2AA Preview: East Duplin vs. Hibriten

In another matchup of unbeaten teams this Saturday, it's Panthers vs. Panthers as East Duplin and Hibriten square off for the 2AA state championship. Both teams are coming into the game with perfect 15-0 records and are each making their first appearance in a football state championship game.

Kenan Stadium

After making the regional finals last year, both teams came into the season with high expectations and each team met them. For East Duplin, it was a third straight Conference Championship in 2017 while Hibriten was able to post the first back-to-back undefeated regular seasons in school history.

Both teams rely on their running game to get their offense is moving with each team averaging over 300 yards rushing per contest.

East Duplin has relied on senior running back Chris Benson each week to the tune of 150 yards per game. The senior has totaled more than 4600 yards in his career and has found the end zone 16 times this season.

Lining up in the backfield for Hibriten is junior McKinley Witherspoon, who has rushed for over 1800 yards on just over 100 carries for a staggering 18.4 yards per carry. Witherspoon has scored 35 touchdowns this season to lead the Hibriten offense.

Each team has played some stout defense on their way to the state title game with East Duplin holding seven of their opponents to single digits while Hibriten has only given up 67 points so far in their fifteen games, including seven shutouts.