CALYPSO — North Duplin sent three teams to the playoffs and had 27 athletes collect all-Carolina 1A honors in five varsity sports during the fall season.
One of four all-conference selections in football, Eli Morrisey rushed for a career-high 1,628 yards and 21 touchdowns on 223 carries. Backfield mate Khamari Leak (857 yards rushing, 13 TDs), Oscar Romero and Trashawn Ruffin join Morrisey on the list.
Romero logged 55 tackles on defense.
Isaac Davis, Branden Reyna and Cole Beavers were honorable mention picks.
North Duplin has advanced to the postseason every year since 2000.
The Rebels successfully defended their league crown in boys’ cross country behind all-conference picks Ben Bullard and Luis Arilez-Gonzalez. The duo represented the team in the Mideast Regional.
In boys’ soccer, four Rebels — Crismy Gonzalez, Erik Rosas, Danny Velasquez Lopez and goalie Isais Santos — were named to the all-Carolina team. Gonzalez scored 17 goals and doled out 12 assists, while Lopez contributed 13 goals and 13 assists. Santos registered 188 saves in 1,542 minutes of action between the pipes.
Henry Gonzalez, Brandon Prudencio and Julio Gomez Ordonez each landed on the honorable mention squad.
Second-year head coach Heather Best guided North Duplin’s second straight appearance in the volleyball playoffs. Reece Outlaw (168 kills, 38 service aces) and Addy Higginbotham (100 kills, 50 digs, 56 aces) each earned a spot on the all-conference squad.
Teammates Kasey Jones (189 digs) and Lily Fulghum (60 digs, 43 aces, 303 assists) were named honorable mention.
Baker Sumner was named all-conference in girls’ cross country.
Lena Rouse and Alison Lambert collected all-conference accolades in cheerleader.
