Varsity football drops heartbreaker
August 26, 2015
After holding an 18-point lead at halftime, and an 11-point lead late in the fourth quarter, varsity football fell to the Northside Warner-Robins Eagles at home on August 21, 27-24.
Following a near-perfect first half, junior quarterback Will Lovett threw two second-half interceptions, including Isaiah Nelson’s 68-yard pick six with just under four minutes remaining bringing the Eagles within five. An NC three-and-out, followed by a 20-yard punt return gave Northside solid field position as they marched down the field and took their first lead since the first quarter, with only 20 seconds remaining.
“I’m proud of the way our guys fought,” Head Coach Shane Queen said following the game. “We had it won but just couldn’t finish.”
NC defense prevents a Northside touchdown in the fourth down.
The momentum shifted in the third quarter as the Northside defense forced a fumble and took over on the warrior 20-yard line. Quarterback Tobias Oliver scored from one yard out just four plays later to begin the comeback and pull the Eagles within 11.
Junior receiver and safety Drew Tejchman highlighted the second quarter with an interception and two touchdown receptions of 18 and 13 yards.
Lovett shined in the first official half of his varsity career, completing 16-17 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns, but added just 17 yards and two interceptions in the second.
Nadya Awino
After fumbling the opening kickoff and trailing 6-0, junior running back CJ Cole tied the game with a nine-yard touchdown run. On the next possession, junior receiver Quannie Green took a screen pass and ran 35 yards to the end zone to give the Warriors a 12-6 first quarter lead.
Inexplicably, NC opted to go for two on their first three scores, failing each try. A botched snap on the PAT after Tejchman’s second score left the Warriors 0-4 on point afters for the game, despite the top kicker in the 2017 class, Will Horton, on their roster.
Tejchman finished the game with 10 catches for 106 yards, senior receiver DJ Render added four receptions for 69 yards.
North Cobb played Northside Warner Robins at their first Friday night game.
Senior lineman Keano Aitken led the efforts defensively, tallying one sack and three tackle-for-losses.
“My teammates and I believed in each other and our coaches gave us the confidence throughout the week so we’d have a better chance to succeed,” Aitken said. “But tonight we didn’t execute the plays that mattered the most in a big game.
NC faces the North Gwinnett Bulldogs at home next, on August 28.
“As a team we’re confident and look to prepare differently this week against North Gwinnett,” Aitken concluded.
How do NC students think the Warriors will do this season?
An aura of excitement hummed through the crowd at the first NC football game last Friday night, August 21. With a winning start the student section radiated excitement. A sea of orange beamed with pride throughout the entire game.
As the night continued on, the score revealed a fatal fight between the NC Warriors and Northside Warner Robins Eagles. Going into the fourth quarter, the Warriors remained up 24-12. Staying strong, the Warriors battled for a full 12 minutes of game time when in the last two minutes, the Eagles overpowered them.
When the buzzer sounded, the score ended 27-24 in a late Eagles victory as NC’s student section grew quiet in despair. Shown within the data of a random poll taken at the game, however, even with one losing battle, school spirit remains as strong as the team cheered for on the sidelines every Friday night.
