County Champs: Rebels claim Obasahan Bowl
CALYPSO — The weight of a 23-year drought evaporated into the breezy autumn air Nov. 4 at H.E. Grubbs Field. Once the clock tripped to zeros, the North Duplin Middle School football team cemented a legacy that will be talked about in northern Duplin County for decades to come. The Rebels penned the final chapter of their unbeaten storybook campaign with a dominating, 46-8 performance over Beulaville during the second annual Dr. Austin Obasohan Bowl Game. The championship trophy is named in honor of the former Duplin County Schools Superintendent, who suddenly passed away in 2025. “Each week, we grew as a team,” ND head coach Kevin Anderson said. “The leaders on this team did a great job of keeping everyone focused and just trying to get better every week. We had a strong group of eighth-graders. They came to work every day and they wanted to be pushed to the best they could be.” Defense became North Duplin’s calling card. Already solid in certain positions, the newcomers quickly learned critical techniques and opposing offenses struggled to find the tiniest open seam. The top-seeded Rebels (8-0 overall) yielded just six touchdowns in 32 quarters of play and logged three shutouts
