James Kenan running back Tyquise Wilson (10) attempts to break away from an East Duplin defender during fourth-quarter action Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
James Kenan senior outside linebacker Johnathan Pittman (25) looks back toward the referee in disbelief after the Tigers were called for an offsides penalty on a fourth-down, field-goal attempt by East Duplin on Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
East Duplin middle linebacker Luke Hughes (56) grabs the facemask while he attempts to bring down James Kenan’s Kendrick Zeleya during first-quarter action Friday evening. Hughes drew a penalty on the play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
East Duplin’s duo of Chase Whaley (44) and Jordan Hall attempt to bring down James Kenan’s Stephone Stanley (7) during first-quarter action Friday evening. Stanley’s teammate, Jaycen Jones (24) blocks on the play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
East Duplin’s Jeremiah Judge (6) stops James Kenan’s David Zeleya with an open-field tackle during their East Central 2A opener at Bill Taylor Field on Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
James Kenan junior running back Josh Mitchell (8) finds some running room while teammates David Zeleya (15) and senior tackle Jaycen Jones (24) block East Duplin defenders off the ball. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
WARSAW — James Kenan head football coach Tim Grady had seen this episode before.Two turnovers, along with mental and physical mistakes throughout the game, spelled trouble against county and East Central 2A rival East Duplin a year ago.
It happened again Friday evening.
The Panthers used the miscues as the springboard to a 28-7 victory at Bill Taylor Field. East Duplin, the reigning state 2A champion, extended its win streak to 20 games.
“No matter what we try to prepare for, it just seems like we keep having these types of jitters in these games,” Grady said. “Man, it just devastates you and you have to claw your way back up out of it. That’s hard to do in a big game like this.”
Kenan took the opening kickoff and moved the ball into East Duplin territory with Josh Mitchell and Tyquise Wilson in the backfield. Wilson broke off a long run that resulted in a first down.
On the next play, the Panthers recovered a fumble.
Senior quarterback Zach Brown directed a methodical scoring march that included a steady diet of fullback dives from sophomore Shawn Davis. The 6-foot-1, 188-pounder capped the drive with a 1-yard plunge.
The Tigers punted on the ensuing possession.
Senior Elam Moore tallied the Panthers’ second touchdown — a 53-yard jaunt around left end. East Duplin led 14-0 after Darwin Bonilla booted his second PAT of the night.
“Too many mistakes and we keep having them,” Grady said. “It’s something I hope we get better with [during the season]. They’re playing younger guys that didn’t make mistakes and some of ours did. We’ve just got to suck it up and get better. It’s as clear as that.”
Kendrick Zelaya’s “scoop and score” from 30-plus yards closed the gap to 14-7 with 5:36 left before halftime.
Davis tallied his second TD less than three minutes later.
A second fumble set up East Duplin’s final score.
The Panthers stalled inside the Tigers’ red zone and lined up for a field goal attempt on 4th-and-6. Officials flagged Kenan for offsides penalty, which eventually led to Davis’ 13-yard scoring scramble.
“We didn’t do what we needed to do,” Grady said.
East Duplin claimed its fifth consecutive victory over James Kenan, which has a 36-30 edge in the series since 1960.
Grady hopes the Tigers’ upcoming bye week will allow the coaching staff to shore up a thin skill position depth chart. He added that some players in street clothes on the sidelines will have a much-needed break to get healthy.
“We just have to take it game by game, get our steam back, nurse some injuries and just keep getting better,” Grady said.
James Kenan (3-2 overall, 0-1 East Central) begins a two-game, conference road swing Sept. 29 at South Lenoir.
