
James Kenan senior Francisco Roldan gains possession of the ball during a match earlier this season. Roldan scored one goal during the Tigers’ 5-2 conquest of county nemesis Wallace-Rose Hill on Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com
WARSAW — For the fifth consecutive year, the East Central 2A regular-season boys’ championship trophy will remain in Duplin County.
This time at three schools, including James Kenan.
The Tigers emerged tri-champions of the highly-competitive and well-respected league with a 5-2, senior day triumph over county nemesis Wallace-Rose Hill on Wednesday evening.
Kenan, W-RH and East Duplin each logged an identical 10-2-0 worksheet in conference play.
“That was a big win,” Kenan head coach Mitchell Quinn said. “First place in the conference is always a good thing, All of the teams are tough, so you when you finish at the top [of the ECC] at the end of the season that’s always a good feeling.”
Peter Omega tallied three goals for the Tigers, who collected their fifth ECC championship since 2019. Francisco Roldan and Rony Ramirez supplied one goal apiece.
“In the second half, I was extremely proud of how we controlled the ball,” Quinn said. “The first half was kind of back and forth, both teams had control of the ball on either side of the field. We kept the ball on our end for the most part in the second half.
“We told Peter that when you get the ball, get rid of it because they are going jump on you and [other] people are going to be open. It wasn’t that he was a ball hog or anything like that at all, Peter had a good night. He just did a really good job.”
Kenan led 3-1 at halftime.
A native of Haiti, Omega played his regular-season home finale along with fellow seniors Roldan, Emerson “E-Money” Gomez, Bryan Gonzalez, Brandon Hernandez, Joshua Hernandez, Lincoln Meza, Edier Ruiz, Isaias Ruiz and Yordan Santivanez.
The Tigers improved to 9-1-1 in their last 11 meetings against the Bulldogs and hold a 12-11-1 edge in the series since 2011.
“Regardless of where you finish in the conference when you beat them [WRH] twice, whether you’re in first place in or last place, that says a lot,” Quinn said. “I told them after the game, the season is not over with, the real season starts now. Enjoy the victory, but let’s get ready to rock and roll.
“I’m going to tell them in practice today that it’s up to you how far you want to go with it [the playoffs].”
Kenan (14-4-0 overall) will make its 24th consecutive NC High School Athletic Association postseason appearance since 2000. Seedings and first-round pairings will not be announced until Nov. 7.
“I sure did now know that,” Quinn said of the program’s playoff streak.
According to NCHSAA records and MaxPreps, the Tigers have won regular-season championships in four conferences since 2000. Kenan won four Super 6-Carolina 1A-2A crowns in 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2006. They won the Tri-County in 2008, and Carolina 1A in 2013 and 2015.
The Tigers have captured five ECC titles — 2019, 2020 (covid year played in spring), 2021, 2022 and 2024. The Tigers were tri-champs in 2019 with W-RH and Spring Creek.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.