As the 2019-2020 school year begins, the NC Varsity football team kicks off their season. After training all summer and throughout the first three weeks of school, NC players felt prepared leading up to their first scrimmage game against the Harrison Hoyas on Friday, August 16.

“I felt very prepared [for the game]. I felt like the coaches prepared us for many situations by making us constantly perform drills,” NC junior Jayden Walker said.

Within the first two minutes of the game, Harrison made a touchdown and field goal, giving them an early lead with a score of  7-0. Harrison then punted the ball and NC made their way down the field hoping to tie the score. However, NC fumbled the ball and Harrison received possession, making a second touchdown, changing the score to 14-0. Number seven, quarterback, junior Trevor Lovett finally gave NC their first touchdown with three minutes left in the first quarter, making the score 14-7. Despite hopes for a second touchdown, a flag thrown onto the field prevented NC from tying the score. The first quarter ended with a score of 14-7 with Harrison in the lead.

The second quarter began and number 26, wide receiver, senior Kendal Drake made the second touchdown, tying up the score 14-14. Five minutes passed and Harrison made another touchdown but missed the field goal, bringing the score to 20-14. Half time came around and the two teams took a 15-minute break to brainstorm new strategies for the second half of the game.

The third quarter began and NC bettered their defensive skills,  preventing Harrison from making any additional touchdowns until the final five minutes of the third quarter. To make up for the missed field goal, Harrison successfully attempted a two-point conversion, making the score 28-14. The fourth quarter began and Harrison immediately made another touchdown, missing the field goal once again and making the score 34-14. NC made a third touchdown also missing the field goal, bringing the final score to 34-20. 

Although NC hoped for a better start to the season, they lost against Harrison, but luckily this game does not count towards the ranking for the actual season. NC also lost to Harrison in the scrimmage game last year, but this did not stop them from believing they can accomplish great things this year. The team still keeps their heads high even though they lost because they feel that they can only get better from here.

“I think our team is in a good place right now and it’s going to show in the next game [against Woodstock]. We’re just taking the season week by week,” Walker said.