‘Rebuilding’ campaign proves Panthers program is solid

WHITEVILLE – The defending 2A state football titlist played like champions until the end.

“It went quick,” said East Duplin head coach Battle Holley, whose Panthers won the school’s first state football championship in 2022.

“We had a great season and you and everyone else never expected us to be 9-1 coming into the playoffs or to finish 10-2. I couldn’t be more proud after having just four starters back (from last year).”

Holley’s words came less than 24 hours after No. 6 Whiteville beat No. 11 ED 28-7 in the second round of the playoffs on the Wolfpack’s home field.

The Panthers played the game without leading rusher Shawn Davis (1,144 yards, 18 TDs), who broke his collarbone in the first-round 41-18 win over Eastern Wayne.

“Everyone has injuries, but we were at a point where we thought he was coming back—and he gets hurt again,” Holley said. “That’s a part of football.

“Our kids did a great job. We cut it to 14 and had a chance to get closer.”

Yet the Panther rushing attack was stifled by the Wolfpack defense. ED had just 102 yards rushing, and 109 through the air. The Panthers were four of 13 on third down.

Stopping coach JP Price’s club wasn’t any easier. Nallegem Powell ran for 103 Amari Best 74 and had in pick 6 and Cameron McKevian (7-53) and QB Luke Odham (10-55) helped amass 363 running-yards for Whiteville (10-2), which plays No. 3 Southwest Edgecombe (10-2) in the third round on Friday.

No.2 Northeastern hosts No. 7 Princeton in the other matchup in the bottom half of the bracket. No. 1 Clinton looms in the top.

The Wolfpack drove for a TD on its first possession and then Best picked off Zack Brown’s pass and scored from the 15.

Odham connected with Will Fisher for a 29-yard score in the second quarter.

Down 21-0 after a pair of three-and-outs and a drive that never got into Whiteville territory, the Panthers showed spunk in the third quarter.

Brown completed a pair of passes to Keeshon Mckinnie and Nate Jones, and had a 13-yard scamper, and Jordan Judge’s 12-yard escape moved the chains in the third.

Brown scored from the 3 to cut the lead to a pair of scores.

ED could get no closer and failed on fourth down twice in the fourth quarter.

The Pack’s Best ran for 19 yards and Powell had sprints of 13 and 19, the last of which produced the game’s final TD.

The Panthers lost only to Princeton in 2022 en route to its second straight ECC title and a 2A win over Reidsville in the final game.

ED would extend its win streak to 22 before losing to Wallace-Rose Hill 20-14 on Oct. 20.

“I can be just as proud of these guys as the bunch last year,” Holley said. “I can honestly say this group was one of the better ones I’ve worked with. They rushed to practice after school and we never had any hiccups all year.

“They represented our school and community well. The players bought in and our coaches did an outstanding job in preparing them each week.”

ED will return key players next fall.

“We’ve got a good mix coming back, some good ones coming up from the JV and middle schoolers moving up as well who can help us,” Holley said. “What I like (here) is I know what I’m getting every day.

“We had a great season.”

Gridiron Notebook

Judge, who scored three times in the win over Eastern Wayne, was limited to 54 yards on 12 carries. Brown had 43 on nine totes and was 13 of 23 for 105 yards through the air.

‌He hit Mckinnie five times for 50 yards and Chase Whaley and Judge three times apiece for a combined total of 38 yards as Holley went to the air far more than normal.

Offensive coordinator Holley was up to his usual tricks, making fourth-down conversions three of four times.

Still, it’s hard to remember a time when the Panthers passed for more yards than they had rushing with their Wing T attack.

ED has gone 36-5 in the past three seasons, making 2020’s 3-4 mark during the Covid-19 pandemic fade.

Those five losses came against Princeton and WRH (twice each and once against both in games that were extended to overtime) plus the Wolfpack.

ED and WRH are both 1-1 against the Wolfpack since the Covid days.

ED outscored the opposition 450-182 this season. Ten Panthers will graduate in June.

The Panthers beat Whiteville last year 49-6 in the fourth round (East semifinal) in Beulaville, but the Wolfpack has now topped all three of Duplin County’s 2A teams in recent playoffs. It ripped Wallace-Rose Hill 41-7 in 2019’s first round, James Kenan 56-0 in 2022’s second round, and now East Duplin. Whiteville head coach Jarret Price was offensive coordinator at WRH from 2009-16 for his father Joey Price.