As the chill of the night air set in, the Warriors took the field at Cherokee High School October 18. Parents and students filled the NC section with an almost palpable energy. The NC Warriors varsity football team (8-0), ranked 15 in the state, played against the Cherokee Warriors (4-4). At the end of the night, the NC Warriors arrived back home, maintaining their perfect record. They destroyed their opponents with a final score of 56-10.
“It was [pregame] just locking in and zoning in. It was me listening to music, talking to myself, praying and thinking about who I am doing this for. And God will tell us, he will let us know [if we will win playoffs],” freshman running back Zachary Belyeu (20) said.
Kicker Michael Hill (12) started the game with a bang as he shot the ball to the end zone, placing the Cherokee Warriors back at the 20-yard line. After that, senior quarterback Nick Grimstead (15) achieved two first downs which pulled NC ahead; Belyeu earned the first touchdown with eight minutes left in the quarter. The team remained in sync, maintaining their positions on the field through the defense and offense’s flawless coordination. Toward the end of the first quarter, with three minutes left, senior running back Cameron Morris (7) caught the ball, allowing NC to take the lead once again. With the ball in their possession, Grimstead scored a touchdown with two minutes remaining. Unfortunately, the Cherokee Warriors also scored a touchdown with thirty-one seconds left on the clock. The first quarter ended with the board reading 14-7 with the NC Warriors in the lead.
With a quick start, Belyeu achieved his second touchdown of the night with over eleven minutes left in the second quarter as the team worked together to keep the ball from Cherokee. Team players such as outside linebacker Cooper Negron (54), contributed to impressive tackles, which benefited the Warriors’ stance on the field. With an unfortunate twist to the night, junior wide receiver Steele Ingram (2) dove at the forty-yard line, rendering him weak and unable to walk. After being carried to the medical table, he struggled to stay conscious. As he was rolled out on a stretcher, he waved to the crowd, signaling his quick recovery. With this devastating player loss during the second quarter, the first of the second string followed in to fill his place. Shortly after, junior wide receiver Arquevious Echols (34) scored a touchdown, granting NC a twenty-five-point lead. With the morale high, the team kept possession of the ball, occasionally stealing passes from Cherokee. The Cherokee Warriors soon after punted the ball on a fourth down with fifteen yards to go, earning them another three points. After a Cherokee player attempted to cut through Grimstead’s defense — and ultimately failed — Grimstead scored a touchdown with twenty-six seconds left in the half. At the end of the quarter, the score remained high for the NC Warriors at 35-10.
During halftime, both the team’s marching bands and color guard entered the field to entertain the audience. Both bands left the audience speechless as they danced around the field. The color guards spun rifles, sabers and flags in the air, adding extra pizazz to the show. As the tricks achieved a higher level of difficulty, both teams supported each other, clapping and cheering when they did something impressive. The music sent an electric feeling through the crowd, re-energizing the marching band students and all players for the next half of the game.
The last two quarters meshed together in a blur; time flew by as NC destroyed the Cherokee Warriors. In the third quarter, once again, Belyeu scored another touchdown: his third in the game. The freshman’s contribution to the team leaves a lasting mark on the field and in the audience despite his status as an underclassman. Minutes later, senior offensive tackle Kamron Cullins (8) scored a touchdown, with the quarter-ending score of 49-10.
Running into the fourth quarter, the ending plays slowed as the JV players took the field in play. This opportunity helped them prepare for their time in the spotlight on varsity. Even against Cherokee’s varsity players, JV sophomore running back Tre Gragg (36) earned a touchdown, ending the game with NC in the lead by 46 points.
“Overall, it was a good win, but I think we need to start off stronger and faster. It feels good to be able to do great things for my brothers and have their back. And I think it’s a bright future for me and my teammates,” Belyeu said.
The NC Warriors fought hard Friday night to earn their spot as they continued their winning streak, 8-0. They high-fived their opponents on the field as the night came to a close around 10 p.m. in the cold, frigid temperatures. In their nightly huddles, they prayed and celebrated the win, coming home with another victory before playoffs as the players worked hard to attempt to earn the title of state champion.
