Charger defense bottles up Rebels

Published in Sports on October 10, 2004 9:49 AM

• Print
• Email

CALYPSO -- North Duplin expected a tough battle against Class 1-A Carolina Conference opponent Ayden-Grifton.

The Rebels didn't anticipate a shutout.

The Chargers benefited from five turnovers and dealt North Duplin a 28-0 defeat Friday evening at H.E. Grubbs Field. Ayden-Grifton snapped its three-game losing streak against the Rebels and remained the lone unbeaten team in Carolina play at 3-0.

"The biggest thing was the fact that we were able to get some points early, and then that put them in a situation where they were trying to catch up and we were able to play good defense," veteran Ayden-Grifton coach B.T. Chappell said. "Even though it was 28-0, it was the defense that dictated the game. They weren't able to move the ball, so then it started going through the air."

Ayden-Grifton recorded four interceptions against North Duplin quarterback Brad Lloyd, and recovered one fumble. Justin Little picked off a Lloyd pass which helped set up one Charger score.

"Had he not stepped up and made those plays, and they made the catches, they would have had a good bit of difference in the ball game," Chappell said. "We had some players on our team that made some real good plays in critical times."

Ayden-Grifton avenged last year's 14-8 loss.

North Duplin coach John Bert Avent agreed it was all about defense.

"Their guys did a good job of stopping us. We couldn't sustain any drives, really, and they had several drives where they had to earn it," he said. "Sometimes we looked pretty good. We were doing things we needed to do, and we just couldn't continue.

"It's kind of the same thing that's been getting us all year. We had a few breakdowns here and there, and they had a lot to do with that."

Lloyd led the Rebels in rushing yards, carrying the ball 14 times for 71 yards. He also completed four passes, all to Matt Braswell, for 51 yards. Eric Hudson stopped the Chargers from getting back in the red zone with an interception late in the second quarter.

Matt Tripp emerged Ayden-Grifton's top rusher, gaining 106 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Daniel Greene picked up 51 yards on four attempts and tallied two touchdowns.

Courtney Fuller caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Richie Turner in the third quarter.

North Duplin (2-4, 1-1 CC) travels to North Johnston next Friday, while Ayden-Grifton (4-3, 3-0) entertains Princeton. Both games kick off at 7:30 p.m.

Ayden-Grifton 0 16 6 6 -- 28

North Duplin 0 0 0 0 -- 0

Second quarter

AG -- Greene 7 run (Greene run), 9:27

AG -- Tripp 9 run (Greene pass from Turner), 4:07

Third quarter

AG -- Fuller 19 pass from Turner (run failed), 6:52

Fourth quarter

AG -- Greene 34 run (run failed), 3:15

A.-Grifton N. Duplin

First downs 10 12

Rushes-yds 39-197 26-125

Passing yds 40 51

Total yards 237 176

Att.-Comp.-Int. 9-3-1 17-4-4

Fumbles-lost 1-0 1-1

Punts-avg. 2-38.0 3-41.0

Penalties-yds 4-40 4-45

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- North Duplin -- Brad Lloyd 14-71; Doug Lloyd 7-33; Montreal Garner 5-21. Ayden-Grifton -- Daniel Greene 4-51, 2 TD; Jecol Edwards 5-14; Richie Turner 3-4; Kip Lee 7-22; Matt Tripp 20-106, TD.

PASSING -- North Duplin -- Brad Lloyd 4-17-4 51. Ayden-Grifton -- Richie Turner 3-9-1 40.

RECEIVING -- North Duplin -- Matt Braswell 4-51. Ayden-Grifton -- Courtney Fuller 1-19, TD; Kip Lee 1-21.