The Scott's Branch football team is in the middle of a resurgent season.
After going winless a year ago, the Eagles earned their third victory of the season on Friday with a 68-6 beatdown of Bethune-Bowman. One of the biggest reasons was the play of Dresean Blanding.
The senior put on a defensive masterclass, returning two turnovers for scores while leading the Eagles with 10 tackles. He added two tackles for a loss for good measure. His performance also helped him earn recognition as the Hines Furniture Athlete of the Week.
"I knew I could do it," Blanding said. "I've just got to thank my coaches and my mom and everyone. It's all about having good energy around the community of Scott's Branch."
While the splash plays were impressive, Scott's Branch head coach Pat Fleming said it was Blanding's consistent play that stood out when he watched the game back on film.
"It was the total body of work as far as getting everybody aligned, making adjustments," Fleming said. "It was just a great coming out party for him."
Blanding said the vibes around Scott's Branch have been different this year. The Eagles have a new sense of confidence as they head down the home stretch.
"There is a different type of energy, a revenge type of energy," he said. "We were all tired of losing, and we finally snapped out of it."
The Eagles focused all of that energy on Bethune-Bowman on Friday, earning their first home victory since Oct. 28, 2022. Blanding made sure Scott's Branch got off on the right foot. With an 8-0 lead, the senior jumped a screen and took it to the house to start an avalanche.
"I'm over here reading the quarterback's eyes and making my way over. I was thinking it's a slant, but all of this time it was a screen," he said. "Shout out to Nyren (Bowman), he gave them a lot of pressure and he threw the ball directly at me, and my eyes opened up. I just saw green grass when I got it and took off."
Fleming saw that early pick-six as a back breaker that helped the Eagles blow the game open.
"It was real big. Any time we can score defensively, that's a big momentum shifter in a game," Fleming said. "It gives the other guys the confidence to start making plays. The floodgates opened, and everyone started making plays after that."
After a 28-point first quarter, Blanding started the scoring in the second, taking a fumble back for another touchdown to put the game well out of reach. The Eagles kept piling on, running away with a 68-6 win.
"Shout out to my teammates for that because if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have been able to get it," Blanding said. "Two of my other teammates could've got the ball, but they were trying their best to make sure the other guys couldn't get the ball. They did what they had to do, and I was there to make the play."
The win was a statement for Blanding. He had a strong year in 2023 but was hampered by a nagging knee injury in the early fall. He's back to 100% and showed that off against Bethune-Bowman.
"How I look at it, I shouldn't let it slow me down. I should give my 100%, whether I'm injured or not," Blanding said. "It did mess with me in the first couple of games; it was like a mind game. After I got out of that mind game and got comfortable, I could play well on the field."
While Blanding's play was spectacular, Fleming said his senior's most important attribute all fall has been his leadership.
"I told the senior class that they had the chance to turn the whole program around," Fleming said. "His leadership is impressive. He picks up on things quick, he's very astute and has a high IQ. I can throw a lot at him, and he absorbs it in. He asks good questions and just has a good football mind."
The Eagles have their sights set on the postseason now, a stark difference from last year's squad. Blanding said this is only the beginning for this group.
"Coach told us we had to come out with a statement," Blanding said. "We plan on winning this week, too, and winning next week so we can get a home game. We just had to give out a statement to people that we're not just here to be here.
"Now that we know we're fighting for a spot, we've got the mentality that we cannot lose. We're going to do everything we can to win."
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