Oliver runs over Eagles
By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on October 23, 2011 12:49 PM
CALYPSO -- Devin Oliver may have played his last game at H.E. Grubbs Field, but he made sure he won't be forgotten in Calypso anytime soon.
Oliver rushed for 269 yards and five touchdowns on 18 carries in North Duplin's 42-7 rout of Rosewood on Friday night. A victory at Spring Creek next Friday would ensure the playoff-bound Rebels (5-4, 2-2 CC) of at least a share of third place in Carolina 1-A Conference play.
"This was a huge win for us," North Duplin head coach Hugh Martin said. "We've got to take care of business next week, but this gives us a shot at third place ... perhaps a home playoff game. None of that was going to be possible without a win tonight."
The Eagles (4-5, 1-3) took the game's opening possession and marched 64 yards in 13 plays. Rosewood converted a pair of third downs and a fourth down, and Corey Dickerson's 5-yard touchdown run gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead.
Julio Mora's 43-yard run set up his own 2-yard score that tied the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter.
Oliver took a pitch and started to his left before cutting back across the field, picking up several blockers and racing 46 yards to the end zone. Jorge Juarez's extra point gave the Rebels a 14-7 advantage midway through the second quarter.
"Devin's run off that busted play was tremendous play for us," said Martin. "It really got us excited and feeling good about what we were doing. That was a key play for us."
The Eagles appeared to tie the game on Jamari McGown's 73-yard touchdown run, but the play was called back on a holding penalty. Rosewood lost a fumble on the next play and trailed 14-7 at the half. The Eagles finished with four turnovers and were outgained 472-171 in total offensive yards.
"It was 14-7 at the half and we felt good about what we were doing," said Rosewood head coach Robert Britt. "In the second half we turned the ball over too much. They capitalized on it. The other thing is they found a formation and a play with that formation that just had us in conflict."
Oliver's 47-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter increased the lead to 21-7. Tyler Royal's first of his two interceptions of Eagles' quarterback Taylor McGill led to Oliver's 54-yard score that stretched the margin to 28-7.
Oliver's 45-yard touchdown late in the third quarter extended the lead to 35-7. The senior tailback added a 5-yard score midway through the fourth quarter.
"I've been banged up the last two weeks and I tried to get into a groove and as the game went along I finally got into it," said Oliver. "I had to make my cuts and get around some tacklers and show them my speed and make them catch me. In order for them to really stop me they're going to have to really compete because I'm not going down without competing."
Roseood concludes regular-season play next Friday when it entertians archrival Princeton.