PITTSBORO — There’s no question that the first 20 minutes of Northwood’s playoff opener was ugly, dull and bleak.

The only bright spot for the Chargers’ at that point, especially on the scoreboard, was time. Because the game certainly wasn’t over.

Northwood erased a 24-0 deficit to beat No. 18 Kinston 34-30 and secure its first playoff win since the 2020-21 season.

“I have crazy emotions,” Northwood coach Dalton Brown said. “It’s ridiculous. These boys have practiced hard all year. They put in crazy work the last three years and just put them in the right position, and they made the plays.”

Senior quarterback Finn Sullivan threw for five touchdowns to lead the comeback. Three of Sullivan’s touchdown passes went to senior tight end Campbell Parks, including the go-ahead score with 24 seconds left in the game.

“With the time that was left on the field, we wanted to make sure we didn’t make a mistake,” Sullivan said. “It was a big down to keep us in field goal range. Let the play develop. Campbell got open.”

The first playoff game played at Northwood in six years couldn’t have started much worse than it did. The Chargers’ first five possessions consisted of two punts, two turnovers on downs and an interception by Kinston senior Emanuel Sutton. Meanwhile, the Vikings’ first five drives resulted in four touchdowns, including three straight to start the opening quarter.

Sophomore quarterback Michael Eaton saved the Vikings’ opening drive with a 63-yard touchdown scramble. Kinston forced a three-and-out on Northwood’s first possession, and on the first play of the ensuing drive, freshman Kaysen Williams ran 77 yards to the house to give the Vikings a 12-0 lead.

Following Sutton’s first of two picks on the night, Eaton found junior Pap Brown down the sideline for a 35-yard touchdown pass. Kinston knocked on the door of a four-score game late in the first quarter, but numerous penalties pulled the Vikings way behind the sticks and out of scoring range. But with just under seven minutes left in the second quarter, Williams set the Vikings deep in Northwood territory with another long run, and he ran in an 18-yard score on the very next play.

Kinston once again threatened to put the game on a high shelf late in the second quarter as the Vikings had the ball within the Chargers’ 10-yard line. Penalties once again halted their momentum, setting up a fourth-down interception and return past the 50 from Northwood freshman Bryson Sanders.

The Chargers’ turned the turnover into a sign of hope on the scoreboard — which was a 14-yard touchdown connection between Sullivan and Parks. That made a 24-6 deficit less than a minute before halftime.

“We’ve seen crazier comebacks that have happened,” Sullivan said. “That was kind of the message in the locker room. (It) was don’t give up. We can still win this game.”

Said Parks. “I was telling the boys the whole time, ‘It’s going to be a hell of a story when we do it.’”

Northwood wasted little time flipping the script on the Vikings in the second half.

Junior Aiden Girard ran the Chargers down the field, and Sullivan and Parks connected again for a 6-yard score to make it a two-score game less than two minutes into the third quarter.

Kinston then lost a fumble in its own territory on the ensuing possession, leading to Sullivan finding senior Nick Armstrong for a 35-yard score.

Yet, adversity hit again late in the third quarter. Sutton snagged his second pick, giving Williams the opportunity to hurt the Chargers again with a 79-yard sprint to put Kinston back ahead by two possessions.

Northwood started the fourth quarter with an explosive response as Sullivan found senior Raje Torres wide open for a 54-yard touchdown. That play brought the score to 30-27.

Kinston put together a slow, but solid drive into Northwood territory, but the Chargers stood tall and forced a turnover on downs. On what would be their final offensive possession, the Chargers relied on Girard to pick up chunks of yards, run the clock down and set up the go-ahead score in the game’s final minute.

Girard finished the night with 31 carries and over 100 yards rushing.

“In my mind, I was just thinking three yards at a time,” Girard said. “Even if they had six people blitzing, just get downhill as fast as I can.”

Northwood will travel to No. 2 Whiteville in the second round Friday.