North Duplin defeats Spring Creek in Carolina 1A finale

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on November 7, 2015 11:16 PM

• Print
• Email

SEVEN SPRINGS -- After a two-week absence, JP Payton rushed for 170 yards and five touchdowns in North Duplin's 42-21 triumph over Spring Creek at "The Swamp" on Friday evening.

It was the Carolina 1-A regular-season finale for both teams.

Payton, who missed two games with an injury, scored touchdowns on runs of 14, 2, 23, 5 and 17 yards. He completed a 9-yard pass to Will Archer.

Emiliano Mora crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the season with a 105-yard, one-touchdown performance. Melik Williams added 54 yards on nine carries, while Kenny Sheppard rambled for 35 yards on seven totes.

The playoff-bound Rebels accumulated 400 yards of total offense.

Scott Edmondson accounted for 92 yards for the Gators, including 87 through the air. He completed touchdown passes of 37 and 12 yards to Jamarion Dawson, who ended the night with 65 yards in receiving.

Dawson threw a 61-yard TD strike to Dominic Morse.

"I'm proud of my kids," SC head coach Aaron Sanders said. "They played their tails off."

North Duplin (4-7 overall, 2-4 Carolina) returns to action Friday at South Creek in opening-round play of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A (small-school) football playoffs. Spring Creek (2-9) is the guest of defending 1-AA state champion Wallace-Rose Hill.