The East Duplin Panthers (2-0) travel to face the Richlands Wildcats (1-1) in a highly anticipated non-conference showdown on Friday, September 5, 2025 @ 7:00 PM. East Duplin has opened the season strong with a balanced attack, while Richlands looks to bounce back from a narrow early loss and use its passing game to spark momentum at home.
Game Details
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Matchup: East Duplin Panthers @ Richlands Wildcats
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Date & Time: Friday, Sept. 5, 2025 – 7:00 PM
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Location: Richlands High School (Richlands, NC)
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Live Coverage: Follow live scores on MaxPreps
Fans can purchase digital tickets through GoFan or stream the game live on the NFHS Network (subscription: $13.99/month or $79.99/year).Watch here: Start your free trial today
East Duplin Panthers (2-0)
East Duplin has shown early-season dominance, averaging 31.5 points per game while only giving up 10 points per game. Quarterback Branson Norris (#4) has been efficient, throwing for just over 100 yards per game, while linebacker Keeshaun McKinney (#1) has been a defensive anchor with 11.5 tackles per contest.
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2025 Record: 2-0 (1-0 home, 1-0 away)
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Key to Win: Maintain defensive pressure and win the line of scrimmage to control tempo.
Main Squad:
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#4 Branson Norris – QB (102.0 passing YPG, 102 total YPG)
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#39 Shawn Davis – RB (35.0 rushing YPG)
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#5 Zachary Ball – WR (23.5 receiving YPG)
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#1 Keeshaun McKinney – LB/DE (11.5 tackles per game, 0.5 sacks, 3.0 PPG)
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#75 Marcus Johnson – OL/DL
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#22 Jordan Smith – RB/DB
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#8 Tyler Rhodes – WR/DB
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#50 Daniel Perez – OL/DL
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#9 Chris Bell – LB
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#2 Jalen Foster – DB
Richlands Wildcats (1-1)
The Wildcats have relied heavily on their passing attack, with quarterback CJ DiBenedetto (#14) throwing for 153 yards per game. Wideout Tyler Clouatre (#5) has been his top target, while linebacker Beau Mills (#2) leads the defensive effort with 12 tackles per game. Richlands will need to find a more balanced offense to keep East Duplin’s defense honest.
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2025 Record: 1-1 (0-0 home, 1-1 away)
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Key to Win: Spread the field with DiBenedetto’s arm and create turnovers defensively.
Main Squad:
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#14 CJ DiBenedetto – QB (153.0 passing YPG, 180.0 total YPG)
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#5 Tyler Clouatre – WR (68.0 receiving YPG)
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#81 Isaiah Betton – WR (12.0 PPG scorer)
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#2 Beau Mills – LB (12.0 tackles per game, team leader)
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#4 Matthew Stein – LB/DE (1.0 sacks per game)
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#21 Eli Sanders – RB/DB
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#55 Logan Perry – OL/DL
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#9 Andrew Carter – WR/DB
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#12 Micah Thomas – DB
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#60 Kevin Moore – OL
Rankings & Records
| Team | National Rank | State Rank (NC) | Class Rank | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Duplin Panthers | #2,746 | #70 | #5 | 2-0 |
| Richlands Wildcats | #5,667 | #153 | #23 | 1-1 |
Abu Sayem is a sports enthusiast and writer who enjoys sharing stories about high school athletics. He is passionate about celebrating the teamwork, dedication, and spirit of young athletes.
