NC’s varsity football team (2-0) played their first game of the 2024 season against McEachern Indians (0-2) August 23. Before the game, coaches and players from both teams came to the field early to prepare for the 7:30 pm kickoff. As students showed up in camouflage to match the theme of the night, excitement from the fans skyrocketed ten minutes before the game started.
As the first quarter started at 7:32 pm, players and their supporters felt anxious to see the result of the game. Kickoff began with the McEachern Indians in possession of the ball. Once NC took charge of the ball on their own 20-yard line and scored a field goal, they changed the score to 3-0. NC fans celebrated the three points they received despite starting only eight minutes prior.
Although both teams put their effort into getting a touchdown, the score remained the same at the end of the first quarter. As players and fans from NC and McEachern saw the twelve-minute countdown from the scoreboard, they remained alarmed. As coaches and players from the sideline watched, the duo well known for their touchdown passes, senior quarterback Nick Grimstead (15) threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Steele Ingram (2), increasing the score to 9-0. An opportunity for the Warriors to score a point after the touchdown (PAT) ended the first quarter 10-0.
This play caused NC to have the spirit to keep striving. With the score 10-0, the second quarter began with freshman right back Zach Belyue (20) running a 55-yard run during the 2nd down and gaining seven points for the team. After that, Ingram and Grimstead scored an 80-yard touchdown in the first down, which resulted in an outstanding score of 23-10. NC then kicked a PAT, changing the score to 31-10 before halftime.
“[Grimstead] took our team on his shoulders and carried us tonight. I don’t know how many yards he had, but we can run the football, and when they stack the box like that, we’ve got to be able to take shots. They had eight in the box, and we made them pay with big plays down the field. To me, he is a Division One quarterback. Someone needs to come get that kid,” NC head coach Shane Queen said.
During halftime, the crowded concession stand served lines of people ready to receive their food and watch the halftime show. After the football players left the field, the NC marching band and color guard brought the Warrior spirit to life. As the audience watched in amazement, the Warrior pride of students and faculty reached high to the sky.
“Stepping onto the field for the first time knowing we were about to perform our brand new show for the first time felt exhilarating, and after releasing our final note, I felt a rush of excitement as the audience clapped for our performance,” sophomore Sebastian Taborda said.
The third quarter started strong as Grimstead threw a 41-yard pass to sophomore quarterback Christion Peacock (10). With motivation from the coaches and support from his teammates, senior tackle Isaac Sikes-Rasby (58) showed joy when he jumped high into the air to celebrate, and inspired the team to achieve the win. With the timer at 11 minutes, NC rushed for the two-point conversion, changing the score to 37-13. From Grimstead to Peacock the touchdown increased the score to 39-13 with 4:48 seconds left on the clock.
Through all of NC’s celebrations, McEachern brought the score to 39-20 in the last two minutes. Even though the last quarter of the Friday night lights game came to a 19-point difference, the NC football players used it as motivation. With the student section cheering them on and the cheerleaders encouraging, the Warriors concluded the game with a rushing touchdown leaving the score 45-33 for the first game of the season.
