The NC Warrior varsity football team ventured into their first home game of the season with momentum after coming off of a 34-7 win against the Woodstock Wolverines. The Warriors took on the Etowah Eagles at Emory Sewell Stadium on Friday, August 30. The Warrior team, led by Head Coach Shane Queen, put on a commanding performance, including over 400 yards of offense and a 42-10 win for the second non-conference game of the season. 

“They’re a physical football team and we got banged up again tonight. We had a lot of guys out with injuries this week and I just told our kids there are no excuses. It’s next man up,” Head Coach Shane Queen said. 

On the offensive side, junior quarterback Trevor Lovett started the game with a 16-yard pass to Langdon Parker giving the team a quick 7-0 lead early in the first quarter. Lovett contributed a pair of touchdowns and an 84-yard pass performance. Freshman phenom Malachi Singleton used his youthful legs throughout the game, racking up 122 yards and two touchdowns when called on by Coach Queen. Junior Cam Cunningham contributed to the high powered Warrior offense by adding another 92 yards on the ground. The NC offensive line dominated weak Eagle defense and helped make room for the backfield trio of Lovett, Singleton, and Cunningham.

On the defensive side, the Warriors only allowed three points before the half and a mere ten points were allowed by the completion of the game. Senior Grant Wooten and sophomore Joshua Josephs caused havoc to the Eagle offensive line, accounting for multiple sacks and tackles for loss. Along with an impressive touchdown catch, senior Langdon Parker intercepted Eagle Quarterback Dalton Miller with eight minutes left to play in the first quarter.

“I expected nothing less from my teammates, I’m really proud of them, and can’t wait to see the same results or better for the next game,” sophomore linebacker Vernard Martin said.

Though a fun night for the Warriors, a scary moment for Etowah defensive end Austin Timmons-Padgett came in the third quarter. After an option play by Lovett and Cunningham, Timmons-Padgett seemed to get twisted up with the Warrior offensive line, bringing him to the ground. According to his father, James Timmons Padgett, after further medical examination, Timmons-Padgett the son, was carried off the field, eventually carted by ambulance out of Emory Sewell Stadium with a standing ovation from both sides. An Etowah assistant coach stated Timmons-Padgett experienced a burning sensation in the neck and back, but kept feeling in his fingers.   

The 2019-2020 North Cobb Varsity football team hopes to continue their winning streak throughout the season and build upon the Warrior legacy. Be sure to catch the NC Warriors take on the Campbell Spartans on Friday, September 6 at Emory Sewell stadium.