North Kitsap showed little mercy to Kingston in its football matchup Oct. 6, defeating the Bucs 49-7.

The Vikings struck within the first eight seconds of the game. As NK kicked off the Bucs attempted a trick lateral play across the field. However, the ball was considered a forward pass, and Viking Cohen Meis intercepted and returned it for a touchdown.

The referees failed to replay the kickoff.“It shouldn’t have been a touchdown but once you do the extra point you move past it,” NK coach Jeff Weible said. “Like baseball, if you throw a pitch, you can’t go back afterward.”

Kingston struggled by fumbling the second kickoff and recovering on its own 9-yard line. After a few plays, NK received the ball around midfield. Wyatt Sloman caught a 27-yard TD pass two plays later.

The Vikings got the ball in the second quarter after holding the Bucs again. Kyree McGinity led the Vikings to its third-straight touchdown with a 1-yard run. Kingston’s Justin Stewart caught a screen pass for 10 yards, but the Bucs failed to cross midfield.

Instead, the Vikings marched to the goalline before failing to convert. Buc Alex Moff intercepted Anderson’s pass and returned it 99 yards. However, a penalty drew Kingston back to its own 32-yard line.

Later, Viking Carter Dungy began piling yards up on the ground with a pair of carries for 32 yards. Afterward, Logan Sloman scored on a 15-yard jet sweep. Sloman added another touchdown after a pass from Anderson with eight seconds left to make it 42-0 at the half.

“He did alright,” Weible said of Anderson. “He was a bit nervous but he threw some nice balls. He’s got to continue to learn the offense and where to put the ball.”

Kingston began the third quarter with a failed onside kick. Dungy responded with a few runs before the Viking offense stalled. Kingston looked to cross midfield for the first time in the game in the third quarter. But after reaching their own 48-yard line, Kyler Hedstrom threw a 72-yard pick-six to Sloman to make it 49-0. NK’s Cooper Anderson intercepted Hedstrom’s next pass attempt.

“We are getting better each week,” Weible said. “They are tackling better and playing better team defense.”

As the fourth quarter began, Kingston crossed midfield when Dewaun Swan ran for a 51-yard touchdown. The Bucs recovered their onside kick but neither team scored for the final minutes of the game.

Viking Morgan Paul lowers his shoulder against Kingston’s Deondre Pierce.

Kingston’s Dewaun Swan returns the kickoff.