In an offensive shootout, the Hobbton Wildcats finally came out on top of the North Duplin Rebels 55-37.

Wildcat head coach Jeff Byrd said, “In the first half, other than a couple of long pass plays, we played pretty good defense. We just got to do a better job of getting coverage on the deep ball or people are just going to jump all on us. Up front, I thought we did a good job of stopping the run. The offense did an excellent job. Any time you put up 55 points, you’re doing something right. We have to get a little more focused now going into the conference.”

North Duplin had first chance and were moving the ball pretty well when Xavier Thompson picked Marcus Kornegay at the Wildcat 20-yard line. The Wildcats turned the ball around but had to punt after three plays.

North Duplin again stalled when Kornegay was sacked by Samuel Warwick for a huge loss bringing up fourth and long. They punted with the Wildcats taking over at the 39-yard line.

The first score of the game came with 5:50 left in the first quarter when Thompson scored on a 10-yard run capping a 39-yard drive. Brad Evans kicked the point after to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead.

The Rebels were on the move again after the score. However, T. J. Devone put a stop to that drive with an interception after Henry Barnes deflected the ball. Barnes then got outside and scampered for 39 yards, putting Hobbton in scoring position again. Eli Chestnutt scored with 1:12 left in the first quarter on a 7-yard run. Evans kicked the point after again making it 14-0.

North Duplin would not be denied any longer. With 37 seconds left in the quarter, Kornegay hit Alan Schilling on a 58-yard pass play. Nick Torres kicked the point after making it 14-7.

Early in the second quarter, the Wildcats put together a sustained drive burning clock and scoring with 8:38 left in the half on a 3-yard run by Chestnutt. Evans kicked the point after for a 21-7 lead.

North Duplin turned right around on first down, Kornegay hit Oliver on a 64 -yard aerial. The point after failed on a run leaving the score at 21-13.

Hobbton put together another long drive covering 58 yards and scoring on a 25-yard run by Chestnutt with 6:35 left in the half. The extra point failed on a broken play. The score was 27-13.

North Duplin’s next drive came to a halt at the Wildcat 4-yard line on fourth and short. Kornegay, not able to get rid of the ball, was brought down short of the marker. The Wildcats took over but turned the ball over when J. R. Guzman picked Evans to turn the ball around.

North Duplin then came unglued losing over 30 yards on penalties. Hobbton took over with 1:02 left in the half at the 47-yard line. Evans and company scored with 28 ticks left on the clock when Ira Moore got outside and scored on a 20-yard run. Evans kicked the point after for a 34-13 lead at the half.

Hobbton had first chance after the break.They put together a 68-yard drive with Thompson going in from 1 yard out for the score. Evans’ point after made it 41-13 with 7:42 left it in the third period.

On the ensuing kick-off, Oliver beat the Wildcats’ defense down the sideline for a 90-yard return making it 41-19. The point after failed on a pass play.

The Wildcat offense broke down then giving the ball back to North Duplin with 3:25 left in the third period.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Barnes picked Kornegay and returned it 85 yards for a score. Evans’ point after kick made it 48-19.

North Duplin did not lie down. Kornegay hit Shayne Deaver on a 44-yard touchdown pass for a 48-25 score. The point after failed on a pass attempt.

Both teams jockeyed for position on the next series of downs. Hobbton had put in some of the reserves on defense. North Duplin took advantage of that and scored again with 5:56 left in the game. Korneygay made it in on a 2-yard run. The point after kick was blocked. The score was 49-31.

After the score, Hobbton took over at their 28-yard line. With 2:15 left, Moore got outside the Rebel defense and scampered 60 yards for another score. Evans’ point after kick made it 55-31.

North Duplin came right back and scored again when Kornegay hit Oliver on a 37-yard pass to the 33-yard line. Kornegay then connected with Guzman on a 20-yard touchdown pass to make it 55-37. The point after failed again.

Hobbton had 55 rushes for 442 yards. Chestnutt had 113 yards on 16 carries and 3 touchdowns. Moore had 149 yards on 10 carries and 2 touchdowns. Barnes carried 15 times for 124 yards. Thompson rounded out the rushing with 50 yards and 2 touchdowns on 9 attempts. Barnes also had an 85-yard interception return. Evans completed 2 of 4 for 39 yards, giving the Wildcats 481 total yards.

The Rebels had 321 yards in the air and very few yards on the ground. Kornegay was 19 for 32 passing. He had 3 touchdown and 3 interceptions.

Schilling had 7 receptions for 123 yards and 1 touchdown. Shayne Deaver had 9 receptions for 100 yards and 1 touchdown. Oliver caught 1 for 64 yards and a touchdown.