Vikings Hurdle Over Hawks 42-7
Kinston dominates North Lenoir 42-7 for ninth straight rivalry win
WHEAT SWAMP—Kinston wasted no time Friday night, rolling past county rival North Lenoir 42-7 in a game that was never in doubt. The Vikings built a 42-0 lead before the Hawks finally scored on a kickoff return late in the fourth quarter. The victory marked Kinston’s ninth straight win in the rivalry.
North Lenoir briefly had momentum when Jaquell Garner intercepted Tyler Jones on the Vikings’ opening drive, but Kinston quickly regrouped and turned the game into a rout.
Kinston struck first at the 7:03 mark of the first quarter when Jones connected with Tyreek Copper on a 29-yard touchdown. Less than three minutes later, Genesis Wiggins — a former North Lenoir Hawk — broke free for a 20-yard scoring run to double the lead.
The Vikings added to their cushion in the second quarter. With 5:56 left before halftime, Brennan Chambers hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Jones. The quarterback then added a rushing touchdown and found Exzavion Croom in the end zone to extend the margin.
In the final minutes, Croom put the finishing touches on the win with a 45-yard touchdown reception with 1:52 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Standout Performances
Tyler Jones (QB): 12-of-17, 193 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; also had a rushing touchdown
Brennan Chambers: 5 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD
Tyreek Copper: 4 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD
Exzavion Croom: 3 receptions, 48 yards, 1 TD; 2 carries, 12 yards
Genesis Wiggins: 9 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD
Justin Gooding: 2 interceptions on defense
Jemorris Poole: forced a fumble on kickoff and returned it for a touchdown
North Lenoir was led on the ground by Devin Gray (6 carries, 35 yards) and RJ Warren (5 carries, 35 yards).
What They Said
Kinston junior cornerback Justin Gooding, who picked off two passes, said he had been preparing for this moment:
“I performed great, I was ready for everything. I’ve been waiting on those two picks since the start of the season.”
On facing North Lenoir’s run-heavy approach, Gooding admitted it requires discipline:
“It’s tough, I just gotta stay focused and prepare.”
He also praised the defensive effort overall:
“My defense was just tough. Stay together, stick together, like we always do — play as a team and get big stops.”
Kinston (2-1) will return home next week to face White Oak (2-1). The two schools have met only three times since 2004, with White Oak leading the series 2-1 and winning the last meeting in 2016.
North Lenoir (1-2) will host Ayden-Grifton (2-1). The Hawks are 2-8 against the Chargers since 2004 and have dropped the last four in the series, with their most recent win coming in 2017.
