Kinston Shows Progress in Princeton Scrimmage

Kinston Shows Progress in Princeton Scrimmage

PRINCETON — Kinston hit the road Thursday for a four-team scrimmage at Princeton High School, spending most of the evening matched up against East Duplin. The Vikings also got in a brief set against Martin County, running five plays on offense and five on defense.

Against Martin County, five plays weren’t enough. Both teams came out hyped, with Kinston opening the set by launching a 40-yard strike on the first play but falling short of the end zone. Martin County answered immediately with a 50-yard touchdown pass to standout receiver Jordan Matthewson, who holds offers from Duke, ECU and Coastal Carolina. It was shaping up to be a great matchup — respect to both programs for the energy they brought.

The varsity session with East Duplin featured 10-play offensive series for each side, and Kinston’s JV squad also saw plenty of reps — looking sharp with a deep group of athletes and playmakers.

Compared to last week’s showing, Kinston looked improved across the board. The offensive line gave quarterback Tyler Jones more time, and the senior responded with poise, showing good pocket awareness and knowing when to escape. Jones connected multiple times with NC State commit Tyreek Copper for touchdowns, found Marshall commit Brennan Chambers on key passes, and saw Jemorris Poole pound out tough yards as a hard-to-bring-down runner. Genesis Wiggins also continues to impress in the backfield — a slippery runner with elite athleticism who can break open plays.

Defensively, the Vikings held their own against a talented East Duplin attack, making timely stops and keeping the Bulldogs in check.

Kinston opens its season next Friday on the road at South Central.