SW Edgecombe (8-1) at Beddingfield (8-1) Eastern Plains Championship

[SWE'98]

SWE 8-1, 4-0 Beddingfield 8-1, 4-0

Unlike last year when this game created a 3 way tie for first, the 2018 version of SWE/BEDD is for all the marbles as both teams come in with a 4-0 conference mark. The SWE Cougars come in with the top scoring offense and defense in the conference, but the Beddingfield Bruins are right behind them in second for both. Both squads have cruised through their schedules, with Bedd losing to city rival Fike, and SWE losing a controversial close one at top 5 4A South Central (9-0). The Bruins went to SWE last year and disrupted the Cougars playoff seedings by defeating them 10-7, leaving the Cougars 9-2. Coming into the game again with only 1 loss, will SWE leave the game victorious this time, or will Bedingfield put another deuce in the box for them?

 

[SWE'98]

SWE takes the opening drive 70 yards in less than 4 minutes for a 7-0 lead. The Cougar defense then forces a turnover on downs deep in their own territory. The offense goes 3 and out. The Cougars boom a 60 yd punt that pins Bedd deep. A couple of 4th down conversions keep the ball moving for Bedd before the quarter ends. 7-0 SWE.

 

[SWE'98]

Bedd is forced to punt to start the second and pins SWE on the15. A 60yd jaunt moves the rock to the Bruins 20, and a 20 yrd scamper moves it into the endzone. A no call offsides forces the kicker to rush and he misses, leaving the score 13-0 SWE.

 

[SWE'98]

Bedingfield's next drive results in a punt. Very nice punt coverage downs it at the 8. 1st run nets 2. Second run goes for 60. And the next play is a beautiful 30 yard flag route for a td that had the defender beat on the first step. 3 plays, 92 yards. The 2 is good, and the score is 21-0 SWE. Time runs out on Bedd as the half ends with that margin.

 

[SWE'98]

Fully capable of kicking it deep, SWE has been squib kicking to the Bruins as does so again to start the second half. Strategy? No respect for the Bedd offense? Either way, Beddingfield takes the opening drive and punches it in in 2min 45 seconds.

 

[SWE'98]

SWE gets the ball at the 20. However, the driver stalls at the Bedd 13. No worries, as Bedd is forced to punt the ball back to SWE. Time expires during the drive, and SWE leads it after 3 quarters, 21-7.

 

[SWE'98]

Bedd's pass is intercepted and returned 35 yards to their 15, but the Bedd defense holds strong and forces a turnover on downs. A few plays later, a Bedd pass is intercepted again near the good 30yd line. A 1yd run ups the score 27-7.

 

[SWE'98]

Bedd starts their drive at the 38. On the ensuing play, the ball is stripped and recovered by SWE near the Bedd 40. SWE takes it to the house on the very next play. A failed 2pt conversion makes the score 33-7.

 

[SWE'98]

About this squib kicking...SWE kicks it deep and Bedd promptly returns it 80 for a touchdown. 33-14, SWE.

 

[SWE'98]

Beddingfield's onside kick is recovered by SWE at the 50, and once again, one run nets another touchdown. Again, the XP is missed, and the score remains 39-14.

 

[SWE'98]

SW Edgecombe 9-1, 5-0 wins the Eastern Plains Conference with a 39-14 victory over Beddingfield 8-2, 4-1. The Bruins had no answer for the Cougar rushing attack, as SWE had 5 individual rushes of at least 50 yards, inluding a 3play, 92 yard drive, and 2 back to back one play, 50+ yard scores. They also had no answer for the SWE defense, which was very quick from side to side, closed holes, and tackled very, very well. They didn't hit like bricks, but they wrapped up and brought ball carriers down before they could get moving. SWE definitely has to work on special teams. Missed extra points can make the difference in victory or defeat in the playoffs. And kick returns have made me scratch my head. The bottom dwelling team in our conference, winners of only 1 game in the last 2+ seasons is a team that scored the second most points on us this season, not because of regular defense, but because they ran a kick back on us. Same thing tonight. At the end of the day, Beddingfield will have a home playoff game and will win it. However, SWE is a regional finals contender and it's because of their defense. A defense that will be tested without remorse next week as it makes up its rescheduled game against #1 1A Tarboro, a team averaging nearly 60 ppg while giving up less than 30...all season.

 

[SWE'98]

SWE 7 14 0 18 = 39
Bedd 0 0 7 7 = 14