The North Duplin Rebels opened their matchup against the Southside Seahawks with a physical rushing attack, setting the tone early and controlling much of the first half on the ground.
North Duplin received the opening kickoff, with No. 7 Rimi Villalon handling the return. The Rebels immediately went to work on the ground, beginning with a run by No. 44 Noa Quintanilla for approximately four yards before No. 2 Cole Grady broke loose for a big run to move the chains.
The Rebels continued leaning heavily on their rushing attack, but a penalty on third down and a fumble allowed Southside to take possession. The Seahawks attempted to capitalize, but North Duplin’s defense quickly responded when Seahawks No. 3 Jaheim Moore attempted a pass that was intercepted by No. 7 Rimi Villalon.
With the ball back, the Rebels wasted little time making Southside pay. No. 10 Keiz Brock connected with No. 5 Jayden Pope on a big touchdown pass, putting North Duplin on the scoreboard first.
Rebels Build a 14-0 Lead Before Seahawks Answer
After the touchdown, No. 7 Rimi Villalon kicked off to Southside No. 8 Marquis Jones, and the Seahawks returned to the field looking for an answer. Southside relied on No. 44 Ke’Monee Brimage, who produced several short runs, while No. 2 Devonelle Brimage delivered a big first-down run.
The Rebels’ defense continued to make its presence felt. A miscommunication on a Seahawks play resulted in a big loss after a hard hit by North Duplin’s No. 44 Noa Quintanilla. On the following play, No. 12 Jackson Lee delivered another big hit on No. 5 Jayden Pope to force another loss.
Southside eventually turned the ball over on downs, giving North Duplin another opportunity.
The Rebels took advantage with a jet sweep from No. 10 Keiz Brock to No. 2 Cole Grady that produced a big gain. After using a timeout on fourth down, North Duplin stayed aggressive, with No. 44 Noa Quintanilla breaking through for a touchdown. No. 4 Messiah Cooper then converted the two-point attempt, extending the Rebels’ lead to 14-0.
Southside quickly responded in spectacular fashion. No. 2 Devonelle Brimage took the ensuing kickoff and raced all the way to the end zone for a touchdown. No. 44 Ke’Monee Brimage added the two-point conversion, cutting North Duplin’s lead to 14-8.
The Rebels struggled to extend their next possession and turned the ball over on downs. Southside regained possession, but North Duplin’s defense continued to make big plays, including a hard tackle by No. 73 Marquis Frederick.
A Seahawks punt attempt later went awry after a missed snap, giving the Rebels possession at the 37-yard line. However, penalties continued to hurt North Duplin’s momentum, and the Rebels eventually turned the ball over on downs.
Southside had one final possession before halftime, but the Rebels held firm as the first half came to a close.
Halftime Score: North Duplin 14, Southside 8
Seahawks Battle Back in the Third Quarter
Southside opened the second half with possession and immediately turned to No. 2 Devonelle Brimage, who produced a big run before being stopped. The Seahawks continued pounding the ball on the ground, with No. 44 Ke’Monee Brimage picking up another run before North Duplin’s defensive line shut down the play.
A Seahawks pass was then broken up by the Rebels, forcing Southside to turn the ball over on downs.
North Duplin took over at its own 25-yard line but struggled to get its offense moving. A run by No. 5 Jayden Pope resulted in no gain, and the Rebels were forced into a quick four-and-out.
The Seahawks responded with a strong return by No. 11 Christian Paschal and another big run by No. 2 Devonelle Brimage, moving deep into Rebel territory. Southside appeared poised to even the score, but North Duplin’s defense came through again when No. 12 Jackson Lee and No. 53 Noah Bennett combined for a tackle that resulted in a loss.
The Seahawks then fumbled on the following play, and the Rebels recovered.
North Duplin regained possession and No. 44 Noa Quintanilla broke loose for a big run, but the Rebels fumbled on the play, allowing Southside to recover.
The Seahawks capitalized immediately. No. 2 Devonelle Brimage broke away for a touchdown run, bringing Southside even closer. The Seahawks attempted the two-point conversion, but the attempt was unsuccessful.
North Duplin returned to the ground game with runs by No. 4 Messiah Cooper and No. 5 Jayden Pope before taking a timeout as the third quarter came to an end.
Rebels Regain Control in the Fourth
The Rebels opened the fourth quarter with another run by No. 4 Messiah Cooper before eventually punting the ball back to Southside.
The Seahawks attempted to move the ball with No. 2 Devonelle Brimage, but North Duplin’s No. 7 Rimi Villalon and No. 53 Noah Bennett stopped the play in the backfield. A Seahawks pass was broken up, forcing another punt.
With possession again, North Duplin went back to its rushing attack. No. 44 Noa Quintanilla picked up consecutive gains, moving the Rebels to the Southside 23-yard line. Then came a pivotal play.
No. 14 Devin Carlton broke through for a big run that carried the Rebels inside the 10-yard line. A Southside penalty moved North Duplin even closer to the goal line, and No. 10 Keiz Brock finished the drive with a quarterback keeper for a touchdown.
The Rebels’ two-point attempt was unsuccessful, but North Duplin had regained the lead, 20-14, with 7:29 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Sealing the Victory With Back-to-Back Interceptions
Southside received the kickoff, but North Duplin’s defense immediately delivered a big hit, with No. 5 Jayden Pope and No. 32 Reyangel Flores stopping the return.
The Seahawks struggled to find room on the ground as No. 5 Chance Haywood and No. 44 Ke’Monee Brimage were both stopped on consecutive plays. Southside came up short on third down and faced fourth down, but a penalty moved the Seahawks backward.
After a timeout, Southside ultimately punted, giving the Rebels another opportunity to run time off the clock.
North Duplin tried to keep the clock moving with runs by No. 5 Jayden Pope and a quarterback keeper, but the Rebels eventually faced a difficult fourth-down situation with only two minutes remaining. After taking a timeout, North Duplin punted the ball to the Seahawks’ 15-yard line.
Southside now had one final chance to make a comeback.
An offsides penalty pushed the Seahawks backward, and No. 3 Jaheim Moore’s pass attempt was broken up by the Rebels. On second down, No. 44 Ke’Monee Brimage was stopped by North Duplin’s No. 85 Jayden Clemens.
Then, with Southside desperately trying to move the ball through the air, North Duplin’s No. 26 Damarion Smith stepped in front of a pass and returned the interception all the way for a pick-six touchdown.
The Rebels added the successful two-point conversion, extending their advantage to 28-14.
Southside attempted to respond with its passing game, but another pass was broken up. On the following attempt, No. 26 Damarion Smith came away with his second interception of the drive, effectively putting the game away.
North Duplin took possession at the 25-yard line and entered victory formation as the final seconds ticked away.
Final Score: North Duplin Rebels 28, Southside Seahawks 14