It was a close game, but the Pleasant Home Eagles fell at home to Kinston 14-2 Friday night.

The Eagles took a lead early in the game when a snap on a punt went over the head of the Kinston punter, and he punted the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety.

With six minutes left in the game, Kinston took over with a 8-2 lead.

Three minutes later, the Bulldogs punched the ball into the end zone to go up 14-2.

Pleasant Home had several chances to score, but costly turnovers inside the red zone left the Eagles without a touchdown.

“We fumbled the ball twice inside the 20-yard line and once inside the 10,” Eagles’ coach Chris Mason said. “We had chances to score, and at halftime we really should have been leading 14-0.”

One thing that Mason said looked better was the defense.

“Our defense looked much better tonight,” Mason said.

“Had guys flying to the football and making plays.

We had several plays in the backfield.”

The Eagles fall to 0-4 on the season, but Mason said they are close to getting it pulled together.

“These guys are right there,” Mason said. “We looked better tonight, and once these guys get that taste of winning in their mouths, it’s going to be great.”

Mason said that the Eagles are their own worst enemy at the moment.

“Tonight, we just beat ourselves,” Mason said. “We have it in us to be a good team.”

Robert Scott was 4-of-8 passing for 48 yards to lead the Eagles. Hunter Ward led the defense with 7 tackles and Josh Rush had 5 tackles and a sack.

Next Friday the Eagles hit the road to take on J.U. Blacksher.