North Duplin senior Bryan Zambrano, left, picked up a loose ball at the 2-yard line and scored just his second touchdown of the season during third-period play against East Bladen. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Vance Carter (7) and Carell Phillips (21) celebrate a first-half touchdown against East Bladen. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Branson Martin, right, makes an open-field stop on a fourth-down play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin lineman Trashawn Ruffin gets pushed by an East Bladen defender before he gets his paws on the running back during first-quarter action. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin running back Carell Phillips, left, carries out the fake as quarterback Luke Kelly hands off to Vance Carter on a counter play against East Bladen. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
CALYPSO — A three-week layoff.
An athletic, explosive opponent.
Still not 100 percent healthy.
All those ingredients could have been the perfect brew for a second-round upset on a cold, windy Friday evening at H.E. Grubbs Field.
North Duplin didn’t let it happen.
Carell Phillips rambled for three first-half touchdowns as the Rebels eliminated East Bladen, 35-8, from the NC High School Athletic Association Class 1A football playoffs.
The second-seeded Rebels (10-0 overall) advanced past the second round for the first time since 2017 and entertain Carolina 1A nemesis Lakewood next Friday. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
A bye week created by the NCHSAA due to Hurricane Helene and a first-round bye in the playoffs led to a 21-day break. It could have undoubtedly disrupted North Duplin’s grind-it-out offense that chews up yardage and takes precious minutes off the clock.
“You never know what it’s going to be like coming off such a long break like that,” ND head coach Hugh Martin said. “I was real pleased how we came in the first half and executed. Hat’s off to our kids for working the way they worked during that period, and continued to focus on the little things to get better at what we do.
“I thought the first half really showed.”
The Rebels received the first-half kickoff and scored.
Phillips broke loose for a 39-yard touchdown barely 2 1/2 minutes into the opening quarter.
Defensive stops on fourth-down, short-yardage situations set up North Duplin’s next three scores. The defensive backs clogged up the gaps and slowed down the Eagles’ talented ball toters — particularly junior Dashon Campbell.
Campbell entered the game with eight touchdowns and nearly 700 yards rushing.
“We were giving up some yards here and there, but nothing big,” Martin said. “We found a way to make those stops … huge for us. I don’t know what happened inside for it to happen that way, but I know our D-line was in the midst of making it happen.
“Our DBs tackled well, which helped us, too.”
Branson Martin’s open-field tackle shut down the Eagles’ first possession. That set the stage for Phillips’ second TD — a 21-yard burst down the right sideline.
Vance Carter plunged over the from 3-yard line after a strong defensive stop.
Junior linebacker Austin Wolfe and sophomore middle linebacker Noa Quintanilla combined for the next fourth-down hit that occurred barely inches from the first-down marker.
Phillips split the seam, found open real estate and galloped 80 yards to the end zone. North Duplin entered halftime with a comfortable 28-0 lead.
“I was happy that we were able to contain some explosiveness that they had,” Martin said. “Defensively, we played well up front and our DBs began to recognize what was going on. Offensively, I thought we executed well.
“Carell does what Carell when it’s an open field.”
North Duplin’s final TD came in chaotic fashion.
Carter took the handoff from quarterback Luke Kelly and fumbled inside the Eagles’ 5-yard line. Isaac Davis scooped up the loose ball, got tripped from behind and watched it bounce toward the end zone.
Bryan Zambrano picked the ball up at the 2 and stumbled past the goal line. The senior collected just his second touchdown of the season.
East Bladen scored in the final two minutes to avoid the shutout.
The Rebels and No. 16-seeded Leopards (9-3) clash in the postseason for the first time since 2007 when they met for the western regional championship. ND claimed a shutout victory on its home turf and finished state runner-up one week later.
“We’re going to take it one week at a time,” Martin said. “We’re going to get ourselves as ready as we can, come out here and play again. It’s going to be good to be at home.”
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
North Duplin 35, East Bladen 8
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
ND — Phillips 39 run (Villalon kick), 9:22
ND — Phillips 4 run (Villalon kick), 2:13
Second Quarter
ND — Carter 3 run (Villalon kick), 6:42
ND — Phillips 80 run (Villalon kick), 335
Third Quarter
ND — Zambrano 2 run (Villalon kick), 7:12
Fourth Quarter
EB — Lewis 18 run (Johnson run), 2:04
