CALYPSO - Fast starts and the early portion of the Carolina 1-A Conference schedule seem to agree with Princeton's football team in 2009.

For the second consecutive week, the Bulldogs' offense clicked on all cylinders early and late in rolling to a 38-14 victory over North Duplin.

Behind the legs and arm of quarterback David Gurganus, the Dawgs scored on their first three possessions, building what proved to be an insurmountable 18-0 lead en route to improving to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the Carolina Conference.

The six wins equal the combined win output by the Dawgs over the prior two seasons and assures Princeton of no worse than a .500 finish for the first time since the 1990s.

It also sets up a key Carolina Conference encounter Friday night at county rival Goldsboro for at least a share of the conference lead. The Cougars, like Princeton, stand 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the Carolina Conference.

Gurganus took the Dawgs on his shoulders from the opening kickoff, rushing for 33 yards and passing for 16 more in directing a 10-play, 61-yard drive and a 6-0 lead.

Gurganus, who would rush for 79 yards on 25 carries and complete 22-of-37 passes for 277 yards in the contest, jump-started the Dawgs on the drive with a 25-yard run, which was aided by a 15-yard face-masking penalty, putting Princeton in the red zone at the 21-yard line. A 16-yard pass on third down to Dillon Daughtry gave the Dawgs a first-and-goal at the 10, and Gurganus' legs did the rest of the work for first score.

But Gurganus and the Dawgs were just beginning.

After holding North to a three-and-out, then a six-play, 12-yard drive on consecutive possessions, Gurganus picked the Rebels' secondary apart for two more scoring drives.

Gurganus connected on four-of-five passes, hitting Matt Williamson for a 17-yard score to cap a 61-yard drive, then was accurate on all four passes in a 60-yard march, finding Dillon Daughtry wide open in the corner of the end zone for a 20-yard TD and the 18-0 lead.

If there were any flaws in the Dawgs' first-quarter attack, it was the inability to convert conversion points.

Two Gurganus passes were picked off in the end zone and a third sailed wide of the intended receiver. "The one thing we talked about before the game," said Bulldogs' coach Russell Williamson, "was that we needed to start well and establish ourselves. I think we did that." Williamson said the credit not only goes to Gurganus, but to the receiving corps, which had been working together as a unit during the summer as well as during in-season practices.

"They've done a lot of work," Williamson said, "And they know each other real well.

"We're using a lot of receivers now - probably seven or eight tonight - they all know where they are supposed to be and David knows exactly where they are going to be."

Gurganus utilized five receivers against the Rebels, with Daughtry being his favorite target, connecting with the senior eight times for 116 yards.

Patrick Jacobs added seven catches for 59 yards and Benton Myers had four for 68 yards, while Matt Williamson hauled in two of Gurganus' three touchdown strikes.

And when the receivers were covered, or the Rebels defensive line put pressure on Gurganus, he was able to scramble out of trouble time and again, picking up valuable yardage and numerous first downs.

"Having a quarterback like that definitely helps us out," Williamson said. "Because sometimes the defensive backs may come up and get David moving because of his coverage.

"David is able to get away and find his guy."

Penalties prevented Princeton from a perfect night - 13 yellow hankies hit the turf against the Dawgs, resulting in 120 marked off yards.

The Rebels found its offense in the second quarter in the form of Devin Oliver, who ripped off a 49-yard touchdown run en route to a 149-yard evening on 22 carries.

Oliver rushed for 40 yards on three carries to set up the Rebels final score, a 1-yard plunge by quarterback Alan Schilling, who struggled on the ground and through the air against the Bulldogs defense.

Schilling completed only one pass, a 5-yarder to Junior Guzman to start the final scoring drive. He lost 16 yards on nine carries.

After a scoreless second period, the Dawgs found their offensive stride again in the third quarter, courtesy of a strip of the ball from Julio Mora at the Princeton 45 yard-line by Austin Jacobs.

Jacobs returned the ball to the Rebels one-yard line, where Benton Myers converted for a 25-8 lead on fourth-and four.

On Princeton's next possession, Gurganus connected on 5-of-5 passes for a six-play, 63-yard march, hitting Matt Williamson for 11 yards and a 32-8 lead.

Jacobs provided Princeton with its final points, a 1-yard plunge.