By Sedrick Bolton III November 11, 2022
HAMPTON What would have been the go-ahead touchdown for Lovejoy gets called back after a player steps out of bounds and re-enters the field to catch the ball. North Atlanta holds on to the lead and wins the game 30-17 in Wildcat territory.
The Warriors got out early in the first half, scoring 23 unanswered points. They controlled the ground game with quarterback Trey Lennon getting positive gains and running back Hunter Davis with multiple carries. Davis was responsible for 14 of North Atlanta's 23 points with his two rushing touchdowns.
Despite trailing by 23 points going into the half, the Wildcats did not get detoured from the score.
In the second half, Lovejoy decided not to return any punts and instead let the offense roll with wherever the ball was spotted.
As the Wildcats marched down the field, sophomore Dralin Gilbert scores the first touchdown for Lovejoy. With points finally on the board, the Wildcats began to show life.
"We made some adjustments at halftime offensively and defensively, the guys got a little momentum going, " said Head Coach Edgar Carson. "We just came out a little sluggish in the first, putting ourselves in a hole so we just tried to fight back."
After stopping the Warriors' drive and getting the ball back, Wildcats' running back Trevon Kinchen gets a huge carry to bring the ball to North Atlanta's 25-yard line. But a strong defensive front and sack from linebacker Dalyn Caldwell forces Lovejoy to settle for a field goal.
In the beginning of the fourth, the Warriors goes three-and-out to start the drive for the Wildcats. On the first play, Kinchen goes up the middle for a touchdown that brought fans and teammates on their feet and in a frenzy. With the extra point good, Lovejoy only trailed by six with the 23-17 score.
With 2:09 left on the clock, Lovejoy takes to the field. On second down, quarterback Malachi Lightfoot throws a deep bomb to wide receiver Michael Gilliam who was left wide open as he runs in for the touchdown. The sideline erupted with excitement as the Wildcats finally took the lead.
Or so they thought.
After a deliberation among the referees, they ruled that the receiver stepped out of bounds and came back upon catching the ball. Lovejoy was pushed back further and had more ground to cover.
But on the ensuring play, North Atlanta's defensive end Chase Linton caused a fumble that would be picked up by junior Connor Hughes and returned for a touchdown, dashing the hopes of a late game comeback from the Wildcats. As the Warriors' sideline and fans filled the stadium with their cheers, the home crowd was left with disbelief.
With one last attempt to score, junior Dwight Rousell gets an interception to put the nail in the coffin.
Both teams came into the game sharing a 7-3 record and with offenses that averaged over 30 point per game while holding opponents to, on average, less than 19 points per game.
North Atlanta advances to the second round to face Houston County.
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