The 3A Championship provides a stark contrast between a program that measures success in state titles and a program seeking to establish its own modern legacy. The Shelby Golden Lions are arguably the NCHSAA's most historically successful program, making their 25th appearance in a title game and boasting a phenomenal 18-6 record in those contests. When you include their nine WNCHSAA championship appearances between 1947-1976 (where they went 4-3-2), Shelby's championship pedigree is unmatched. The Golden Lions come into the contest with a 12-3 record, a testament to their continued excellence under Head Coach Mike Wilbanks.
Wilbanks, in his seventh season at Shelby with a 76-20 overall record, has established himself as one of the state's elite coaches. He won both the 2019 2AA and 2021 2A championships with the Golden Lions, and this team has all the pieces to add a third title to his resume. After an 0-2 start that included losses to county rivals Kings Mountain and Crest, the Lions have responded with 12 straight victories, demonstrating resilience and championship character.
The 2025 Golden Lions are led by the powerful arm of quarterback Lan Farmer. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound senior is an exceptional talent whose statistics speak for themselves: 3,770 passing yards, 48 passing touchdowns, and only 7 interceptions this season. Farmer's ability to stretch the field vertically and find open receivers makes the Shelby offense nearly impossible to stop when he is clicking. His command of the offense and decision-making have been exemplary all season.
Farmer has guided the Lions through a tough playoff bracket, including critical wins over East Rutherford (65-34), Mount Airy (41-21), and a heart-stopping 43-41 regional final victory over Eastern Randolph. In that Eastern Randolph thriller, Farmer threw for 388 yards and 3 touchdowns, demonstrating his ability to perform in pressure moments. Wilbanks pointed to an earlier regular-season game against Burns, won on a last-second blocked field goal (36-35), as the team's most galvanizing moment.
Freshman running back Jonas Woods has been a revelation, leading the team with 73.8 yards per game and 14 touchdowns. His emergence has given Shelby a ground game to complement Farmer's aerial assault. Junior receiver Immanuel Collins Jr. (68.9 yards per game) is Farmer's favorite target, while junior Kendrick Raper provides another deep threat.
Defensively, the Lions are anchored by junior linebacker Landon Hollifield (8.5 tackles per game) and senior defensive end Noah Gartner, who has recorded 15.0 sacks, among the state's best. Senior free safety Derrick Kee and senior strong safety Kendrick Raper (who also plays receiver) provide secondary coverage. The Golden Lions average 47.8 points per game while allowing 19.3, with four shutouts demonstrating their ability to dominate on both sides of the ball.
The Kinston Vikings (11-4) are seeking to crash the Shelby coronation and remind everyone that they, too, have championship pedigree, although the Vikings' last title was seventy years ago. Kinston is reaching the title game for the third time in fourteen years, proving they know how to get to the final stage. Head Coach Ryan Gieselman, in his 13th season with a 106-56 career record, led the Vikings to the 2015 2A championship game where they fell to Shelby 57-21, a loss that still motivates this program.
The Vikings have navigated a challenging path, evident by their 11-4 record and 14-seed in the playoffs, one of the lowest seeds to ever reach a championship game. After losses to South Central, White Oak, Ayden-Grifton, and rival Tarboro (42-35), Kinston found its identity and embarked on a remarkable playoff run. Gieselman points to a mid-season victory over Greene Central as the galvanizing moment that turned the season around.
Kinston relies on an aggressive, fast-paced game to create turnovers and quick scoring opportunities. Senior receiver Tyreek Copper has been nothing short of sensational, recording a record-setting 2,000+ receiving yards and 32 touchdowns while averaging 134.2 yards per game. Copper's production is among the best in state history, and he's the primary reason Kinston's offense averages 37.0 points per game despite their pass-heavy approach (270.8 passing yards per game).
Senior running back Genesis Wiggins provides balance with 57.6 yards per game, while senior quarterback Tyler Jones manages the offense and delivers the ball to Copper and fellow receivers Pap Brown and Brennan Chambers. The Vikings' aerial attack is designed to create explosive plays and force opponents to defend the entire field.
Defensively, Kinston is led by senior Jemorris Poole (10.3 tackles per game) and junior cornerback Justin Gooding Jr. (5 interceptions). Senior linebacker Davieon Jones contributes 4.0 sacks, while the secondary must play aggressive, physical coverage to disrupt opposing passing games. The Vikings allow 20.5 points per game, and their ability to create turnovers (2.3 per game) has been crucial to their success.
The Matchup: This game pits the established air-raid dominance of Shelby, with Farmer's 48 touchdown passes, against the aggressive, opportunistic style of Kinston and Copper's record-setting season. If the Vikings can force a few turnovers and convert them into scores, exploiting any potential weakness in the Lions' protection, they have a chance to add another perfect title game record to their history.
Kinston must find a way to pressure Lan Farmer and disrupt his timing, relying on the athleticism of their defensive line and secondary. However, Gartner's 15 sacks suggest Shelby's pass rush could be equally problematic for Kinston's pass-heavy attack. The key will be protecting the quarterback and giving Copper opportunities to make plays in space.
This rematch of the 2015 championship, which Shelby won convincingly, takes on added significance. Can Kinston avenge that loss a decade later? Or will Shelby's history and the sheer passing volume of Lan Farmer prove too much? The Vikings will need a historic defensive performance to stop the Golden Lions from collecting their 19th state title trophy, but their perfect championship game record suggests they shouldn't be underestimated.
The 283-mile journey from Kinston to Shelby represents more than distance; it's the culmination of two very different seasons that converged at the same destination. One program has been here many times; the other arrives as the ultimate underdog. Both will leave everything on the field Saturday afternoon.
Kinston Vikings (11-4) vs. Shelby Golden Lions (12-3)
Durham County Memorial Stadium
Kickoff: 2:00 p.m.
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