In what could easily be a preview of a 2A playoff matchup come November, the East Bladen Eagles and the North Duplin Rebels slugged it out Friday night in a defensive battle that came down to the final minutes. Every yard mattered, and every mistake loomed large in a 15-14 North Duplin victory that could echo later in the season.

East Bladen made the trip to Union on Thursday night and came home with a sweep at both the varsity and junior varsity levels, a night that bolstered the Eagles’ momentum in conference play and strengthened their postseason position.

The Lady Knights of West Bladen kept their playoff push rolling in emphatic fashion Thursday night, sweeping Red Springs in straight sets on Pink It Out Night. The gym was filled with pink uniforms and energy as West Bladen controlled every phase of the match in a 25-9, 25-6, 25-10 victory.

Tar Heel’s boys soccer team put together a statement performance Tuesday evening, shutting out Elizabethtown 5-0. The girls matchup between Tar Heel and Elizabethtown was a back-and-forth battle that had fans on edge until the final whistle.

Tuesday night was a busy one for Bladen County athletics, with teams taking the court and the pitch across the region. West Bladen volleyball found its rhythm again at home, East Bladen volleyball delivered both varsity and JV victories, and West Bladen soccer went toe-to-toe with one of the toughest opponents in the conference. Each matchup carried its own story, but all three showcased the fight and determination of Bladen County athletes.

Friday night at East Bladen had the makings of a grind-it-out football game before the opening kickoff was even delayed by lightning. When play finally began at 7:15 p.m., the Eagles of East Bladen found themselves in a contest where momentum was hard to capture and even harder to hold.

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East Bladen’s offense exploded Friday night, piling up its highest point total of the season in a 54–28 victory over West Columbus. The win pushes the Eagles to 4-1, marking their best start since the 2018–2019 season.

West Bladen’s defense set the tone, their running game did the rest, and the Knights walked off the field Friday night with a 32-6 win over Union. The victory moves the Knights to 2-3, already matching last year’s win total, but as Head Coach Preston Worley put it, “We’d love to be 3-2 going into the bye week. A win is a win, although it wasn’t pretty tonight and up to the standard and brand of football that we want to establish. But we’ll take the win.”

West Bladen Volleyball showed grit and depth on Thursday night, rallying after a slow start to knock off South Columbus in four sets. The win pushed the Lady Knights to 10-1 overall and 4-0 in the Southeastern 3A/4A/5A Conference, keeping them unbeaten in league play. With the victory, they now set their sights on Tuesday’s matchup at South Brunswick — a battle of conference leaders, each entering at 4-0.

East Bladen boys soccer wasted no time setting the tone Thursday night, overwhelming West Columbus with an early offensive surge and cruising to a 6-0 victory. The win pushes the Eagles to 5-3-3 on the season and 2-0-1 in conference play, continuing a hot stretch where they’ve taken five of their last seven matches and drawn another. The goals came fast in the opening half. Just two minutes in, Ishaq Algozy found the back of the net to put East Bladen on the board.

Tuesday night brought plenty of action across the county as volleyball and tennis teams took the courts. West Bladen continued to build momentum with a convincing sweep in Red Springs and a tennis doubleheader sweep at home, while East Bladen battled through a tough matchup in Elizabethtown with both its varsity and junior varsity squads seeing extended rallies.

Tuesday night brought plenty of action across the county as volleyball and tennis teams took the courts. West Bladen continued to build momentum with a convincing sweep in Red Springs and a tennis doubleheader sweep at home, while East Bladen battled through a tough matchup in Elizabethtown with both its varsity and junior varsity squads seeing extended rallies.

Tuesday evening was packed with middle school action across the county as soccer and volleyball teams took the field and court. From streaks being extended to first-time scorers making their mark, the night offered a mix of dominant wins, tough battles, and promising signs for the future. Tar Heel, Bladenboro, Clarkton, and Emereau all had moments that stood out, giving fans plenty to cheer about and plenty of storylines as the season continues.

East Bladen put together one of its most complete performances of the season Thursday night, defeating North Duplin 5-1 on the road. The win pushes the Eagles to 4-3-3 overall, and they’ve now won four of their last six outings while holding an unbeaten 1-0-1 record in conference play.

Bladen County football took center stage Friday night, with East Bladen breaking a long drought against Clinton while West Bladen battled a powerful Heide Trask rushing attack.

Thursday night featured a packed slate across Bladen County. West Bladen volleyball kept its momentum rolling, East Bladen varsity picked up another important win, and the Knights’ soccer team faced one of its toughest nights on the road.

Bladen County high school soccer brought energy, drama, and quality play to Wednesday evening, with both East and West Bladen squads showing grit in tightly contested matches against proven postseason opponents.