Prep football -- Rebels go on offensive

Published in Sports on October 3, 2004 2:00 AM

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PRINCETON -- Search no further for North Duplin's offense.

After posting the lowest number of offensive points of all area teams, the Rebels were all systems go at Princeton, besting the Bulldogs 38-7 at the Fred Bartholomew Athletic Complex.

The win was the first for coach John Avent's charges in Carolina 1-A Conference play. Their overall record is 2-3. Princeton remains winless in conference at 0-2 and is 2-4 overall.

Neither team could get untracked in the first quarter. Drives were stopped by mental errors. Both teams combined for a total of seven fumbles and nineteen penalties on the night.

North Duplin watched a 36-yard Brad Lloyd run squandered by a fumble, caused by Lee Rose. Princeton's nine-play drive ended at the Rebel 24 when sophomore linebacker Alex Jiminez recovered a loose ball.

"We've got to hold on to the ball," said Princeton coach Joe Mitchell. "The score was 0-0, we were driving, got down to their 13, fumbled, they scored, then we did it all over again. That hurt."

Lloyd didn't miss on his scoring opportunities in the second quarter. Passes of 66 and 17 yards to Matt Braswell put their first points on the scoreboard at 10:15. The 6-foot-3 senior end set up the touchdown by hauling in a 31-yard toss. Running back Montreal Garner hit paydirt on a four-yard plunge at 7:13.

Garner was the leading rusher on the night, gaining 107 yards on nine carries, scoring twice. Braswell had five receptions for 147 yards and two scores. His three-yard reception as the first half was closing gave the Rebels a commanding 18-0 lead at intermission.

A reinvigorated Princeton offense came out of the locker room for the third quarter. Quarterback Bren Hall completed a pass to Patrick Gatewood for 19 yards. Aided by a North Duplin personal foul, the Bulldogs switched to a ground attack. Runs by Decarius Scarboro and Keith Johnson set up Hall's sweep around left end to the end zone at 9:04.

Interceptions by Gatewood and Kyle Harmon stymied the North Duplin offense, giving the Bulldogs their final scoring opportunity. Taking over at their guest's 28, they drove to the 10, only to have Colin Parker's 20-yard field goal attempt hit the left upright.

North Duplin's offense then swung back into action. The Rebels, who posted 522 yards of total offense, got three more scores on a 63-yard reception from Lloyd to Charlton Armwood, a 70-yard romp by Garner, and a one-yard plunge by sophomore Bucky McCartney.

"We knew what they were going to do," said Mitchell. "We just didn't make the plays."

He had nothing but praise for his opponents.

"I've always been impressed by their quarterback (Brad Lloyd)," he said. "I think coach Avent and his staff do as good a job as any team in our conference. They came out ready to play."

"We were much more consistent tonight," said Avent. "Our passing really helped loosen things up. Our line did a great job on both sides of the ball. If we can continue to spread it out, and get more people involved, it will make a big, big difference."

The Rebels will entertain Ayden-Grifton Friday. "They're a solid team," said Avent. "They'll pose a great challenge."

Princeton will be idle Friday before traveling to Ayden-Grifton in two weeks.

North Duplin 0 18 14 6 -- 38

Princeton 0 0 7 0 -- 7

Second Quarter

ND -- Braswell 17 pass from B. Lloyd (kick wide) 10:15

ND -- Garner 4 run (run failed) 7:13

ND -- Braswell 3 pass from B. Lloyd (run failed) :14

Third Quarter

PHS -- Hall 10 run (Parker kick) 9:04

ND -- Armwood 63 pass from Lloyd (run failed) 2:45

ND -- Garner 70 run (D. Lloyd pass from B. Lloyd) 1:27

Fourth Quarter

ND -- McCarty 1 run (run failed) 8:55

ND PHS

First downs 19 10

Rushes-yds 41-289 27-125

Pass yds 233 82

Total yds 522 207

Comp-att-int 9-16-2 7-20-2

Fumbles-lost 3-1 4-3

Penalties-yds 11-100 8-66

Punts-ave 1-34.0 4-31.8

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- North Duplin -- Montreal Garner 9-107 2 TD; Brad Lloyd 13-94; Doug Lloyd 5-44; Bucky McCarty 8-26 TD; Eric Hudson 3-10; Brian Boykin 3-8. Princeton -- Keith Johnson 7-51; Decarius Scarboro 13-50; Bren Hall 4-19-1; Matt Creech 2-7; Johnny Phillips 1-(-2).

PASSING -- North Duplin -- Brad Lloyd 9-16-3-2, 233 yds. Princeton -- Bren Hall 7-19-1-2, 82 yds; Ryan Daughtry 0-0-0-1.

RECEIVING -- North Duplin -- Matt Braswell 5-147, 2 TD; Charlton Armwood 1-63 TD; Ryan Killette 1-9; Doug Lloyd 1-7; Luis Villalon 1-7. Princeton -- Patrick Gatewood 3-47; Daniel Gerrell 3-23; Brooks Moore 1-12.