Kinston Vikings Upset #3 Seed Southeast Alamance, Advance to Third Round
HAW RIVER, NC — The #19-seeded Kinston Vikings traveled to Haw River and shocked the #3-seeded Southeast Alamance Stallions with a thrilling 26-13 victory in freezing temperatures. The win advances the Vikings to the third round of the playoffs, keeping their postseason dreams alive. Neuse News Sports sends thoughts and prayers to the injured Stallions player, wishing them a speedy recovery.
The Viking’s win came through contributions from all phases of the game. Tyreek Copper turned into an unstoppable force after taking a hard hit early in the game, finishing with two touchdowns and 188 all-purpose yards. On defense, Isaiah Newton was relentless in the Stallions’ backfield, forcing rushed throws, including one intercepted by Ex'Zavion Croom. The entire defensive unit was a standout force, making crucial plays all night.
First Half: Defense Takes Center Stage
The game started with a stroke of luck for the Vikings when they recovered what initially appeared to be an intentional onside kick but was later revealed as a missed kick. Kinston wasted no time capitalizing, as Alex Moore made defenders miss on his way to the end zone, giving the Vikings an early lead.
Southeast Alamance responded quickly, using their counter-run game to score and take a 7-6 lead by the end of the first quarter. The second quarter became a defensive showcase, with both teams making crucial breakups and executing strong tackles. Late in the quarter, Croom intercepted a rushed throw with just 38 seconds left, but Kinston chose to take the game into halftime, knowing they would receive the ball after the break.
Second Half: Vikings Take Control
Kinston came out of halftime with momentum. Quarterback Tyler Jones, despite not playing his best overall game, delivered a perfectly placed pass over two defenders to connect with Okie Edwards for a 50-yard touchdown. Alex Moore converted the two-point attempt with a punishing run through a Stallion defender, giving Kinston a 14-7 lead.
The Vikings' defense continued to dominate, forcing a fumble recovered by Christian Ham. On the ensuing possession, Copper caught a screen pass and turned it into a spectacular 90-yard touchdown. Although the two-point attempt failed, the Vikings extended their lead to 20-7.
Final Quarter Drama
The Stallions refused to go quietly, intercepting a pass and scoring a few plays later to cut the lead to 20-13 after Kinston blocked the extra point. But Tyreek Copper had the final say, breaking two tackles on a 76-yard touchdown run that all but sealed the game.
The Vikings’ defense delivered the play of the night, stopping Southeast Alamance on a 1st-and-goal from the one-yard line, forcing a turnover on downs to ice the game and send Kinston to the next round.
After the game, a happy Kinston Head Coach Ryan Gieselman reflected on his team’s resilience “We’ve been road warriors the last two weeks, and to weather the cold, respond to adversity, and handle moments like this is what it takes to play deep in the playoffs. I’m super proud of my guys, and I’m happy to be practicing on Thanksgiving.”
He also praised the defense for their effort:
“We’ve hung our hat on our defense for a long time. They’ve kept us in a lot of ball games this year, and they kept us in it tonight to let our offense find its rhythm. I’m super proud of those guys.”
Looking Ahead
The Vikings now prepare for a shorter road trip to face the #6-seeded Ayden-Grifton Chargers in the third round. Kinston will be looking to repeat their regular-season victory over the Chargers, a narrow 30-26 win, as they aim to keep their postseason run alive.
