The NC Warrior varsity football team (7-1, 3-0) kept up their admirable winning streak with a dominant 42-0 win over the Hillgrove Hawks (1-7, 0-3) on Friday, October 22. During the game, fans’ outfits painted the bleachers pink to support and uplift women nationwide in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Prior to the game, the field held football, cheer, and band’s Senior Night. Families and friends celebrated senior Warriors as they walked across the field for the last time.

Entering rapidly into the first quarter, the Warriors shut down the Hawks’ offense and defense only minutes into the game. NC junior quarterback Malachi Singleton put the Warriors on the board early in the first quarter with a solid first touchdown. The Warriors set the tone of the game early on, gaining a 21 point lead during the first quarter over three opening drives. The Warriors ended the first half up 35-0, with no signs of letting up. Despite the chilly second quarter, the Warriors continued their momentum and maintained a comfortable lead over Hillgrove. They widened the gap in the second quarter, securing another fourteen points. 

“Our team is definitely in a good mood being up 35 nothing but you want to make sure you come out and finish and come out of the game healthy because we got a big game next week against Marietta,” NC head coach Shane Queen said. 

In the second half, the Warriors scored another touchdown and went on to maintain that lead until the very end. On the defensive end, the Warriors shut down the Hawks’s offense only giving up 155 yards. The Hawks suffered their first shutouts in consecutive games in their team’s history.

“Any time you can start fast is crucial. We have done that a lot this year, but then we kind of let up in the second half and let teams get back in it. Or we have started off strong and then given up a touchdown in the second quarter and find ourselves in a dog fight in the second half,” Queen said. 

The Warriors displayed great talent coming from its running attack, with nearly four players rushing for fifty yards each throughout the game. Singleton rushed for 77 yards and scored on two out of five of his carries, Ben Hall scored twice out of eight carries over 68 yards, Jordan Allen ran 58 yards and scored on one of his fourteen carries, and David Eziomume scored on his lone carry for 47 yards.

“Our offensive lineup did a great job, some of the other guys got to step up in this week (for injured starters), and that is what football is about–next-man-up mentality. And those guys that filled in allowed us to have a great game rushing the football,” Queen said. 

The Warriors continue their quest for a second straight region championship as they take on the Marietta Blue Devils on Friday, October 29 at Northcutt stadium.