3A east final: Warriors get shot at redemption

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 5, 2014 1:50 PM

• Print
• Email

rcoggins@newsargus.com

HAVELOCK -- Eastern Wayne gets a chance for redemption with a guardian angel on its side tonight.

Deshawn Boudy can't wait.

The fifth-seeded Warriors (11-2 overall) travel to three-time defending state 3-A champion Havelock. It's a rematch of last year's N.C. High School Athletic Association eastern regional final won by the Rams.

"It was our first time there [in regional final]," Boudy said. "We felt like some people got nervous ... butterflies. I feel like this time we're more mature, we understand the game better now than we did last year. We see little simple mistakes we made last year we won't make now."

And they've got a mom in Heaven.

More than two months ago, senior Dayshawn Pridgen lost his mother -- and No. 1 fan -- Jinifer, who succumbed to a long bout with pneumonia. The team dedicated the rest of the season to their "mom" and proudly wear her initials "JP" on the backs of their helmets.

They believe she's been one key driving force in Eastern Wayne's playoff run.

Especially last week.

The Warriors trailed No. 1-ranked and unbeaten Southern Guilford for 46-plus minutes. But a perfectly-executed onside kick and a fumbled snap on a two-point conversion attempt helped Eastern Wayne pull off a miraculous 56-55 win in overtime.

"My mom," grinned Pridgen. "If everybody keeps fighting, she's going to make something happen. I'm sure of it. We have to let everybody know that it's never over."

Eastern Wayne faces a balanced offensive attack that's produced a 3,000-yard passer, 2,000-yard running back and 1,100-yard receiver. Senior quarterback Travis Sabdo has tossed 41 touchdown passes and thrown just six interceptions in 301 attempts this season.

Sophomore Tony Sharpe has emerged as the Rams' top ball carrier with 2,047 yards and 35 TDs on 212 totes. Senior wideout Matt Boykin has snagged 58 receptions for 1,143 yards and 16 TDs.

The Rams have scored 49 or more points in all three postseason games.

"Offensively we have to continue to block well and not turn the ball over," said Havelock head coach Jim Bob Bryant, whose team is 60-2 over the past four years with both losses coming against New Bern.

"We've been playing really good lately."

So has Eastern Wayne, especially on defense.

Although the unit allowed a season-high eight touchdowns against Southern, it made the one key stop necessary on the two-point conversion. Before that shootout affair, the Warriors had limited both Jacksonville and Southern Nash to season lows in total offensive yards.

EW forced Southern Nash into six turnovers.

"They're a really good, athletic football team," Bryant said. "I think they're better than they were last year because they had younger kids who are back now as seniors. They get after it, they don't quit on any play and fight you tooth and nail.

"They are a different team."

The Warriors' offense had been sporadic throughout the playoffs until it produced a 35-point, fourth-quarter outburst against Southern Guilford. The playmakers -- Pridgen, quarterback KK Best, Boudy, Malik Richard, Larry Newsome III and Micah Smith -- broke loose for big, momentum-changing plays.

The group combined for seven touchdowns.

"I guess everyone wanted to step up because our defense was struggling," Pridgen said. "Somebody had to do something. We had to repay them."

With a little help from mom.