North Duplin routs South Robeson, collects first playoff victory since 2003

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 10, 2006 1:47 PM

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CALYPSO -- North Duplin quarterback Doug Lloyd and halfback Michael Schilling -- as usual -- each provided their normal offensive output Thursday evening against South Robeson.

Lloyd rushed for three touchdowns and threw for another score, while Schilling eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau in a 35-6 victory over the Mustangs at H.E. Grubbs Field. The duo combined for 248 yards of total offense as North Duplin extended its home postseason win streak to three consecutive games.

The fourth-seeded Rebels (9-2) entertain either Hayesville or Rosman in a second-round, N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A (small-school) western playoff game next Friday.

South Robeson concluded the year 3-9.

"We knew Lloyd was going to be good coming in," said fifth-year Mustangs coach Barry Leonard. "You can't really tell on film how quick teams are, but they were really good ... a lot quicker than we thought."

Schilling delivered a steady diet of consistent runs off tackle, particularly behind 5-foot-11, 210-pound lineman Buddy Grady. Schilling ripped off six runs of 5 yards or more on the Rebels' first two scoring possessions of the game.

Lloyd capped the first drive with a 13-yard touchdown run. He ended the second drive with a 10-yard run. Lloyd collected his 13th and 14th rushing touchdowns of the season, and crept closer to the 1,000-yard rushing mark.

"I thought we executed well early, especially on offense," said North Duplin head coach Hugh Martin, who seized his first-ever playoff win. "The offensive line did a super job and Michael was making great cuts. He jumped in there and found the creases."

South Robeson's defense plugged the holes from that point and forced North Duplin to find other avenues to move the football. The Rebels amassed 166 yards of total offense in the opening quarter, but just 41 yards combined on their last two possessions before halftime.

The Mustangs, meanwhile, couldn't establish a consistent running game. North Duplin pursued well to the ball, especially on the back side, and prevented South Robeson's backs from turning upfield. The Rebels limited South Robeson to 68 yards of total offense and four first downs.

"We thought we could run inside on them and they took the inside away," said Leonard. "We thought maybe we could get outside on them and the linebackers were just quick to the ball.

"I'll have to go back and look at the film. But I wonder was it us or was it them? I think it might have been more them."

South Robeson fumbled on its next series and fueled North Duplin's third touchdown of the game. Three-hundred pound lineman Brian McDuffy stripped the ball from Mustang running back Raheem Breeden and returned it 37 yards to the end zone.

It was McDuffy's first touchdown of the season.

"That's a huge play ... a huge momentum boost," said Martin. "I was glad to see the hustling we had on that play because there were about 10 (green-jerseyed) players following him to the end zone."

Leonard agreed McDuffy supplied a back-breaking play, since the Mustangs scored on their opening drive of the second half.

Charles Anderson's fourth-down, 16-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Leach capped the 11-play possession. The 69-yard march topped South Robeson's entire first-half offensive output.

"That big noseguard doesn't take the ball away from my running back and it's 14-6. It's a ballgame then," said Leonard. "We're fighting to get back in the game, and to their credit, they came back and got us in the end."

Lloyd intercepted Anderson and converted the miscue into a 19-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. After South Robeson turned the ball over on downs, Lloyd hooked up with Ryan Killette for a 6-yard touchdown pass. It was Lloyd's lone completion in six attempts.

Killette has four touchdown receptions this season.

"We took advantage of those opportunities and that was huge," said Martin. "I think they're a very good, tough football team. Their speed was a concern coming in and when they cut back a couple of times, you could see how quick they are."

But Lloyd and Schilling, on this night, were quicker.

Notes: North Duplin is 22-23-1 all-time in the playoffs, including a 9-5-1 worksheet at home, since 1972. ... The Rebels converted two turnovers into touchdowns and finished with a 252-160 advantage in total offense. ... Lloyd has accounted for 21 TDs this season. ... Schilling has 1,084 yards on 170 carries, and averages 108.4 yards an outing.