KINSTON 31, FRANKLINTON 27
The Vikings will head to another round of the NCHSAA 2AAstate playoffs after Friday’s win over first-round opponent Franklinton.
With Kinston’s Tiquan Canaday out with an ankle injury, sophomore Thomas Vermillion started for the Vikings but was taken out after the first possession. Anthony Pitts, usually a receiver, stepped in as QB and had a successful night.
He passed for 117 yards on a 6-of-14 effort without throwing an interception. He was explosive on his feet as he rushed for 59 yards.
Pitts threw a pair of TD passes to Anthony Berry, the sophomore who tallied a team-high 104 receiving yards.
Will Deters scored a field goal with 9:17 left in the fourth quarter, as Tavon Herns and Daequan Carr were the other two Vikings to find the end zone.
Carr’s touchdown was the final score of the night, as he caught a fumble in mid-air and returned it 50 yards for the TD.
The Red Rams got the ball back on their own 22-yard line but were unable to make a scoring play, although they moved the ball into Kinston territory on the possession.
Franklinton came out to score on its first two possessions of the game, taking an early lead. Kinston was down six at the start of the third and at halftime, but the Vikings defense held off the Red Rams in the fourth quarter as Kinston was able to score twice.
Kinston was outgained by Franklinton 416-272, though having more rushing yards with 155.
The Vikings will take on Currituck County (10-2, 5-1) next week, after the Knights defeated first-round opponent East Duplin 21-19 Friday.
BUNN 69, GREENE CENTRAL 20
The Rams’ 2013 season came to a close Friday, marking the end of Allen Wooten’s first year with the program.
Greene Central opened the scoring, but Bunn (8-4 overall) exploded for 24 unanswered points before halftime.
Turnovers hurt GC Friday as the Rams lost three of four fumbles.
Michael Mitchell and Jamar Jones scored the last two touchdowns for the Rams. Mitchell caught a 39-yard pass from Brandon Belcher with 11:51 left in the third quarter, while Jones scored on a 22-yard run in the final quarter.
Greene Central was outgained by Bunn 30 yards shy of 200 (537-367), as the Wildcats ripped through the Rams defense for 477 of those yards on the ground.
Ronshon Bullock led GC with 137 rushing yards on 20 carries. Passers Austin Batchelor and Belcher combined for 95 yards and no interceptions, while Michael Mitchell led GC receivers with 55 yards.
Greene Central finished the season 3-9 overall and 3-2 in the Eastern Carolina 2A conference, an improvement from its 1-9 overall record last season.
AYDEN-GRIFTON 41, FAIRMONT 28
Ayden-Grifton was the other area team to extend its season at least one more week with Friday’s win.
AG and Fairmont were tied at halftime, but the Chargers outscored Fairmont by 14 in the third with a TD pass and a pair of scoring runs, including a 72-yard touchdown from R.J. Nelson. He finished with a game-high 277 rushing yards on 39 carries.
Chargers quarterback Hunter Cannon got off a few passes in Friday’s win to finish with 60 yards on a 2-of-3 effort. Fairmont, however, had 422 passing yards.
Jake Wright and Drew Turnage also scored for Ayden-Grifton, whose record advanced to 6-6 overall.
The Chargers will face Edenton Holmes (9-3, 5-1) next week.