James Kenan linebacker Hassan Kornegay (4) views an opposing team’s defense before the ball is snapped during a recent game. The unbeaten Tigers easily handled North Lenoir on Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

James Kenan linebacker Hassan Kornegay (4) views an opposing team’s defense before the ball is snapped during a recent game. The unbeaten Tigers easily handled North Lenoir on Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

WHEAT SWAMP — There’s a good chance the East Central 2A Conference football title will remain in Duplin County for yet another season.

Could James Kenan take the throne?

The Tigers remained the league’s lone unbeaten team with a 63-14 thrashing of ECC member North Lenoir at Bullock Field on Friday evening.

“Great team win,” JK head coach Tim Grady said.

Jeremiah Hall paced Kenan’s ground attack with 117 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries. He hauled in a 24-yard scoring reception from junior quarterback Eli Avent.

Josh Mitchell rambled for 70 yards and two TDs on eight carries. Talil Pearsall provided a 15-yard scoring run, while Cal Avent added a 5-yard TD plunge.

The Tigers amassed 273 yards rushing as a team.

Emerson “E-Money” Gomez converted all nine PAT attempts.

Defensively. Tyquise Wilson had a pick six.

“[We had] good, hard runs from Josh Mitchell and Jeremiah Hall,” Grady said. “Both are becoming of an offensive threat for us. [We] started the third quarter a little bit sloppy, but cleaned it up quickly to finish putting them away.

“Hassan [Kornegay] and Ty continue to lead our defense with great physicality and effort.”

Kenan improved to 13-0 against Lenoir County schools since 2004, including 12-0 as ECC foes.

According to NCHSAA records and MaxPreps, the Tigers last won a conference title in 2015 as members of the Carolina 1A Conference. Their last ECC championship occurred in 1991.

“[I’m] proud of the continued buy-in and looking forward to proceeding with our goal of becoming the next conference champion,” Grady said.

The Tigers (8-0 overall, 4-0 ECC) return home Friday for senior night against Southwest Onslow. Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Bill Taylor Field in Warsaw.

You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.