The Lakewood Leopards traveled to neighboring North Duplin Friday night in a third round match-up of the NCHSAA 1A playoffs. The Rebels had their number in their previous meeting this season, winning 43-24, but the Leopards were looking to spoil their undefeated season. That they did, as Lakewood handed them their first loss of the season, and an early exit from the playoffs, by a score of 26-20.
North Duplin came out running the ball, as many predicted, but the Leopards were making the yards hard-fought. An early third-and-short was converted by the Rebels, but big chunks weren’t the name of the game for them early.
North Duplin’s Carell Phillips, their leading rusher this season, finally broke a big gain on another third-and-short, but Lakewood was there once more to corral him in for the stop. A costly encroachment penalty was called on the Leopards on the ensuing first down play, which gave North Duplin short yardage for the first time. They grabbed that — and more — once action resumed. The Rebels nearly coughed up the ball at the Lakewood 20-yard line, but the runner was there to recover his own fumble on North Duplin’s first drive to keep it going.