WAKE FOREST, N.C. – The James Kenan bus, parked up against the entrance of Wake Prep Academy, was bouncing.

The players inside, jumping up and down, erupted in chant.

“Ohhhhhhhh, Pe-ter O-meg-aaaa”

Of the countless goals their star forward has scored in his career, a 62nd-minute tally on Tuesday night may have been his biggest.

After darting between a pair of defenders, Omega located Ronald Ramirez and quickly turned Ramirez’s touch back to him into a 1-on-1 chance with the keeper that he rarely misses.

James Kenan’s 1-0 victory on the road eliminated 4-seed Franklin Academy, the defending 2A state champions who had plenty of reason to believe that it could repeat.

Through the opening 40 minutes of the match, the score held at 0-0. James Kenan’s attack early in the second half set the stage for its eventual victory.

Despite the Patriots doing all they could to force him wide, Omega found four quick opportunities to muster shots toward the frame.

His fifth broke the ice, and the Tigers grasped the lead for the final 18 minutes.

Players like Ramirez, Robert Ordones, and Lincoln Meza kept the ball in the attacking third while Omega drew the attention of the Franklin Academy defense.

When the Patriots needed possession late, James Kenan refused to let the ball leave its feet.

Emerson Gomez racked up three timely stops in the final 10 minutes of the match to put the win on ice.

The 13-seeded Tigers will return home to face its third consecutive Triangle area opponent this postseason. 28-seed Seaforth, winners in PK’s at Manteo, will make the trip down on Thursday.

The winner will advance to round four to face either Roanoke Rapids or top-seeded Clinton.