LAKE WACCAMAW - Behind 510 yards of total offense, the East Columbus Gators claimed a 32-20 non-conference football victory Friday over the visiting West Bladen Knights.

The win put the Gators’ season record at 2-1 and gave them their first back-to-back victories since 2003.
The Gators scored 20 points in the second quarter and answered two West Bladen touchdowns in the fourth quarter with scores of their own.

East Columbus quarterback Alex Williamson rushed for 101 yards on nine carries while scoring on a 21 yard run and throwing a 28-yard touchdown pass to Alan Bracey.

Fred Blanks carried eight times for 105 yards, and B.J. Bracey and Quintin had TD runs of 25 and 18 yards respectively. Jay Graham scored the final ECHS touchdown on a one-yard run.

Ashe finished with 84 yards on 11 carries.

“It was a good effort,” said ECHS head coach Travis Conner, whose squad had defeated West Columbus 30-15 a week earlier. “We gave up a couple of long scoring plays, but managed to come back and score ourselves both times.”

Conner, now in his third season as Gator head coach commended members of his coaching staff.

“The assistant coaches have done a great job getting this team prepared each week,” he said. “We’re showing a of improvement in several areas, and all our players are working very hard. The attitudes have been great.”

West Bladen, which saw its season record dip to 0-3, rolled up 414 yards of total offense, including a 65 yard TD run by Terrance Autry and a 63-yard scoring pass from Austin Hollis to James Davis.

After a scoreless first quarter, East Columbus took a 12-0 lead on Williamson’s 21-yard option run and his 28-yard TD pass to Alan Bracey.

Autry’s 65-yard scoring run cut the Gator advantage to 12-6, but ECHS scored again on B.J. Bracey’s 25-yard run. Fred Blanks scored on a two-point conversion runs for a 20-6 halftime lead.

After a scoreless third quarter, West Bladen drew within six points when Donte Drew capped a Knight scoring drive with a six-yard run, and Kendrick McKoy added the two-point conversion run.

Ashe scored from 18 yards out for the East Columbus’ fourth touchdown of the night, and West Bladen answered with the 63-yard TD pass from Hillis to Davis to cut the lead to 26-20.

Graham’s one-yard TD run in the closing moments sealed the ECHS win.

Autry led West Bladen rushers with 138 yards on 15 carries.

East Columbus will play host to winless Red Springs this Friday at 7:30 p.m.

EC - Alex Williamson 21 run (kick failed).
EC - Alan Bracey 28 pass from Williamson (run failed).
WB - Terrance Autry 65 run (kick failed).
EC - B.J. Bracey 25 run (Fred Blanks run).
WB - Donte Drew 4 run (Kendrick McKoy run).
EC - Quintin Ashe 18 run (run failed).
WB - James Davis 63 pass from Austin Hillis (run failed).
EC - Jay Graham 1 run (run failed).