen Eagles opened their season in the win column under the lights of Friday night.

It wasn’t flashy, but it was gritty.

It was the kind of win this program thrives on, one built on toughness, patience, and a relentless ground game.

The night didn’t start the way the Eagles wanted. Midway through the first quarter, Trask broke through with a touchdown run to grab an early 6-0 lead.

But East Bladen didn’t panic.

On the very next possession, Dashon Campbell, a senior who set the tone all night, powered into the end zone to tie the game at 6-6.

From there, the momentum slowly shifted.

The offensive line started carving out running lanes, and the Eagles’ backfield did the rest.

East Bladen QB #2 Keyshaun Kemp. 📸 Photos by Kenneth Armstrong (Ken Arm Photo)

In the second quarter, Riley Collins capped off a steady drive with a determined run of his own, giving East Bladen its first lead of the night at 12-6.

After halftime, the Eagles put the game away.

Jaden Lewis, who provided a spark with every touch, broke through the middle for a third‑quarter touchdown, stretching the lead to 18-6.

From that point forward, East Bladen leaned on its defense and kept the Titans from finding the end zone again.

Friday night was a statement about identity: East Bladen football is at its best when it’s physical and committed to the run.

The Eagles racked up yards behind a committee approach, led by Campbell’s 18 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown.

📸 Photos by Kenneth Armstrong (Ken Arm Photo)

Collins added 48 yards and a score on 14 carries, while Lewis contributed 65 yards and another touchdown on just 9 attempts.

Keyshaun Kemp, Julius Battle, and Xavier Potts also chipped in, keeping fresh legs in the backfield and the pressure on Trask’s defense.

The victory wasn’t just a win on paper, it was a statement.

After five years without a season-opening triumph, the Eagles showed resilience and poise under pressure.

Now at 1-0, East Bladen will look to build on this momentum as they continue through their non-conference schedule and host county rival West Bladen next Friday.

If Friday night was any indication, this is a team ready to lean into its strengths and fight for every yard.

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East Bladen Opens Season With 18-6 Win Over Trask