West Bladen Battles and Progresses, Falls 34-12 to Pender in Season Opener

BLADENBORO, N.C. — West Bladen opened its 2025 football season Friday night with a tough test against a seasoned Pender program, falling 34-12.

While the scoreboard favored the Patriots, the Knights showed flashes of progress under second-year head coach Preston Worley.

Pender has built a strong tradition in recent years, reaching the 1A Eastern Semifinals in 2024 before bowing out to eventual state champion Tarboro.

With several veterans back on defense, the Patriots once again leaned on their ground game, rushing for 268 yards and five touchdowns.

Still, the Knights came out swinging. After forcing a fumble, Ahmarie White scored on a four-yard run to tie the game 6-6 early in the second quarter.

Just minutes later, White punched in another score from the goal line, putting West Bladen up 12-6 and giving the home crowd some juice.

But momentum shifted quickly. Pender answered with three straight touchdowns before halftime and never looked back.

Quarterback Austin Deal and backs Jaheim Lambe and Zeke Williams wore down the Knights’ defense, mixing speed and physicality in their option attack.

West Bladen finished with 163 rushing yards on 53 carries, led by White’s 77 yards and two touchdowns. Sincere McKinley added 52 yards on 11 carries, while Isaiah Robinson and Justin Spaulding chipped in runs of their own.

Through the air, sophomore quarterback Devan Stanley completed two passes, including a 10-yard strike to Hunter Hester.

Defensively, the Knights battled. Spaulding and Hester each recorded six tackles, McKinley and Robinson had five apiece, and both Alvin Lacewell and Dawan Carter came up with fumble recoveries.

But penalties piled up — 11 flags for 85 yards — stalling drives and extending Pender possessions.

After the game, Worley emphasized that the Knights’ effort and toughness stood out despite the mistakes.

“I thought we fought hard. I thought we came out and we were hitting, pads were popping, and we were physical,” Worley said. “We really shot ourselves in the foot tonight… too many penalties on offense and not enough discipline on defense. We’ll get to work on Monday, watch film, and get better.”

For Worley, the growth of his program isn’t just about wins and losses — it’s about building a new identity.

“There was no quit in the guys and we grinded it out,” he said. “It didn’t go our way tonight, but compared to how the culture has been in the past, I think we are moving in a positive direction.”

West Bladen (0-1) won’t have long to dwell on the loss. Rival East Bladen (1-0) is up next in Elizabethtown next Friday night in one of the county’s most anticipated matchups.

“It’s time to put this one behind us,” Worley said. “We’ve got to bring that tenacity to practice and get ready for East Bladen.”

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West Bladen Battles and Progresses, Falls 34-12 to Pender in Season Opener