Prep football -- Kinston blanks Hawks

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on September 5, 2004 2:00 AM

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LAGRANGE -- After Friday's 20-0 loss to county rival Kinston, the frustration level was clearly at overload for North Lenoir coach Wayne Jackson.

"I just don't see us at 0-3," he said. "Even though we've lost to three quality opponents, I thought we'd have played better."

Mental miscues plagued the Hawks throughout the game. Two kick-offs sailed out of bounds and resulted in illegal procedure penalties. They also committed four fumbles and lost three, and picked up eight penalties.

Still smarting from their shellacking last week at the hands of Greenville Rose, coach Lonnie Baker's Vikings were more than willing to take advantage of their host's graciousness.

Quarterback Jamar Carraway opened the game with a 32-yard completion to Victor Speller. Teyon Marshall finished the five-play drive with a three-yard plunge at the seven-minute mark.

On its opening series, North Lenoir appeared willing and able to keep pace with its guests offensively. Quarterback Andrew Manning hit Ervin Atkins with a 35-yard pass on the opening play, which advanced the ball to the Kinston 35. After two false start penalties and a fumble, the drive stalled.

Kinston seemed ready to break the game wide open.

With Marshall and fullback Toddre Powell doing the work, the Vikings drove down to the Hawk 13. It took a fumble recovery by sophomore defensive tackle Kenyatta Hardy to kill the drive.

The North Lenoir offense came out in full force to start the second half.

Manning connected with Antonio Hamilton on a 55-yard pass -- either team's longest gain of the night -- to the Kinston 25. E.J. Brown took the ball to the two-yard line on a right power sweep, a play Kinston was unable to stop all night.

Plunges by Hamilton and Brown could only move the ball to the one. On fourth down, a field goal attempt was blocked.

"Their goal-line stand was huge," said Jackson. "That was the difference in the game. There was a lot of football left to be played. I thought if we could get momentum through some type of score, I felt we could get a touchdown later and win."

Jackson's logic almost worked.

His defense stopped Kinston cold in the opening series of the fourth quarter. On fourth-and-six, punter Davin Arnold bobbled the snap and was forced to run. His 18-yard scamper around left end led to a 19-play scoring drive, concluding with Ben Sutton scoring from the one at 4:20.

North Lenoir ran only five plays in the quarter. Kinston picked up an insurance score at 3:18 when Marshall scored his second touchdown of the night from the eight-yard line. His 129 yards on 27 carries led all runners.

"This was a game we needed to win," said Baker.

Kinston (2-1) travels to Southern Wayne next Friday for the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference opener for both teams.

North Lenoir is idle next week and is the guest of Ayden-Grifton, of the Carolina 1-A Conference, on Sept. 17.

"We've got some healing to do before then," Jackson said.

Kinston 7 0 0 13 -- 20

North Lenoir 0 0 0 0 -- 0

First quarter

K -- Marshall 3 run (Arnold kick), 7:00

Fourth quarter

K -- Sutton 9 run (kick failed), 4:20

K -- Marshall 8 run (Arnold kick), 3:18

K N. Lenoir

First downs 16 8

Rushes-yds 44-213 30-140

Passing yards 73 90

Total yards 286 230

Att.-Comp.-Int. 8-5-0 7-2-0

Fumbles-lost 4-2 4-3

Punts-avg. 3-28.0 4-28.5

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Kinston -- Teyon Marshall 27-129 2 TDs; Ben Sutton 7-33 TD; Toddre Powell 6-30; Davin Arnold 1-18; Calvin Miller 2-5; Jamar Carraway 1-(-2). North Lenoir -- E.J. Brown 11-68; Antonio Hamilton 8-33; Ervin Atkins 6-30; Andrew Manning 3-14; Josh Joyner 1-0; James Davis 1-(-5).

PASSING -- Kinston -- Jamar Carraway 5-8-73-0-0. North Lenoir -- Andrew Manning 2-7-90-0-0.

RECEIVING -- Kinston -- Victor Speller 1-32; Quentin Bowen 1-13; Tauren Brown 1-10; C.J, Sherrod 1-10; Ben Sutton 1-8. North Lenoir -- Antonio Hamilton 1-55; Ervin Atkins 1-35.