FOOTBALL: Two key plays spark Kinston past Goldsboro

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 26, 2016 9:57 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Two opportunistic plays within a 41/2-minute span turned the tide during Goldsboro's battle with Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference foe Kinston on Tuesday evening.

Leading 16-15, the Cougars jumped offsides on a 4th-and-3 play, which gave the Vikings a fresh set of downs at the Goldsboro 8-yard line just before halftime. Kinston punched in a touchdown and entered the break with a seven-point advantage.

The second key play occurred in the third period.

The Vikings faced 4th-and-6 inside Cougar territory. Kinston coach Ryan Gieselman inserted Felipe Munoz into the game as an up back in punt formation. A Goldsboro assistant coach alertly told the staff to "watch the up back," but his plea fell on deaf ears.

Munoz broke loose for a 22-yard gain.

Five plays later, Kinston scored and rode the momentum to a 49-22 on a crisp, cool night at Cougar Stadium. The Vikings (6-2 overall) remained unbeaten in two ECC outings this season.

"I think the fake punt was maybe the play of the game as far momentum," third-year GHS head coach Bennett Johnson said. "We get a stop there, it maybe -- you never known -- still a one-possession game. To their credit, he (Gieselman) had the guts to call the play and they executed it well.

"You've got to tip your hat to them in that situation."

The teams combined for four turnovers on the next four offensive series. The last miscue led to Daenard Branch's 99-yard "pick six" that all but sucked the life out of the winless Cougars.

Goldsboro fumbled on its next possession, which led to a 38-yard touchdown pass from Tahj Ramsey to Jacel Jacobs with 3:07 to go in the third quarter. Ramsey accounted for 235 yards of total offense and five TDs -- including four scoring strikes to three different receivers.

Ramsey completed 10 of 18 passes for 187 yards.

"There's definitely no satisfaction with just an interception over there with those white jerseys," Johnson said of Kinston. "Once those guys get the ball in their hands, they've got one thing on their mind and that's taking it to the house.

"They've got some guys who can do it. They made some plays. They took advantage of the turnovers we gave them for sure."

Kinston converted three miscues into 20 points.

"The fake punt did get us going," Gieselman said. "We challenged our guys that in the second half we've got to put some points on the board. Our defense had to step up and play assignment football, and I think we did that."

Goldsboro amassed 167 yards of total offense, but managed just 13 yards on 12 plays in the second half. Cougars' quarterback Dayquell Dawson tossed TD passes to Jacob Owens (29 yards), KJ Alston (22 yards) and Andrew McNeil (14 yards).

Dawson ended the night 7 of 16 for 85 yards.

TEAM PRAYER

* Neither team had played since Hurricane Matthew devastated both towns with flood waters from the Neuse River. They gathered at midfield, removed their helmets and took a knee.

A Goldsboro assistant coach offered an uplifting prayer that mentioned those who lost their homes, but also those who survived and offered their assistance to families in need.

His message left very few dry eyes.

DIRTY LAUNDRY

* The 18-day layoff showed its effect on both teams.

The Cougars and Vikings combined for 20 flags that resulted in 188 total yards. A total of 14 infractions were either offsides or false start infractions.

SERIES

* Kinston has won five straight and nine regular-season meetings overall since 1999. The Cougars, however, did eliminate the Vikings from the playoffs in 2003.

NEXT

* Goldsboro (0-8, 0-2 ECC) is the guest of Ayden-Grifton on Friday, while Kinston takes on North Lenoir, which turned everybody's head with a 60-12 rout over Greene Central.