2023 Bash at the Beach: What we learned from Wilmington-area high school teams

The Bash at the Beach returned to West Brunswick High School this weekend. The two-day scrimmage featured all eight Mideastern Conference teams and offered a glimpse of what the 2023 season will bring.

Here's what we learned from each Mideastern Conference team in the 2023 Bash at the Beach.

OFFENSE 32 Wilmington-area offensive high school football players to watch in 2023

DEFENSE 32 Wilmington-area high school defensive players to watch in 2023

FIRST WEEK First impressions: Wilmington-area high school football teams begin 2023 practice

Ashley football shows growth

The Screaming Eagles had little trouble rolling past South Columbus 27-0 Saturday night. That's a stark contrast from last year when Ashley was outclassed 48-20.

"Three wins in four years, it's tough to have a belief," Ashley coach Dante Lombardi said. "Coming out last year and being embarrassed and losing the game for the Mideastern Conference, it's embarrassing. I told (the players) to just believe in themselves, and they did."

Junior running back Jaelan Brewington scored a touchdown on a 39-yard run.

Ashley started strong and never looked back, showing they can control opposing teams. If that mindset can be replicated in the regular season, 2023 could be a big year for the Screaming Eagles.

Hoggard defense is the real deal

The Hoggard defense has been a point of emphasis for coach Craig Underwood the past several years, but this season feels different.

The Vikings took on 2022 2A state champion East Duplin Friday night, outscoring the Panthers 14-0.

While that score line might not be an eye-grabber, the Vikings defense was in complete control. Senior defensive back Josiah Gillespie snagged an interception, and Hoggard pounced on two loose balls.

"Our guys really handled that test," Underwood said. "I think any time that we can cause disruption in the backfield, that's gonna be a big bonus."

With a team stacked with seniors and one of the best defenses in the MEC, Hoggard showed that it's not holding anything back.

Laney offense primed for another big season

The Laney offense looked good last season, but with the graduation of longtime starting quarterback Ty Little, there were questions going into this season.

Those questions were answered Friday night as junior quarterback Kolbe Little threw four touchdowns as Laney edged out 2A side Wallace-Rose Hill 28-21.

Little's favorite target, and perhaps the night's best performer, was junior wideout Hampton Roderick, who caught three touchdowns. The speedster scored 11 times last season, and it seems like a new quarterback isn't going to make a difference this fall.

"My quarterback is looking great this year replacing his brother, and I'm just ready to ball out," Roderick said. "We're still adjusting, but Kolbe's looking good back there."

If Laney's offensive production from Friday night was any indication of how the 2023 season will go, the Buccaneers are priming for one of their best seasons yet.

New Hanover offense gets the job done

It wasn't flawless for the Wildcat offense Friday night in Shallotte, but the unit scored when needed.

A Caleb Robles passing touchdown capped off a 14-7 performance against Havelock that showed New Hanover, despite graduating a large senior class, hasn't lost a step from last season.

"We talked about from day one about being a relentless football team, and I thought our effort was where it needed to be," New Hanover coach Dylan Dimock said.

Senior running back Caden Morton did not play Friday night as the running back tweaked his shoulder before the game.

While the offense is trending in the right direction, it was the New Hanover defense that defeated Havelock. An interception from defensive back Sean Worthy and overall dominance carried the team to a victory.

Friday night served as a reminder that the Wildcats aren't slowing down.

North Brunswick offense isn't taking a step back

Eric Mosley and the North Brunswick offense proved they haven't regressed this fall as they outpaced Whiteville 21-7.

The Scorpions senior running back turned on the jets on a 72-yard touchdown run.

"I'm feeling excellent," Mosley said after the game. "I knew I was going to score as soon as I saw the hill. I was like, 'Oh yeah, I'm gone."

Despite not allowing a score for most of the game, North Brunswick coach Bryan Davis says the team has room for improvement.

"There are some positive things, and we're just getting better," Davis said. "I think we knew who we were, and we'll play better and keep getting better."

North Brunswick's younger identity in 2023 may create challenges, but the Scorpions showed Saturday that they are more than capable of making up for that.

South Brunswick's defense needs time

If you've paid attention to the Cougar offense over the past two seasons, Saturday night wasn't a surprise.

Senior quarterback Jameson Prince looked sharp, slinging one touchdown pass while using his legs to grab another.

However, the South Brunswick defense allowed a few long touchdowns, eventually resulting in a 21-21 tie.

"I think you will see growth each week from our defense," South Brunswick coach Rocky Lewis said. "We've got to get our defensive line up and going, they've gotta help the linebackers out."

South Brunswick showed once again that their offense is as good as any MEC team but was also reminded how vital a strong defense is.

Topsail flashes, shows dynamic ability

The Topsail of 2023 might look slightly different as lots of passing and creative formations were showcased Friday night.

While coach Jack Teachey says he was testing out formations during the scrimmage, he's excited for what's to come.

"There were some good things, some bad things, but overall, not bad," Teachey said. "I was excited about some of the explosive plays on offense, which we struggled with last year."

Senior Caden Wilson stole the show, scoring on a long touchdown run and a pick-six to give the Pirates a 27-14 win over Northside.

Quarterback Elijah Hebron also showed his ability to run, scampering for several first downs.

While Topsail might return to a more fundamental offensive approach during conference play, the team showed it can create dynamic plays, too.

West Brunswick shows promise

It wasn't pretty, but the Trojans outworked Kinston to pick up a 20-12 win Saturday night.

Sophomore Running back Jaquell Davis scored twice and approached the century mark in rushing yards.

"We had some silly mistakes but other than that, I thought we played really well," West Brunswick coach Shane Handy said.

West Brunswick has good pieces in Davis and senior quarterback Tristen Williams, but establishing a complete team will take some time.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: What we learned from the 2023 Bash at the Beach