“I tell our guys we’re a solid team,” North Cobb head coach Shane Queen said. “These guys enjoy hanging out together and they look at each other like family. It’s been a fun team to watch develop.”
Taking over at Kennesaw Mountain’s 28-yard line after an unsuccessful fake punt by the Mustangs, the Warriors needed just one play to score as quarterback Tyler Queen connected with Xavier Borishade on a touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead.
The Warriors (3-0, 1-0) added to their lead 14 seconds into the second period. A.J. Borduin’s 39-yard field goal gave North Cobb a 10-0 advantage. That was followed by J’Vonte Herrod’s 1-yard touchdown and the rout was on.
North Cobb forced a punt by Kennesaw Mountain (1-2, 0-2) on the ensuing possession and Borishade responded by returning it 53 yards for a touchdown, giving the Warriors a 24-0 edge with 6:13 remaining in the second quarter.
When North Cobb got the ball back after a short punt, the Warriors concluded the drive on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Queen to Nick Miller, putting the hosts up 31-0 with 3:50 to go before halftime.
North Cobb moved 67 yards for another score on its first drive of the second half. A 2-yard touchdown run by Quentin James upped the Warriors’ lead to 38-0 with 7:55 left in the third period.
Kennesaw Mountain began its next drive with good field position and had the ball at North Cobb’s 34-yard line before losing a fumble that was picked up and returned 72 yards for a touchdown by the Warriors’ Cameron Albright, increasing the margin to 45-0.
North Cobb capped its scoring with an 88-yard drive at the start of the fourth period. Herrod’s 55-yard touchdown scamper made it a 52-0 game with 7:52 to play.
Kennesaw Mountain avoided a shutout after its eighth punt of the night was fumbled by the Warriors and recovered by the Mustangs. On the first play following the turnover, backup quarterback Nigel Hayes threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Phillips.
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The fumble...the Warrior player fell and let the ball roll our of his hands and made no attempt to recover, allowing KMHS to pick it up. Then, after an entire game of NO offensive output whatsoever, KMHS connects on a TD pass to a wide open receiver? Possible, yes. But those plays didn't fit in with the character of the entire rest of the game. It was obvious to myself and everyone else I was sitting with.
I'm not saying it's good or bad. But we have to question....do we play the whole game? Or if one team decides to start going easy on the other team because the score is lopsided, why not just shake hands and call the game before time expires?
The NCHS crowd didn't even cheer for the last two touchdowns.