Team of the Week: Pender remains undefeated following 2OT win
BURGAW, N.C. (WWAY) — Outside of Hoggard, Pender is the last undefeated football team in the Cape Fear.
Following a bye week, the Patriots improved to 3-0 last Friday with a 32-26 double-overtime win over Wallace-Rose Hill.
That game yielded a similar result to their prior game. Head Coach Tom Eanes says his players are always ready for those kinds of battles.
(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)
“That second week against Red Springs was a tough one,” Eanes said. “Red Springs is a good football team and they gave us a lot of trouble. Then playing a fine team like Wallace, all of it makes you better. Our schedule is a lot tougher, so we’re having to step up our game. Whoever we play that week’s just who we prepare for. Try to do the best we can. Whether we win by one or 50, the point is we’re just trying to win.”
Friday’s winning score came from junior running back Jahiem Lambe, who has been a key contributor offensively.
(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)
He says he’s glad to pay his team back after believing in him to carry the workload.
“I’m confident in myself as a player,” Lambe said. “For them to entrust me with the ball in the tight game like that, it just means a lot. It lets me know that the work I put in is showing. Every week we try to get better and better. Every day at practice, we put the work in. We trust our coaches, we trust each other.”
Pender is coming off a trip to the state quarterfinals. Despite the loss of some talented athletes, Eanes is still guiding the Patriots to victory.
“We’re having to get some young kids to step up,” Eanes said. “We’re having three or four freshmen having to step in and play some. Our B-backs and all the backfield are new and the way they’re growing up has really helped us out because got a fairly mature group of linemen. Seeing those guys growing up in the backfield has helped.”
(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)
Pender visits South Columbus this Friday to round out non-conference play.
