This NC varsity football team just refuses to quit. The Warriors once again overcame a two-score deficit to defeat the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes 27-26.

The defense stood tall, not allowing a score in the fourth quarter to preserve the victory. Although the Warriors reigned victorious, Coach Queen felt unhappy with his team’s execution.

“We didn’t play well tonight,” Queen said to his team following the win, “but I can’t wait to wake up, be 2-1, and get back to work.”

Judy Stubblefield

North Cobb took its first lead of the night when senior quarterback Tyler Queen threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Billy Nichols to give the Warriors a 27-20 lead. Cartersville seemed poised to tie the game after scoring late in the third quarter, but the extra point sailed wide, and North Cobb held a one-point advantage.

The Warriors trailed 20-10 in the second quarter when a fumbled handoff was recovered by sophomore linebacker Elijah Hairston to give the Warriors the ball on Cartersville’s 17-yard line. Hairston then ran the ball for a touchdown three plays later to cut the deficit to three. Sophomore kicker Will Horton kicked a field goal with 51 seconds remaining in the half to tie the score at 20.

Cartersville took off to a fast start, accumulating drives of 76 and 38 yards to take a 14-0 lead. On the next drive, the Warriors got on the board with Horton’s first field goal. An interception by junior linebacker Sterling Andrews set up a Tyler Queen touchdown run to pull the Warriors within four.

Queen finished the game with one rushing touchdown and one passing. Junior cornerback Torrian St. Romain led the defense with two interceptions.

“The whole defense played well,” senior defensive end Raeshawn DeCastro said. “Torrian had two picks, we were flying to the ball, we really played as a team.”