Eaton accounts for six TDs as Kinston beats Beddingfield 53-6
Michael Eaton threw four touchdown passes and ran for two scores as Kinston ended a two-game losing streak with a 53-6 victory at Beddingfield on Friday, Oct. 23, in Wilson.
The Vikings improved to 5-4 overall and 2-2 in the Eastern Plains 2A/3A Conference with their highest-scoring performance of the season. Kinston led 27-6 after the first quarter and 40-6 at halftime. Beddingfield did not score over the final three quarters.
Eaton and Sutton lead the way
Eaton finished with 250 passing yards, four touchdown passes and two interceptions. The sophomore quarterback added two rushing touchdowns on four carries.
Freshman Kaysen Williams led the rushing attack with 97 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Jaquel Waters added 41 yards on six attempts. Kinston totaled 400 yards, with 250 passing and 150 rushing.
Eaton’s touchdown passes went to four receivers. Pap Brown had 57 receiving yards and a score, Jemari Rosber caught a 46-yard touchdown pass, Bryson Davidson had 43 yards and a touchdown, and Reginald McNeil added 38 yards and a score.
Emanuel Sutton led the defensive effort with three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. Rosber contributed six tackles and two sacks. Kinston was credited with nine tackles for loss.
Vikings respond after two losses
The win reversed a difficult two-week stretch. The Vikings had followed an 0-2 start with four consecutive victories over North Lenoir, White Oak, South Lenoir and Ayden-Grifton. But a 49-24 loss to Greene Central on Oct. 9 and a 31-28 loss to Farmville Central on Oct. 16 had left them at .500 entering the trip to Wilson.
Kinston was expected to get back on track. Neuse News Sports’ Week 10 predictions picked the Vikings to win by 35 points against a Beddingfield team that entered 0-8. The Bruins had scored 37 points through eight games and were coming off a 63-0 loss to Tarboro. Friday’s result dropped Beddingfield to 0-9 overall and 0-4 in conference play.
Kinston also won the schools’ 2025 meeting, 61-8 at home on Oct. 24. That Vikings team went on to win the 3A East championship and reach the program’s fourth state title game, following appearances in 1955, 2011 and 2015, as documented in the NCHSAA’s championship notes.
Kinston closes the regular season at Tarboro at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. Tarboro is 8-1 after a 41-0 win over Ayden-Grifton. Beddingfield visits Greene Central the same night.
