Published: 12:31 AM, Sat Nov 12, 2011
East Bladen blanks Jordan-Matthews, 28-0
By Junious Smith III
Correspondent
ELIZABETHTOWN - After a close game in the first round, East Bladen used its two great running backs and a dominant defense to make things easier.
Antonio Murchison ran for 196 yards and A.J. McKoy added 108, helping the Eagles defeat Jordan-Matthews 28-0 in the second round of the NCHSAA 2-A playoffs.
East Bladen (10-2) will host South Columbus next Friday in the third round. The two teams met Oct. 14 with East Bladen winning 36-21.
In this contest, the Eagles scored on all three of their first-half drives, building a 21-0 lead at halftime with a running attack that moved the chains.
East Bladen ran for 345 yards in the contest and went 9-for-12 on third-down conversions.
Coach Lenon Fisher "had told us the entire week to go hard for all four quarters," McKoy said. "We watched a lot of film throughout the week and found the right techniques to win."
Defensively, Jordan-Matthews (7-6) was held to 84 yards and eight first downs.
Although the Jets had great field position from kickoff returns by Hunter Causey, East Bladen harrassed quarterback Jalen Wiley with four sacks and forced an interception.
Wiley only went 4 of 11 for 33 yards as East Bladen recorded its third shutout of the season.
"We came out strong tonight," Fisher said. "The defense has played about as well as I've seen them play all year and the offense didn't make any mistakes."
After East Bladen failed to score on its opening possession of the second half, Tyrell Shipman intercepted Wiley on Jordan-Matthews' first drive. Three plays later, McKoy ran up the middle for a 28-0 lead to close out the scoring.
Fisher knows revenge will be on South Columbus' mind.
"We just have to work hard throughout the week and get another victory," he said.