CHOCOWINITY — Southside’s season got off to a rough start as North Duplin used a dominant running game to sail past the Seahawks 27-6 in both team’s season opener on Friday.
Thanks a staunch effort by burly fullback Julio Mora, the more nimble running back Devin Oliver, North Duplin rushed for 353 yards on 51 attempts and scored all four of its touchdowns on the ground en route to victory.
Oliver would score three of the team’s four touchdowns, while Southside’s lone score came on a Johnny Pender 16-yard scamper in the first quarter.
Pender’s score was the lone Seahawks’ highlight in a game in which their wing-T attack tallied a mere 82 yards on 27 carries.
Southside coach DeWayne Kellum was worried about his team’s conditioning heading into the season and Friday night’s effort didn’t do much to ease his concerns.
“I don’t think (North Duplin) was that physical, I just think we’re not that physical,” Kellum said.
Southside (0-1) was able to limit North Duplin (1-0) to only one second-half score but the team failed to move the ball on offense for most of the game.
“(Moving the ball) shouldn’t have been a challenge,” Kellum said. “Blocking assignments were missed …  and we were not setting up in the pocket when we we’re throwing.”
The lack of execution on both sides led to the coach leave this message for his team after the game: “Show up Monday and be a new ballclub or you’re not playing anymore, because we are going to go to some smack football and the ones who survive are the ones who will play.”
The Rebels got on the scoreboard on their very first possession as they churned out a 58-yard drive that ended with an Oliver 11-yard TD run.
Southside responded on its first possession of the game with a 59-yard drive that resulted in Pender’s 16-yard TD dash.
With both teams scoring on their first drive it appeared a shootout would ensue, however, the tempo of the game slowed as the contest went on with North Duplin committing 13 penalties while several Southside players cramped up.
After the Seahawks’ TD, the Rebels strung together a long time-consuming drive that spanned into the second quarter and ended with Oliver’s second score of the evening.
Oliver would accumulate his third TD of the game with 1:42 to go before halftime, leaving Southside just enough time to move down field.
The Seahawks, who were set to receive the ball to start the second half, moved all the way to the Rebels’ 19-yard line but the scoring threat ended when Terrill Moore tossed an interception.
The two teams would go scoreless in the third. In the fourth, North Duplin added its last score when its quarterback followed its football off tackle for a 28 ran off tackle for a 28-yard TD.

North Duplin    7    14    0    6    —    27
Southside    6    0    0    0    —    6

Scoring Summary
ND — Devin Oliver 11 run (Jorge Juarez kick good), 7:25, 1st.
SS — Johnny Pender 16 run (two points failed), 5:26, 1st.
ND — Oliver 11 run (Juarez kick), 10:37, 2nd.
ND — Oliver 10 run (Jaurez kick), 1:42, 2nd.
ND — No. 31 28 run (Jaurez kick failed), 5:31, 4th.