Team of the Week: East Columbus Gators pull off big upset over North Duplin
COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The East Columbus Gators are making a statement on the high school football field, earning this week’s WWAY Team of the Week honors after snapping a two-game losing streak with a 23-8 upset victory over North Duplin.
The Gators entered Friday night’s matchup as underdogs against a North Duplin team that came in with a 5-2 record. But under head coach Vinston Thorpe, East Columbus showed just how far the program has come.
“I’ve liked that they’ve adapted to the new culture that I’ve brought here, and they’ve bought into it, and they really, really have a true belief,” Thorpe said.
Facing a physical North Duplin squad, Thorpe said the Gators knew they would have to match that intensity to come away with a win.
“North Duplin being a very physical football team, we wanted to match that physicality, and we came in and we matched it,” Thorpe said.
East Columbus made its first big play late in the opening quarter when Christian Norton recovered an offensive fumble, setting up a touchdown pass from quarterback Demetrius Dexter. North Duplin answered before halftime, but the Gators took control in the second half.
In the third quarter, Norton connected with Dexter on a trick play for another touchdown, helping East Columbus build its lead.
“I knew my name was gonna be called to run the trick play. And, um, when it was called, I threw a touchdown pass,” Norton said.
Dexter then sealed the victory with a fourth-quarter rushing touchdown. The Gators’ quarterback has played a major role in the team’s success this season, contributing on both sides of the football.
“He can do a little bit of everything. He leads us in interceptions, leads us in passing yards, leads us in touchdowns right now, and he’s just an amazing athlete,” Thorpe said.
For Dexter, stepping into a leadership role has been just as important as making plays on the field.
“I gotta step up now ’cause I’m the, I’m the captain of the offense,” Dexter said.
Dexter also credited the team’s growing chemistry for its improvement throughout the season. For Norton, the upset represents something bigger than a single victory. He believes the Gators are building a new identity.
“We’re not the same Gators as we was last year. This is a whole different team, different coaching staff, different players, different mindsets, and we’re coming to dominate,” Norton said.
With one game remaining in the regular season, East Columbus will look to carry that momentum into another tough matchup. The Gators will hit the road Friday to face conference-leading Lakewood.
