Lakewood shuts out North Duplin

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on August 29, 2009 11:23 PM

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CALYPSO -- Multiple quarterbacks, good field position or even assistance from a solid defense couldn't provide North Duplin with the offensive rhythm it needed Friday evening.

The Rebels committed four turnovers, were 0-for-7 on third-down conversions and had just two plays of 20-plus yards in a 6-0, non-conference loss to Lakewood at H.E. Grubbs Field.

Three of North Duplin's four turnovers came in Leopards territory. After compiling nearly 400 yards of offense last week against Southside, the Rebels were held to 172 yards on Friday night.

"Every time we would do something good to try to get some field position or stay ahead of the chains, we would shoot ourselves in the foot," said North Duplin head coach Hugh Martin. "It's frustrating on me and it's frustrating on them. I've got to do a better job of getting them prepared so we don't do that during that during the game."

Devin Oliver reeled off runs of 35 and 14 yards on back-to-back plays early in the second quarter, and Julio Mora's 3-yard run got the Rebels to the Lakewood 19-yard line. Quarterback Marcus Kornegay fumbled three plays later and Lakewood recovered.

North Duplin marched just past midfield on its next possession before Alan Schilling's pass was intercepted by the Leopards' Wilson Simpson.

The Rebels drove to the Lakewood 35-yard on their second possession of the second half before Kornegay fumbled away the football and the Leopards recovered.

Lakewood (1-1 overall) needed just six plays on its ensuing drive to get on the scoreboard. Isaac Sellers' 28-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter accounted for the game's only score.

North Duplin's defense held the Leopards to 156 yards of offense and gave a sputtering Rebels' offense opportunity after opportunity.

"I thought we played outstanding defensively," said Martin. "We had a few breakdowns here and there. I thought overall we really improved a lot from last week to this week defensively. We had a couple of guys who really stepped up and became good defensive players tonight."

The Rebels recovered a Leopards fumble on the North Duplin 31-yard line early in the fourth quarter, but were forced to punt.

With less than four minutes to play, the Rebels got the ball back on their own 40-yard line but four plays into the drive Kornegay was intercepted.

North Duplin (1-1) failed to advance past midfield on three fourth-quarter possessions. Devin Oliver finished with 65 yards rushing on 15 carries. Kornegay and Schilling combined to pass for 50 yards.

"Lakewood is very good up front," said Martin. "They run to the ball real well, and at the same time we've got to not miss an assignment and let someone come through on us or have a penalty. With those kinds of things you hurt yourself when you do it against a good defense.

"I think we can take a lot from this."

The Rebels entertain Union next Friday.