By JUNIOUS SMITH III

Kinston Free Press

 

KINSTON — What seemed like a surefire victory for Kinston early went down to the wire Monday night. Washington had the momentum and marched down the field, looking to send the hometown faithful who braved the elements soaked and disappointed.

Thanks to Vikings’ safety Darius Dunn, the fans only left the stadium soaked.

Dunn broke up a pass in the end zone with 53 seconds to play on fourth-and-goal, allowing the Vikings to escape with a 20-14 victory over the Pam Pack in a game rescheduled on Friday due to rain, only to see more precipitation three days later.

Kinston (6-0) led 20-0 early in the second quarter before Washington made adjustments the Vikings almost couldn’t handle. Crucial penalties and two turnovers also didn’t help Kinston’s cause.

“We can’t turn the ball over in critical situations,” Vikings head coach Ryan Gieselman said. “Hats off to (Washington) for making adjustments, but we weren’t going to abandon our game plan.”

The Kinston game plan kept Washington (2-3) off balance early. After forcing a three-and-out, Thomas Vermillion found Jeremiah Fields on a swing pass, which went for a 52-yard touchdown on the Vikings’ second offensive play and an early 6-0 advantage.

The Vikings’ defense smothered the Pam Pack on their first four possessions. Washington had minus-15 yards offensively, including a loss of 22 in its first two drives. Meanwhile, Kinston’s Tavon Herns had touchdown runs of 38 and 32 yards, his second with 8:58 in the second quarter, giving the Vikings a 20-0 advantage and prompting the band to play New Edition’s “Can You Stand The Rain.”

The Pam Pack responded on their ensuing drive with a 2-yard touchdown run by Clinton Pope to cut the deficit to 13. Kinston looked to score at the end of the half, but Vermillion’s pass in the end zone was intercepted by Hasaan Credle.

On the second half kickoff, Kinston’s Jaquan Artis fumbled the ball, giving Washington great field position at the Vikings’ 25. Seven plays later, Jarquez Keyes punched the ball in from two yards to make the score 20-14 early in the third.

The Pam Pack registered 189 yards after their initial four drives, all on the ground.

“We were trying to go outside of them and do some things, but they’re very athletic and very talented,” Washington coach Sport Sawyer said. “We decided to change it up and go at them and made some adjustments there.”

After Kinston turned the ball over on downs at the Washington 25 with 4:38 left in the third, the Pam Pack marched down the field to the Vikings 14 with 9:58 remaining. On the next play, Pope appeared to have tied the score on a run, but it was called back for an illegal motion.

Two plays later, Washington used trickery to attempt to grab the edge — quarterback Tripp Barfield pitched the ball to Sharwan Staton, who had Matthew Black wide open on the way to the end zone — but Black couldn’t reel the pass in. Kinston forced and recovered a fumble two plays later.

Washington’s last chance came with 5:09 remaining and the ball at the Kinston 40. The Pam Pack drive the ball to the Vikings’ 7 with 1:08 to play, but once again tripped themselves up with a false start penalty on third-and-goal.

Staton, who looked to pass again, was bottled up for a 2-yard loss and Barfield’s throw was broken up by Dunn, setting off a wild celebration on the sidelines and stands.

Fields, who had 102 yards offensively — including 86 receiving — said the victory meant a lot against Washington, especially after the Pam Pack beat the Vikings twice last season. Kinston lost to Washington 21-0 in the regular season and 30-0 in the second round of the 2014 state playoffs.

“They came in here with a sign that said ‘Validate Vikings’ and we felt like that was disrespectful for them to come to our house and do that,” Fields said. “We’ve grown a brotherhood here, remember the losses to them, put in more time in the weight room and we were able to take it to them (Monday.)”

With the nonconference schedule behind them, Gieselman said the Vikings will be focusing on the bye week leading up to South Lenoir on Oct. 9.

“We’ve got to get healthy and get ready for the conference because that’s what the season’s all about,” Gieselman said. Everybody’s record is 0-0 and we’ve got to get better every day. Our first goal was reached, to finish our nonconference schedule undefeated. Now, we’re trying to do the same in conference play.”

For Washington, Pope had 84 yards rushing on 33 carries.

Junious Smith IIIis the sports editor for the Kinston Free Press and can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.