Whatever the need, East Meck football knows it can call on senior James Bailey

East Mecklenburg High football coach Lonnie Sanders needed a quarterback two years ago, so he turned to a sophomore who said he’d play any position.

And so James Bailey became the Eagles’ quarterback.

Last year, he needed someone who could catch passes, run with the ball, and create big plays. So he went to Bailey.

Sanders also was looking for someone to anchor the defensive secondary. Bailey got the call.

And who could return kicks. Sanders went to ... well, you get the idea.

When the ball is being snapped Friday evening in the Eagles’ home game against Ballantyne Ridge (1-4), chances are that James Bailey will be somewhere on the field — probably playing a key role for the Eagles (2-3).

“I really like football,” said Bailey, a 6-1, 175-pound senior do-it-all standout. “And I’ll play wherever I’m needed.”

In East Mecklenburg’s 20-16 victory over North Mecklenburg earlier this month, Bailey completed two passes as a quarterback, ran the ball six times, and had five pass receptions. In a 21-16 victory against Garinger, Bailey had two interceptions (one for a touchdown) and ran for a score.

“He’s phenomenal,” Sanders said. “He can do so many things.”

A late start

All of this is from someone who never started playing organized football until eighth grade.

“I played a bit of flag football before that, but it was eighth grade before I got serious about it,” Bailey said.

He played varsity as a wide receiver and defensive back in ninth grade at East Mecklenburg, then made the jump to quarterback in 10th grade.

“It was foreign to me at first,” he said. “But I got more comfortable throwing the ball.”

Sanders found another quarterback last year and was able to move Bailey back to his normal offensive position.

But Bailey, who has five interceptions this season, said his real home is on defense.

“I like the physicality of it,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun to play defense. I try to get into every play.”

Bailey, who also wrestles for the Eagles and reached the 4A state tournament a year ago, said being a good defensive back requires study.

“A lot of my work is done before the game ever begins,” he said. “I watch the way the quarterback looks at his receivers. And I try to learn the receivers’ tendencies too.”

“Every little thing matters,” he said. “I watch the way they line up, the way they come off the ball.”

Studying the opponent

He said he enjoys the academic side of playing defense.

“I like watching film and diagnosing the opponent,” he said. “And then when I’m in the game, my mindset on every play is ‘interception.’ ”

Even on offense, Sanders said he enjoys the contact aspect of the game.

“I love blocking,” he said. “A lot of guys talk about making the big catches, but I love the blocks. Making a pancake block is the greatest!”

This senior season could be special for Bailey, who is getting attention from several colleges and said he would like to play college football.

The Eagles have been an after-thought in playoff discussions in recent years, but they see themselves as legitimate contenders for postseason play this fall. While the season is only at the halfway mark, East Mecklenburg is 28th in the Class 8A RPI ratings. The top 24 teams go to the playoffs.

“We want to get back to .500,” Bailey said. “And from there, who knows where we can go?

“This is a really good group of guys to play with,” he added. “They came out and worked hard every day in the offseason. They want to do something East Mecklenburg hasn’t done in a number of years.”

Sanders said that while Bailey is a standout on the field, he’s also vital in the locker room.

“He’s achieved so much as an individual player, but he’s a team guy,” the coach said. “He knows not everyone will be playing in college like he will, but he will do whatever it takes to help them. He’s a team-first guy.”

Bailey said this “is the best East Mecklenburg team I’ve played with. I love these guys.”