South Granville's defense stiffens, turns back North Lenoir in 2-AA football playoffs

North Lenoir’s football team celebrates its 5-0 start after a victory earlier this season. Junious Smith III/Neuse News

CREEDMOOR - North Lenoir's phenonemal turnaround season on the gridiron ended in heartbreaking fashion on a soggy, cold Friday evening.

South Granville stopped the Hawks on their final three possessions and eeked out a 26-18 victory in opening-round action of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 2-AA (large-school) football playoffs.

The Hawks couldn’t overcome four turnovers.

Seeded 11th, North's Justin Cobb returned the game's opening kickoff 90 yards to the end zone. Quarterback Filipo Sualevai and senior Ny'Jai Koonce hooked up on a 20-yard touchdown pass to extend the Hawks' advantage to 12-0 after one quarter of play.

The fourth-seeded Vikings regained the lead, 13-12, midway through the third quarter.

The Hawks soared back in front, 18-13, on Jaden Kilpatrick's 47-yard touchdown run. North Lenior, of the Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference, misfired on its third two-point conversion of the night.

South Granville, the Northern Carolina champ, took the lead for good, 20-18, toward the end of the third quarter. The Vikings sealed the outcome with a 45-yard pick six in the final seconds of the game.

Directed by second-year head coach Jim Collins, North Lenoir concluded the year 8-4, a vast turnaround from last year's 0-10 campaign.

Publisher’s note: Information for this story was obtained through MaxPreps GameTracker.