GOLDSBORO — The North Duplin Rebels leaned on a bruising ground attack Thursday night to overpower the Rosewood Eagles, rolling to a decisive 39–19 victory. Behind a relentless rushing effort from running back No. 21 Carell Phillips, the Rebels controlled the tempo from start to finish and never looked back.
Rebels set the tone early
The opening quarter began with drama. Facing 4th-and-1, quarterback No. 10 Keiz Brock handed the ball off to No. 21 Carell Phillips, who powered through for the first touchdown of the night after a series of penalties slowed the drive. The Rebels went up 6–0 with 4:37 left in the quarter.
Rosewood tried to answer, but North Duplin’s defense stood tall. No. 2 Garris Warren came up with a key interception at midfield to halt the Eagles’ momentum. By the end of the first quarter, the Rebels held a 6–0 lead.
Early in the second quarter, No. 21 Carell Phillips struck again, punching it in from the 7-yard line at the 10:44 mark. The extra point attempt failed, but the Rebels extended their lead to 12–0.
Rosewood finally responded when No. 5 Bryson Hobbs broke loose for a spectacular 71-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 12–6. But North Duplin answered right back. No. 21 Carell Phillips powered his way into the end zone for his third touchdown of the half, and kicker No. 31 Rimi Villalon drilled the PAT, making it 19–6 with under two minutes before halftime.
The Rebels weren’t done yet. After No. 2 Garris Warren recovered an onside kick with 29 seconds remaining, No. 44 Noa Quintanilla capped off the drive with a late touchdown run. No. 31 Rimi Villalon’s extra point was good, sending the Rebels into the locker room with a commanding 26–6 halftime lead, fueled by 33 rushing attempts in just two quarters.
Rebels keep rolling
Penalties slowed the Rebels to start the second half, and Rosewood tried to claw back. At the 7:19 mark of the third quarter, No. 4 Timothy Jeffries broke free for a long touchdown run, trimming the score to 26–12. The Eagles’ momentum, however, didn’t last long.
North Duplin answered with an 8-yard touchdown run by No. 5 Jayden Pope at the 3:15 mark. After a successful PAT, the Rebels extended their lead to 33–12 heading into the fourth quarter.
Sealing the deal
The Rebels’ defense struck again early in the fourth when No. 14 Holden Williams intercepted a pass at the 10:54 mark. No. 21 Carell Phillips made the most of the turnover, bulldozing his way into the end zone from the 1-yard line for his fourth touchdown. Though the extra point was missed, the Rebels were firmly in control, 39–12.
Rosewood added one final touchdown late, as No. 3 Connor Smith scored with 1:35 left. The PAT was good, cutting the score to 39–19. But by then, the game was out of reach. With 1:28 left, the Rebels went into victory formation, sealing a dominant win.
Final Score: North Duplin 39, Rosewood 19
No. 21 Carell Phillips’ four touchdown performance and the Rebels’ relentless ground game proved to be the difference. With over 30 carries fueling their offense, North Duplin showcased the kind of physical football that could carry them deep into the season.
Post-game interview
After the game, Coach Martin praised his team for their strong offensive drives and readiness to meet the challenge. He noted that the team has been practicing to prepare for a game like this. Looking ahead, the Rebels hope to continue improving so they’ll be in a strong position to win when playoff time comes.
Next up for the North Duplin Rebels is a non-conference matchup against Spring Creek on Sept. 5, and Coach Martin believes his team will be ready for a competitive game.
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