Wade
Wade, NC · Education
Duplin Times
Pender stuns No. 1 Kenan
WARSAW — Nelson Martel stood stunned. James Kenan players disputed the midfield referee’s decision to no avail as he held the red card high in the evening sky. “It was well-deserved,” the Tigers’ head coach said. The controversial call infuriated James Kenan fans, who watched their squad scramble for 50-plus minutes a man down and suffer a devastating playoff elimination. Pender prevailed 6-4 and earned a third-round date with ninth-seeded Midway in the 2026 NC High School Athletic Association Class 3A boys’ soccer playoffs. Up 2-0 and seemingly in control, Kenan keeper Gio Lincona came off his line to challenge a Pender player one-on-one late in the opening half. The two players collided outside the box. “The goalie came out for the 50-50 ball,” Martel said. “The Pender player got there first and he [Lincona] crashed into the player. He was the last man. [So] the red card was denying a goal-scoring opportunity.” The 17th-seeded Patriots (10-14-0) converted the free kick. Martel could feel the momentum shift. “That set them up to win the game,” said Martel, who called upon Jose Cruz and Kaleb Gallegos to work between the pipes during the remainder of the tension-filled contest. “I couldn’t have
Essentially Sports
takemetotn.com
Sampson Independent
Butler Avenue’s first movie night brings community
Butler Avenue Elementary School held its first-ever family movie night Thursday, with the lawn covered in adults and their children watching Toy Story 5, the popcorn popper staying busy and staff and families, alike, remembering that school is community. “We appreciate you, Jollypop,” Butler Avenue Principal Dr. Angela Harding Newkirk...
takemetotn.com
Bladen Journal
MaxPreps
Duplin Times
Wallace-Rose Hill trounces Trinity
WALLACE — Beaten, bruised, banged up. This is not the time to play Wallace-Rose Hill on the gridiron. Hungry to keep the “nay-sayers” silent and continue a tradition established by the late — and legendary — Jack Holley, the Bulldogs looked like a different team last Thursday evening. They felt better about themselves, too. Wallace-Rose Hill ran over Trinity, 68-0, in round one of the NC High School Athletic Association Class 3A football playoffs. The Bulldogs (6-4 overall) continue play Friday at Northeastern Coastal member Pasquotank County. The Bulldogs claimed the program’s 91st postseason win. “I felt like that was the best we’ve executed on offense I know in the last three years as far fundamentals and techniques go,” WRH head coach Kevin Motsinger said. “We had to move a lot of people around because we had six or seven kids who couldn’t play due to being banged up [either] in the James Kenan game or practice during the week.” Motsinger employed a unique practice plan. The Bulldogs worked out Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in full gear. Throughout the season, they’ve struggled to get out of the huddle and snap the ball on time. If a player jumped offsides, the