Football Game Preview: Kinston Vikings vs. James Kenan Tigers

Kinston hasn't had much luck against James Kenan recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Vikings are taking a road trip to square off against the Tigers at 7:00 p.m. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Kinston comes in on four and James Kenan on 11.

Kinston is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They secured a 28-24 W over Northeastern. The score was all tied up 14-14 at the break, but the Vikings were the better team in the second half.

Kinston got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Tyreek Copper out in front who picked up 152 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Copper was no stranger to the big play, lighting up the secondary with a catch that went for 66 yards. Another passer making a difference was Tyler Jones, who threw for 292 yards and four TDs.

Kinston didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Justin Gooding and Genesis Wiggins.

Meanwhile, it was a proper cat-fight when James Kenan took on Farmville Central on Friday. The Tigers took down the Jaguars 51-32.

Kinston's record now sits at 10-4. As for James Kenan, their record is now 12-1.

Kinston couldn't quite finish off James Kenan in their previous meeting back in October of 2024 and fell 28-25. Thankfully for the Vikings, Josh Mitchell (who rushed for 126 yards and a pair of scores on only 13 carries) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.