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Greene Central delivers a 49–24 answer in Kinston rivalry

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Greene Central defeats Kinston 49-24
Greene Central defeats Kinston 49-24

By Trey Scott | Neuse News Sports

KINSTON - An hour before kickoff Friday night, Greene Central and Kinston met at the 50-yard line.

The game had not started, but the rivalry already had.

It was Kinston homecoming. It was Snow Hill versus Kinston. It was the familiar social-media back-and-forth, the “Froot Loops” jokes, the old scores, the playoff memories and the latest chance for one side to own the conversation.

When the final horn sounded, Greene Central owned this chapter.

The Rams spoiled Kinston’s homecoming with a 49–24 victory, piling up 391 yards of offense while holding the Vikings to 95. Greene Central forced four interceptions, scored seven touchdowns and produced the most lopsided result in a rivalry more commonly known for nail-biters.

Kinston still holds the long-term edge. Greene Central’s series history shows the Rams at 8–16 against the Vikings in the 24 meetings listed.

But recent history has been a different story.

In 2015, 8–0 Greene Central met 8–0 Kinston in one of the series’ defining games. Kinston clutched a win 28–21 in overtime, a game remembered locally for Anthony “Ant” Berry’s winning touchdown.

In 2017, Kinston won the regular-season meeting 42–26. Greene Central got its answer in the playoffs, returning to Kinston and winning 28–6.

The current run has been just as unpredictable. Greene Central won 32–20 in 2022, Kinston answered with a 34–29 win in 2023, the Rams took a 22–18 decision in 2024 and Kinston escaped Snow Hill with a 32–31 thrilling victory last season.

Those three meetings before Friday were decided by a combined 10 points.

Friday did not follow that script.

Greene Central outgained Kinston 391–95, a 296-yard advantage. The Rams entered averaging 292.8 yards per game and exceeded that number by nearly 100 yards. Kinston entered averaging 356 yards per game and had not been held below 235 yards all season.

The Vikings finished with 78 rushing yards and 17 passing yards.

Those 17 passing yards were Kinston’s fewest since 2019, when Greene Central held the Vikings to six passing yards in a 21–0 Kinston victory.

Sophomore Cody Gaitor gave Greene Central its opening spark, breaking free for a 68-yard run that set up junior Donovan Ingram’s first touchdown. Gaitor finished with 20 carries for 123 yards.

Ingram supplied the physical finish, carrying 16 times for 91 yards and three touchdowns. He scored Greene Central’s opening touchdown, added a five-yard score before halftime and closed the Rams’ scoring after a one-handed catch by sophomore Christian McLaurin set up the final touchdown.

The Rams’ defense made sure the early lead grew.

McLaurin intercepted Kinston sophomore quarterback Michael Eaton early in the first quarter. Senior Trey Bynum came away with another interception later in the period, helping Greene Central build a 14–0 lead before the first quarter ended.

Senior JoJo Sanders added a tackle-breaking touchdown, then helped set up senior Joshua Cetnar’s one-yard rushing score early in the second quarter.

Cetnar was a major part of the result, but not the story by himself. The senior completed 11 of 19 passes for 163 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for a touchdown. Greene Central’s place kicker Samuel Carrillo made all seven extra points.

Senior Sanders caught four passes for 59 yards and a touchdown. Bynum added four catches for 46 yards and a score. Junior Treylan Eatmon hauled in Cetnar’s 30-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.

Eaton finished 4-for-9 for 17 yards and four interceptions. Junior Pap Brown caught all four Kinston completions for 17 yards.

Still, Kinston sophomore Jaquel Waters made sure the Vikings had their own standout performance.

Waters carried 11 times for 74 yards and a touchdown, accounting for 77.9 percent of Kinston’s total offense and nearly 95 percent of its rushing yardage. He added a 70-yard kickoff-return touchdown and a two-point conversion, finishing with 144 all-purpose yards and two scores.

Senior Emanuel Sutton also gave Kinston a chance late in the third quarter, intercepting Cetnar and returning the ball to the Greene Central 4-yard line.

But Greene Central continued to answer.

Ingram’s runs helped set up Bynum’s third-quarter touchdown reception. Eatmon’s 30-yard score made it 42–24 in the fourth. Sanders then recorded Greene Central’s third interception, and junior Motorro May sealed the victory with the Rams’ fourth takeaway inside the final two minutes.

For Cetnar, it was another memorable Kinston game. His first varsity start as a sophomore came against the Vikings, when he ran for a 20-yard game-winning touchdown.

For Greene Central, Friday was bigger than one player or one stat line.

It was a road win on Kinston’s homecoming. It was the Rams’ third victory in the last five meetings. It was the latest response in a series that has produced overtime classics, playoff payback, one-point heartbreak and years of local bragging rights.

“I waited 365 days for this one. I had to take the last years game and eat it,” Greene Central head coach Jay Wilson.

Kinston still owns the historical series.

But Greene Central owns the latest chapter.