Friday Night Lights have never been bigger for the Dubs. On Friday, October 25 in Henderson Stadium the North Atlanta Warriors and the West Forsyth Wolverines – two teams battling for first place in 6A Region 4, were going head to head in a game that turned out to be more a street brawl than a gridiron event.
The stands were packed for the event and the band was playing. The game featured the Warriors with a 7 and 1 record against the 6 and 2 Wolverines. “We knew going in that the winner of this game was going to be the region champ,” said Warrior head coach Jamie Aull. “So we told the boys, who wants it more? It was up to them.”
The Warriors shot themselves in the foot to start the game with a huge fumble just inches from the endzone which would have been the first touchdown. This was followed up by a handful of long, dominant drives by the Wolverines but the Warriors hung in to make it 7 – 14 at halftime “A couple guys had their heads down in the locker room but I knew as a leader, it was up to me to get our boys in the right state of mind,” said senior quarterback Ian Reynolds. “This game was far from over.”
The Wolverines continued their domination into the second half as their suffocating defense and dominating run game controlled the flow of the game. With the score sitting at 7-21, it looked like the Dubs needed a miracle to come back. The Warriors responded to this adversity with a clean drive resulting in a touchdown, but were answered by a Wolverine field goal. “If we really wanted a region championship to our name then every last play of this game would have to go our way,“ said senior defensive end Chase Linton.
With two minutes left in the game, the Warriors sat with a 10-point deficit and a 14-24 score. Then, after a quick score from wide receiver Cam Lanier, the Dubs recovered a crucial onside kick. On the very next play, Tight End Josh McCullough made a highlight reel play, making a shoestring catch and putting two defenders in the dirt on the way to the endzone. The win – inarguably the greatest regular season win in North Atlanta history – meant the Warriors clinched its first-ever region crown. “That was a game that no one will ever forget,” said McCullough. “What a game and what a group of guys who never will quit.”
The throw. The fingertips. The catch. The stumble. The balance. The juke. The score. Everything seemed like it was out of a movie as the Dubs took home North Atlanta’s first region championship in program history. The band was electric and the fans were booming as Josh McCullough snuck his way into the endzone to put North Atlanta ahead. This game was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will forever be remembered as it is stored away in the history books.
Player Quotes:
“Everyone was super emotional, the fact that we’d worked so hard and now it seemed like the first region championship in school history was gone like that. Everyone felt a little iffy about the comeback, it would mean a miracle for us to get the win- everything would have to go our way. Then Josh got in the endzone and we all rushed together and went crazy,” said junior kicker Lucas England.
“We had guys crying tears of joy. To work so hard for something like the first region championship in school history and think we lost it was rough. You can imagine how it felt to make that comeback. We knew we were the better team and we showed it. I’m so proud of this team,” said junior running back Cayden Edwards.
“Man, I was lightheaded. Watching him make it into the endzone it was like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders one moment and the next is just melted off,” said senior right tackle Reis Holzworth.
“I was so happy that we were able to get that region championship. I didn’t want to leave without that accomplishment. To win it like that in such an epic comeback was awesome, I’m pumped for Senior Night next week and playoffs after that,” said senior receiver/safety Grant Thompson.
“It was a rollercoaster of emotions. Going from the disappointment of coming short to the joy of being a region champion isn’t something I can put into words. It felt super surreal,” said senior linebacker Rigsby Gullett.
“I was on cloud 9 when we scored. It was crazy, I was hugging and celebrating with people I’ve never even talked to. That’s how it is when you and so many people work your butts off for something so important,” said junior quarterback Ryan Edwards.
“Our team character is indescribable. Even when we knew the chances of winning weren’t high we went out there and played the full 48 minutes and didn’t give up. Now we’re region champions, it all feels like a dream to be honest,” said junior tight end Josh McCullough.
