Kinston Falls to James Kenan in Thrilling Conference Showdown
WARSAW — Kinston High School's showdown with James Kenan on Friday night had all the makings of playoff football in October: two teams vying for sole possession of the East Central Conference and a packed crowd witnessing every high-stakes moment. Though Kinston ultimately fell short, the Vikings proved they could go toe-to-toe with the best, pushing James Kenan until the final whistle in a thrilling 28-25 defeat.
“I think we responded well,” Kinston head coach Ryan Geisleman said after the game. “We proved we can play with anybody in the state. There was adversity, and they responded well. It's playoff football in October—we’re going to learn from it and get better for it.”
Coming into the matchup, James Kenan (6-0) was riding an undefeated season and was ranked as the top team in the 2A East. Meanwhile, Kinston arrived in Warsaw on a five-game win streak, after dropping its first two games of the season. The Vikings were out to make a statement, and from the opening whistle, it was clear they were not intimidated by the challenge ahead.
Kinston struck first to take an early lead, but James Kenan looked poised to respond with a score of their own. That was until junior cornerback Jemorris Poole, who was everywhere on the field all night, stripped the ball from the Tigers' running back at the two-yard line. Alex Moore scooped up the fumble in the end zone and raced an astonishing 101 yards for a touchdown, electrifying the Vikings' sideline. “Joker [Poole] was locked in all day long,” Geisleman said of the standout corner. “Everybody saw it on the field tonight.”
The Vikings managed to add to their lead before halftime with a five-yard rushing score by Moore, who turned in an all-around performance. At halftime, Kinston led 13-7 and seemed to have all the momentum.
In the third quarter, however, James Kenan adjusted their game plan, moving from their spread offense to a power-T formation that began to find success on the ground. The Tigers scored twice in the third, but not before Kinston answered with quarterback Tyler Jones connecting with Tyreek Copper on an eight-yard out route for a touchdown. The Vikings trailed 21-19 entering the final quarter.
The back-and-forth continued as James Kenan extended their lead with a long touchdown run, going up 28-19. But Kinston refused to back down. Copper found the end zone again with another eight-yard touchdown reception, narrowing the deficit to 28-25. Antwain Jones then forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, giving Kinston a chance to take the lead with under eight minutes to play. Unfortunately, the Vikings couldn’t capitalize, and James Kenan's ground attack chewed up the clock with a methodical 70-yard drive that drained the final seven minutes of the game.
Despite the loss, the Vikings showcased discipline and resilience, committing only four penalties compared to James Kenan’s ten. Tyler Jones finished the game 14-of-22 for 151 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Copper hauled in six receptions for 72 yards and two scores, while Moore contributed five catches for 58 yards, a rushing touchdown, and a 101-yard fumble return score.
“We had an opportunity to take control of the conference,” Geisleman said. “It allowed our guys to lock in a little more than in the past.” His message to the team ahead of next week’s game against Wallace-Rose Hill was simple: “Lock in. You see where we got with the great week of practice from last week. Let’s have a great week of practice next week, and the sky is the limit.”
Kinston now sits at 5-3 overall and looks ahead to another crucial conference game next Friday night. With the effort they displayed against James Kenan, the Vikings know they have the talent and toughness to compete with the best — they just need to finish the job.
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