North Duplin offensive coordinator Brad Rhodes works with the lineman during a practice drill. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

North Duplin offensive coordinator Brad Rhodes works with the lineman during a practice drill. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

<p>Naa Quintanilla, left, places the football on the holder while Ricky Castro (70), head coach Hugh Martin and teammate Brandon Reyna watch during practice. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)</p>

Naa Quintanilla, left, places the football on the holder while Ricky Castro (70), head coach Hugh Martin and teammate Brandon Reyna watch during practice. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

<p>North Duplin’s Ricky Castro works on kicking during football practice. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)</p>

North Duplin’s Ricky Castro works on kicking during football practice. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

<p>North Duplin’s Ethan Turnage works on a drill during football practice. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)</p>

North Duplin’s Ethan Turnage works on a drill during football practice. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

<p>North Duplin’s Sam Henderson locks his pads into place before heading toward the practice field. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)</p>

North Duplin’s Sam Henderson locks his pads into place before heading toward the practice field. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

<p>North Duplin’s Oscar Romero, left, works his way around teammate Ricky Castro during a blocking drill on a running play in practice.</p>

North Duplin’s Oscar Romero, left, works his way around teammate Ricky Castro during a blocking drill on a running play in practice.

<p>North Duplin’s Kaden Turner is blocked by a teammate during a practice drill. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)</p>

North Duplin’s Kaden Turner is blocked by a teammate during a practice drill. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

<p>North Duplin quarterback Luke Kelly looks toward his backfield while the line gets ready to simulate blocking during football practice. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)</p>

North Duplin quarterback Luke Kelly looks toward his backfield while the line gets ready to simulate blocking during football practice. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

<p>Players on North Duplin’s JV team get into a blocking stance while head coach Hugh Martin watches from behind. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)</p>

Players on North Duplin’s JV team get into a blocking stance while head coach Hugh Martin watches from behind. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

<p>Jacob Kelly, left, dives for the loose ball during a fumble recovery drill before North Duplin head coach Hugh Martin gets ready to blow the whistle. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)</p>

Jacob Kelly, left, dives for the loose ball during a fumble recovery drill before North Duplin head coach Hugh Martin gets ready to blow the whistle. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

<p>North Duplin’s Branson Martin rolls out and looks for an open teammate during a passing drill. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)</p>

North Duplin’s Branson Martin rolls out and looks for an open teammate during a passing drill. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

<p>Oscar Romero, right, breaks out as the lead blocker for teammate DuJuan Armwood, who received the handoff from quarterback Luke Kelly during a running back drill while North Duplin conducts a preseason practice. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)</p>

Oscar Romero, right, breaks out as the lead blocker for teammate DuJuan Armwood, who received the handoff from quarterback Luke Kelly during a running back drill while North Duplin conducts a preseason practice. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

<p>North Duplin head football coach Hugh Martin, left, talks with Rodriguez Olivos about proper blocking technique. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)</p>

North Duplin head football coach Hugh Martin, left, talks with Rodriguez Olivos about proper blocking technique. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

<p>Isaac Davis, left, and Dante Santabanez, right, work on an blocking drill during North Duplin’s preseason football practice. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)</p>

Isaac Davis, left, and Dante Santabanez, right, work on an blocking drill during North Duplin’s preseason football practice. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

CALYPSO — Tradition and legacy. Those two traits have surfaced during North Duplin’s opening week of the 2023 prep gridiron campaign.

Throughout practice, the older, experienced returners have taken the newcomers under their wings, offered advice and worked with them on techniques. They’ve quietly ingrained into their teammates the Rebels’ rich heritage that’s existed for more than five decades.

“It’s fantastic,” ND head coach Hugh Martin said.

Even more is a tremendous increase in participation.

More than 40 players have attended morning practices. They’re beginning to understand the basic offensive and defensive packages, which is a carryover from their preseason workouts.

“We have had a great work ethic this week,” Martin said.

It’s been a challenge, too.

The coaching staff has diligently worked to get JV players repetitions on individual drills during a fast-paced practice. They’re separated from the varsity for full-team sessions. Martin said the JV has shown growth from early- and mid-summer workouts.

Strength has improved as well.

“Our players have consistently lifted since last fall and they are stronger than they were,” Martin said. “We have also seen several grow in leadership and become more vocal than this past year.”

The official season kicks off Aug. 18.

Before then, North Duplin will play a single-game scrimmage at North Edgecombe on Aug. 9. Two days later, the Rebels travel to South Lenoir for a multi-team jamboree.

Those live contests should answer plenty of questions.

“We have to continue to work on the timing and continuity of our offense. It takes a lot of consistent reps to get an offense ready for game night,” Martin said. “The scrimmages will help us lock down some positions as well where there is good competition for spots. That is true on defense as well. Defensively, we are still learning how to align vs. various formations and to consistently have our vision in the right place.

“Of course we have to install most of our kicking game as well.”