PITTSBORO -- Kinston dissected the Northwood defense for 488 yards of total offense in the ninth-seeded Vikings' 34-21 win over the Chargers on Friday night.
Kinston advanced to the semifinals of the 2-AA NCHSAA playoffs.
The No. 5-seed Chargers failed to advance past the third round for the fourth straight year.
Kinston running backs Chris Brown and Josh Benoit each had over 100 yards rushing and a touchdown each.
Northwood was its own worst enemy in the game with three turnovers - starting with a fumble on its first play from scrimmage - an omen of things to come.
Kinston quarterback Dory Hines capitalized on the first turnover with a 2-yard touchdown run.
Northwood (12-2) responded on its next possession with a 14-yard scramble by quarterback Sam Griffin to tie the score.
Kinston (12-2) answered on its next possession with another Hines 2-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter for a 13-7 lead.
Kinston's defense forced a Northwood three-and-out, and Hines hit Brown for a 56-yard touchdown pass in the next series.
Griffin again kept it close with a 42-yard TD pass to Tra Chandler with less than a minute left in the first half to trail 21-14.
Northwood opened the second half strong, but a holding penalty negated a 57-yard touchdown pass. The Chargers would end up punting, and Kinston responded with a 30-yard run by Benoit to go up 28-14.
The Chargers battled back with a 7-yard touchdown run by Griffin late in the third to close the gap 28-21. Kinston answered with a 31-yard TD run by Jerome Vaughan to cap the scoring in the fourth quarter.
Griffin was intercepted on Northwood's final possession, and the Vikings' 18-play drive ended with a turnover-on-downs with two minutes left in the game.
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