Prep notebook: Underdog Warriors continue playoff run

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on December 1, 2014 1:48 PM

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From staff reports

Each week, according to head varsity football coach Bubba Williams, Eastern Wayne enters every Friday night as the underdog.

It's a role the Warriors have accepted well and used to their advantage -- most recently against No. 1-ranked and unbeaten Southern Guilford.

Twice Eastern Wayne fell behind by two scores, and found a way to get back into the ballgame each time. The most crucial was a perfectly executed onside kick that swung momentum in the Warriors' favor.

"The onside kick evened it out and let us go into OT," said Wiliams, who has guided the Warriors to a 6-1 record in the playoffs during the past two seasons.

No 'D' in fourth

Southern Guilford held a 29-14 advantage heading into the fourth quarter before things got extremely crazy.

The teams combined for 55 points on eight touchdowns, including a kickoff return by the Storm.

"I don't know if anybody got a tackle," Williams said.

Boudy said many emotions ran through him and his teammates.

"The game was just so fun and stressful, too."

Coach, I got this

Sure-handed receiver Deshawn Boudy hadn't shown his skills during the postseason.

He did against Southern Guilford, hauling in three touchdown passes -- including two in the fourth quarter.

The second helped Eastern Wayne force overtime and pull off the 56-55 win -- just the second road playoff victory in program history.

"I went to the sideline and  said 'Coach, I've got you if you trust me' and he put his faith in me, which I appreciate it," Boudy said. "We didn't want to go home."

Boudy's second TD reception came on a jet sweep play that forced the Storm defenders to bite. Quarterback KK Best scrambled, found Boudy roaming unmarked in the secondary and the duo hooked up for a touchdown.

Divine intervention?

One of the state's most sure-handed ball carriers, N.C. State recruit Reggie Gallaspy committed an uncharacteristic two fumbles.

The second came on the Storm's two-point conversion attempt off a bad snap in overtime.

"I kept thinking mom was going to make something happen," said EW senior Dayshawn Pridgen, who lost his mom, Jinifer, after a long battle with pneumonia. "I really think she reached down and knocked that ball out of his hands."