Ayden-Grifton, Kinston, North Lenoir to play in state football playoffs

Three Neuse News area teams have played well enough to make the state playoffs on the gridiron.

Ayden-Grifton, Kinston, and North Lenoir will all be in action next week when the NCHSAA state football playoffs get underway on Friday. Brackets were finalized on Saturday and the Eastern Carolina 2A conference got five of their seven teams into the postseason including Washington and West Craven.

Meanwhile, Greene Central (4-7) and South Lenoir (2-8) found themselves on the outside looking in. Jones Senior forfeited their final five games of the year and finished 0-11.

North Lenoir (8-3) tied the single-season school record for wins with a 62-20 victory over South Lenoir in the Braggin’ Bowl. One year after a winless season, Jim Collins’ team is in the postseason for the first time since 2016. The Hawks are the 13th seed in the 2AA East and will travel to fourth seed South Granville.

Despite some key injuries throughout the season, Kinston (6-5) found their way into the postseason. Ryan Gieselman and the Vikings will be the 13th seed in the 2A East and will face conference champion West Craven on Friday. The Eagles come into this game as the #4 seeds 

Ayden-Grifton (8-2) received the 11th seed in the 2A East. Paul Cornwell and his Chargers have now been to the playoffs for 19 straight seasons and they’ll head on the road to face sixth seeded Southwest Onslow. They’re coming off of a 27-14 win over the Vikings on senior night last Friday.

The Eastern Carolina 2A conference schedule is no easy test, so these three teams have fought tooth and nail to be in this position. Are they each poised to pull off an upset in the first round? Only time will tell as the postseason begins this week.