The Hobbton Wildcats lost a heartbreaker Friday night at the hand of the North Duplin Rebels who celebrated their senior night. The final was 14-7, North Duplin in overtime.

Rebel coach Hugh Martin said, “Gosh, what a heck of a battle. We couldn’t punch ours in and they kept fighting. Defensively we kept hanging in. It was a heck of a game… heck of a game. I was proud of us hanging in there. We could have laid down after we gave up that score. We just kept plugging away at it.”

Wildcat coach Robert Hill’s comments were, “The kids played hard. We have asked them all year long to play as hard as they could and leave everything they have on the field. They did that tonight. I was proud of the offense and the defense all the way around. We just came up on the short end. We’re going to get better and turn this thing around.”

The first quarter was a defensive battle with the score at 0-0 after 1 quarter. North Duplin’s first score came with 8:07 left in the second quarter after they got excellent field position on the Wildcat 15-yard line. The Wildcats attempt to run a fake punt that came up short. Emiliano Mora scored on a 1-yard dive up the middle. Chase King kicked the point after for a 7-0 lead.

Later in the quarter, the Wildcats, with the help of penalties, had the Rebels deep in the hole needing 27 yards for a first down. They manage to get it and were in scoring position as the half wound down. However, on a play beginning with 5 seconds left, Mora attempted a pass which was intercepted by JD Faison. The score at the half was 7-0 North Duplin.

The Wildcats stopped the Rebels on the first series after the half forcing a punt. The Rebels were 4th and 20 and their own 25-yard line and decided to try to get a first down. They failed.

The Wildcats took over at their 16-yard line. Gregory Herring got a good run on an option picking up 20 yards. He, then, connected with Bryan Parker on a 34-yard pass to the Rebel 16-yard line. Omar Farrior got a couple of good runs finishing with a 7-yard touchdown run. Malik Parker tied the score at 7 each with 2:58 left in the third quarter.

Midway in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats mishandled a punt to give the Rebels the ball on the 19-yard line. The Wildcats held forcing a desperation field goal with 6 seconds left that went no where.

The Wildcats were on the move late in the 4th quarter when they coughed up the ball at the 49-yard line with the Rebels recovering.

In the overtime period, North Duplin got first chance and scored on 3rd down on a 1-yard dive by Mora. King kicked the point after for a 14-7 lead.

The Wildcats took their turn and got the ball less than a foot from the end zone where the game ended on a fourth down play that didn’t make it.

Defensively for the Wildcats got 9 tackles and 10 assists from Dequanta Wright. Raekwon Bryant had 5 tackles and 6 assists. Chris Faison had 7 assists and JD Faison had 4 tackles, 4 assists and 1 interception.

Omar Farrior had 66 yards and the Wildcat touchdown. Herring was 2-5 for 51 yards passing. The Wildcats had 131 yards total.

The Wildcats host Lakewood next Friday night closing out the regular season with senior night. Game time is 7 PM.

By David Johnson

Sports Writer

Omar Farrior gets some running room to get the Wildcats out of the hole late in the game. He had 66 yards rushing and 1 touchdown.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_Omar-Farrior.jpgOmar Farrior gets some running room to get the Wildcats out of the hole late in the game. He had 66 yards rushing and 1 touchdown.