Pigskin Preview: West Bladen Knights building toward a breakthrough
BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) —After a tough 2025 season, West Bladen is ready for a fresh start. The Knights finished 2-9 but still reached the playoffs. Now, they return for another year in head coach Preston Worley’s system.
The roster is young, with just six seniors. Still, players believe last year’s experience can pay off this fall.
“Winning, ’cause last year we ain’t had a good winning season in a while, but I feel like this year we got a good chance,” senior running back Keon Whittington said.
That belief comes after a season that tested West Bladen. At the same time, it gave a young group valuable varsity experience. Now in his third year as head coach, Worley wants the Knights to turn those lessons into results.
“We told our guys this year, you know, the foundation’s been laid, now it’s time to start laying bricks and building levels,” Worley said.
“We can build on that ’cause we have the weapons now and with running backs and receivers and everything,” Whittington added.
With just six seniors on the roster, many players have grown together through West Bladen’s junior varsity program. Meanwhile, Worley expects the veterans to lead the younger players.
“We’re hoping our seniors can lead and show the guys the way forward and help us take it to the next level and that group can carry it on for next year going forward,” Worley said.
Junior Sincere McKinley is one player expected to take on a bigger role. After a productive sophomore season, he returns as a featured running back. He will also contribute at cornerback.
“Our quarterback, he’s a sophomore and I mean, it’s just like young people coming up and I mean, they’re just getting better day by day. Our coach just want us to play our hardest like it’s our last ’cause like you never know, and like, just give it your all and have fun,” McKinley said.
The Knights are also counting on Whittington. He plays running back and wing on offense and safety on defense. For Whittington, the offseason has focused on hard work and building chemistry.
“We come out here by ourselves and work, throw the football, get connect with each other and so when the game comes, we got that connection,” Whittington said.
As West Bladen continues to grow, Worley said progress will not come down only to wins and losses. Instead, he wants to see the team compete consistently and keep moving forward.
“We’ve seen progress from year one to year two, now let’s keep building into year three. And we got a very young group, so I’m excited to see what this group does together,” Worley said.
West Bladen opens its season on the road against Pender High School on Aug. 21 at 7 p.m.
