Full Bladen County Football & Soccer Playoff Preview

BLADEN COUNTY, NC — The leaves are falling, the air is getting crisper, and playoff football and soccer have arrived in Bladen County. After a season of hard-fought battles, some of our local teams are gearing up for postseason runs that could create some unforgettable memories.

West Bladen Football: Knights Ready for Redemption

The Knights (2-8) are heading back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2021-2022 season, and they’ve earned a shot at redemption. Sure, the record might not jump off the page, but anyone who’s watched this team knows they’ve been in several close contests and showed real growth as the year went on.

West Bladen has leaned heavily on the ground game this fall, racking up 1,900 rushing yards while adding 329 through the air. That run-first identity is going to be crucial this Friday night.

The Knights drew the #23 seed in the 3A bracket and will make the trip to Tabor City for a rematch with #10 South Columbus.

If that sounds familiar, it should.

Back on October 24th, West Bladen held a 19-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter before ultimately falling short. The Knights know they can hang with the Stallions as they’ve already proved it.

The formula for an upset is pretty straightforward: protect the football and establish the running game. If West Bladen can limit turnovers and control the clock with their rushing attack, they’ll give themselves every chance to pull off the road victory.

East Bladen Football: Eagles Soaring Into Familiar Territory

Speaking of playoff experience, the Eagles (7-3) are making it look routine. East Bladen is heading to the postseason for the 22nd time in 23 years, at least as far back as the MaxPreps records go to the 2004-2005 season.

The only year they missed? That COVID-shortened 2020 season when they went 5-2 but the playoff field was reduced. That’s the kind of consistency that builds a winning culture.

This year’s squad has been impressive on both sides of the ball. They’ve churned out 2,925 rushing yards and added 297 passing yards for over 3,000 total yards of offense. Two of their three losses came by a combined five points, one-score games against Hobbton and North Duplin that could have easily gone the other way.

The Eagles earned the #4 seed in the 2A bracket, which comes with a first-round bye and sets them up nicely for a potential deep run. They’ll host the winner of #13 Northwest Halifax and #20 Union in round two. With home-field advantage and that explosive rushing attack, East Bladen has all the pieces in place for something special.

East Bladen Soccer: Eagles Eye First Round Statement

The soccer Eagles (13-6-4) wrapped up a solid regular season, finishing second in the Carolina Conference behind Hobbton with an 8-2-2 league mark. That effort earned them the #10 seed in the 2A playoffs.

Their first-round opponent is #23 Roxboro Community, who limped to the finish line at 1-15-2. But don’t let that record fool you completely, they were competitive in a few games.

The Eagles should be favored at home, but playoff soccer can be unpredictable. One mistake, one great play, and everything changes.

Win this one, and East Bladen will travel to #7 Raleigh Charter (10-6-3) for the second round.

West Bladen Soccer: Knights Hit the Road

The Knights (6-10-1) snagged the #20 seed in the 3A bracket and will travel to face #7 North Moore (6-7-1), who went 3-6 in the tough Four Rivers Conference.

There are no common opponents between these two, so it’s anybody’s guess how this one plays out. That’s what makes playoff soccer exciting, you’re facing teams from different parts of the state with completely different styles.

West Bladen will need to bring their A-game and execute their game plan on the road.

The Road Ahead

This week is what every athlete dreams about when they show up for summer workouts and two-a-days in August. The chance to keep playing. The opportunity to create something memorable. The shot at proving doubters wrong or living up to high expectations.

The games matter a little more now. The stakes are higher. The memories last longer.

That’s playoff time in Bladen County.

Stay tuned to BladenCo Sports for full game coverage, highlights, and player interviews throughout the playoffs. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @BladenCoSports for live updates.

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Full Bladen County Football & Soccer Playoff Preview