FOOTBALL TAB: Martin hopes to 'blue-collar' attitude from young North Duplin team

By Allen Etzler
Published in Sports on August 22, 2014 1:48 PM

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aetzler@newsargus.com

A gold-painted tool box sits in front as the North Duplin football team takes their team photo for the upcoming season.

It has a twin sitting in the trophy case at the school.

There is nothing inside.

The tool box is a symbol that represents the blue-collar attitude with which North Duplin much approach each game in 2014. All the tools the Rebels need, they can find inside themselves.

"It just means we're going to work," head coach Hugh Martin said.

With 19 juniors and seniors on the team, the Rebels lack considerable depth. Martin hopes to have a junior varsity team this fall, but there's no telling how many of the 23 freshmen and sophomores will see action on varsity.

They'll have to work hard and learn plenty of responsibilities if they're called up for varsity duty.

"We've got the most youth we've had in a long time," Martin said. "But we just don't have a lot of depth at the varsity level."

Staying healthy is important, too.

The Rebels finished 5-8 and lost a second-round playoff game at Lejeune. They accomplished that feat despite losing six players to injuries at different points in the season.

"If we lose one, it's really like losing a minimum of two guys, sometimes three or four," Martin said.

That can't happen this year.

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Strength up the middle is crucial in the Rebels' flexbone offense. Martin returns his interior offensive line -- senior left guard Hunter Jones (5-foot-9, 244 pounds), senior center Antonio Jaimes (5-7, 200) and junior right guard Caleb Cashwell (6-5, 310).

Cashwell is an ideal blocker in North Duplin's run game, which has been the staple of Martin's previous teams.

Junior JP Payton is moving from slot back to quarterback because of his running ability. Martin has been impressed with how Payton has learned a new position and picked up on making his reads in the option game.

Payton will hand the ball off to two juniors -- Emiliano Mora and Daquan Goodman. Mora, a two-way starter, emerged as the leading tackler on defense last season and will be counted on for his leadership.

Daquan replaces his brother, Daron, in the backfield. Daron rushed for 1,428 yards last year and found the end zone 13 times. Daquan rushed for 196 yards on 19 carries in nine games as a sophomore.

Kaleb Brock will lead the defense along with Mora.

Brock will play several offensive positions, but should be a major contributor at linebacker. Brock's explosiveness and mobility grew in the offseason in hopes that he can shed blockers and get to the opposing ball carrier easier.

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Despite having depth issues, the Rebels had more freshmen come out this season than any year Martin can remember.

Numerically speaking, it's possible to field a JV team, but it would leave the varsity with even less depth because the freshmen wouldn't be available.

The Rebels have to counteract their lack of depth with a surplus of versatility. Most of the players play a few different positions and they all know the responsibilities for the positions they don't play. Mora and Brock are the poster boys for versatility since each play four different positions.

Martin said the players' willingness to learn new positions has impressed him.

"They've responded well," Martin said. "They've all been accepting of it and all of them can do different things."

The players pick up the gold tool box and head the locker room.

They put it on the shelf and head out for practice.

It's time to get to work.