Dexter leads East Columbus past North Duplin, 23-8
Demetrius Dexter threw for a touchdown, ran for another and caught a scoring pass, and East Columbus held North Duplin to its lowest point total of the season in a 23-8 Carolina Conference victory Friday, Oct. 23.
The Gators improved to 4-5 overall and 2-3 in the conference, snapping a two-game losing streak. North Duplin fell to 5-3 and 2-3 after entering with consecutive wins over West Columbus and Union.
Dexter contributes in three roles
Dexter completed six of eight passes for 130 yards and a touchdown, rushed for 84 yards and a score on 10 carries and caught a 55-yard touchdown pass. The senior’s contributions in three roles helped East Columbus produce its highest scoring total of the season.
Christan Norton added 77 yards on nine carries and completed his only pass for a 55-yard touchdown. Terry Shipman gained 33 yards on four carries. JT Hudson caught four passes, and Dawson Crosby finished with two receptions.
East Columbus also delivered a substantial defensive turnaround against the Rebels. North Duplin’s reported game statistics listed 121 yards of offense, including 110 rushing yards on 35 attempts. Noa Quintanilla led the Rebels with 57 yards and their only touchdown on 13 carries. Henry Pope completed one of three passes for 11 yards.
All four East Columbus victories have come with opponents held to eight points or fewer, following wins over Green Sea Floyds, Heide Trask and Union.
According to WWAY’s game report, Dexter found Crosby for the touchdown that gave East Columbus an early 7-0 lead. North Duplin answered with a touchdown and Jayden Pope’s two-point conversion for an 8-7 advantage. The Gators scored the final 16 points.
A different result from last season
The result reversed last season’s meeting, a 53-12 North Duplin victory in Calypso on Oct. 24, 2025. This time, East Columbus kept a Rebels team that had scored 36 against West Columbus and 27 against Union to one touchdown.
The Gators had opened Vinston Thorpe’s first season with two wins before losing five of their next six. Their most recent outing, however, offered evidence of progress: East Columbus scored twice in the fourth quarter of a 22-20 loss at East Bladen on Oct. 9 before the Eagles stopped a potential tying two-point conversion.
Dexter accounted for 356 passing and rushing yards in that game. He had moved from receiver and made his first start at quarterback against Whiteville on Sept. 11. After an open week, the Gators turned that near comeback into a win.
Pregame expectations were divided. Simmons Ratings favored North Duplin by 10 points, but Trey Scott picked East Columbus by seven in the East of I-95 Week 10 predictions published by Neuse News Sports.
East Columbus closes the regular season at Lakewood on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. North Duplin hosts Hobbton that night at 7.
