The East Bladen Eagles and Pender Patriots will both be on the road Friday night as they enter third-round action of the state 1AA football playoffs.

East Bladen, holding a 12-0 record and the Southeastenr 1A-2A Conference championship. will travel to Beaufort to take on a 12-1 East Carteret squad.

Coach Lenon Fisher’s East Bladen squad rallied in the fourth quarter last Friday to defeat two-time defending Eastern N.C. 1AA champion Wallace-Rose Hill 27-14.

Coach Tom Eanes’ Pender team is 9-4 and enjoying the best football season in the school’s 31-year history after taking a 13-9 victory over North Johnston last Friday.

The Patriots of the Waccamaw Conference will travel to take on 13-0 James Kenan Friday.

The winners will meet on Dec. 1 for the Eastern N.C. 1AA title.