Pigskin Preview: East Bladen reloads with more depth and key playmakers

ELIZABETHTOWN, N.C. (WWAY) — Even lightning could not keep East Bladen football from getting its work in, as the Eagles split practice between the gym and the field while preparing for the 2026 season.

East Bladen enters the fall looking to build off a strong 2025 campaign. The Eagles finished 9-4 and advanced through Thanksgiving week before their season ended with a 54-7 loss to Tarboro on Nov. 28.

Senior Braylan Johnson believes the Eagles are capable of making another run.

“They’re gonna be surprised about how good we are. You know, some people, they doubt us, but I personally, I think I know my team and I know that we are that team,” Johnson said.

Head coach Robby Priest said last year’s success came despite East Bladen playing much of the season with only about 21 players on its varsity roster. This year, he believes increased depth should give the Eagles more flexibility.

“This year we have a little bit more depth which usually means more options, so that part we’re good about. It’s hard when you look back to get somebody into the game and there’s nobody back there to put in,” Priest said.

East Bladen will have to replace several key seniors from last year’s team, but Johnson said replacing those pieces is nothing new for the program.

“This is nothing new to us. We just reload every time we lose a piece,” Johnson said.

Johnson will be one of the players expected to help lead that reload. He recorded 50 tackles and two sacks during the 2025 season.

The senior will contribute on both sides of the ball at linebacker and tight end.

“I love to hit. East Bladen’s all about hitting, so I want to bring a really good physical strong game to the defense. On offense, I just wanna blow past my opponents,” Johnson said.

Junior running back and defensive back Jaden Lewis is another key returner.

Lewis took on a larger role as a sophomore after an injury created an opportunity for more playing time. He responded by rushing for 1,427 yards and scoring 17 rushing touchdowns. He finished the season with 20 total touchdowns.

Priest said Lewis’ versatility gives East Bladen several ways to use him.

“We can split him out throwing the ball. We can hand it off to him. He plays defense for us as well. He returns kicks, returns punts. He’s a do it everything type of guy. We just gotta keep him healthy,” Priest said.

Lewis said last year’s experience has only raised his expectations entering his junior season.

“I plan on doing even better, If we just made it further that’d be a big statement to make. We lost a lot of seniors, mostly our team, and a lot of people don’t think we can do it again. So make it farther than we did last year proves a lot,” Lewis said.

For Priest, the goal remains the same: still be playing when Thanksgiving arrives.

“We always set our, our goal is to be practicing on Thanksgiving or beyond. So last year we were able to do that, so maybe this year we’ll step it up a notch,” Priest said.

East Bladen opens the 2026 season at home against Heide Trask on Aug. 21 at 7 p.m.