FOOTBALL TAB -- North Duplin: Key trio returns to guide Rebels

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 20, 2015 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

rcoggins@newsargus.com

CALYPSO -- Key injuries depleted North Duplin's depth in 2014.

The good news is that Emiliano Mora, JP Payton and Daquan Goodman -- all seniors -- are healthy again.

That could be bad news for opposing teams. Despite their nagging injuries, the trio accounted for 2,091 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Head coach Hugh Martin, who begins his 10th season Friday against Southside, wondered what could have been had those three remained healthy all season. A 5-8 season and lower-tier finish in the Carolina 1-A Conference could have been different.

But, that's the past.

"M&M (Mora), JP and Daquan need to get a lot of touches, but maybe in more different ways than last year ... get the ball in areas where they really can do some things we need them to do," Martin said. "We're using some more sets offensively to make us more diverse and the key is to take advantage of some of the skills that we have, try not to get locked into a system.

"We want to be able to have the advantage when we see something that can help us."

Relax Rebel fans.

Martin doesn't plan to throw the ball over the field.

North Duplin's modus operandi has been the "three yards and cloud of dust" theory since Martin arrived on campus. The Rebels plan to control the clock in hopes of wearing down opposing defenses.

Fourteen lettermen return, including 13 starters who had either full- or part-time status last fall. Senior Caleb Cashwell (6-foot-5, 310 pounds), a preseason all-state 1-A selection by Friday Night Football-Carolinas magazine, will be a key figurehead on both sides of the ball.

Cashwell is the primary blocker for Mora, Payton and Goodman. But the three-year starter will need some help an offensive line that took a significant hit at graduation. That group needs to protect Mora and two former JV quarterbacks -- Will Archer and Ricky Cameron.

Mora completed 23 passes for 388 yards last season.

"(Last year) there were times where we couldn't execute option plays like we wanted to do," Martin said. "We tried to change some things around during the season to limit some of the liabilities that we were having. This group here, I feel like we're going to be able to be a little more diverse with them."

Martin added the receivers have shown promise in the preseason.

North Duplin's defense allowed an uncharacteristic 440 points last season -- an average of 33.8 per game. More than 250 of those points were surrendered in conference games.

The Rebels should look stronger this season.

Mora has moved to linebacker and will be the point man who reads the opposing defense and gets his teammates in the right position. Cashwell and Malik Williams will be on the line. Payton is at corner, while senior Hunter Thurston and junior Terrion Addison will handle linebacker duties. Archer is at free safety.

"We're piecing together some of the other parts," Martin said. "We'll see how that pans out."

Martin says the team is showing signs of good chemistry and appears to be gelling as a unit. He hopes that leads to a successful season -- a top-tier finish in a rough-and-tumble conference, and another trip to the playoffs.

"We don't define the season by wins and losses, but moreso the things they learn that they can carry on to other parts in life," Martin said. "It's been a great group to work with. They're excited about playing ... a lot of energy from them (and) a real good work ethic.

"We know injuries are going to happen. We just hope they don't hit us just as hard as they've hit us the last couple of years."

Especially Mora, Payton and Goodman.