Union hasn't had much luck against East Bladen recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Spartans are taking a road trip to face off against the Eagles at 7:00 p.m. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Union is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Northwest Halifax, sneaking past 28-26. The victory was some much needed relief for the Spartans as it spelled an end to their seven-game losing streak.
Tobias Cromartie
| 10/31/25 @ West Columbus | 44 |
| 09/19/25 @ West Bladen | 89 |
| 10/24/25 vs East Bladen | 91 |
| 10/10/25 @ Lakewood | 110 |
| 10/17/25 vs North Duplin | 120 |
Union found their leader in sophomore Tobias Cromartie, who rushed for 318 yards and four touchdowns while picking up 13.8 yards per carry. Those 318 rushing yards set a new season-high mark for Cromartie.
Union was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 401 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've posted since the start of last season.
Meanwhile, while East Bladen put up plenty of points back in October, the same can't be said for Union. The Eagles took their game with ease, bagging a 38-0 win over the Spartans. The Eagles might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won five matchups by 26 points or more this season.
East Bladen's win came from a few key players Union will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Dashon Campbell, who rushed for 63 yards and a pair of TDs. He is also on a roll when it comes to rushing touchdowns, as he's now punched in two or more in each of the last three games he's played. Another player making a difference was Jaden Lewis, who rushed for 73 yards and one score.
East Bladen didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. In fact, those interceptions all came courtesy of defensive juggernaut Lewis. East Bladen received some extra help from Julius Battle, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
The victory was their first on the road , bumping their record up to 3-8. As for East Bladen, their record is now 7-3.
Friday's contest will pit two of the most dominant backs against one another: Cromartie and Lewis. Cromartie just won't slow down this season and has run in 15 touchdowns while averaging 145.5 rushing yards per game. Lewis has been a dominant force too and has run in 14 touchdowns while averaging 120.5 rushing yards per game.
Union was taken down by East Bladen 38-0 when the teams last played back in October. Can the Spartans avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
