In a dominating display that most certainly put the rest of the state on notice, the Seventy-First Falcons football team decimated their competition, the Jacksonville Cardinals, with a staggering 43-7 victory in the NCHSAA 3A East regional championship. The Fayetteville-based Falcons, seeded at number two, showcased their strength on the Loyd E. Auman Athletic Field this past Friday night, emphatically securing their spot in the 3A state championship game. A statement in The Fayetteville Observer characterized the Falcons as a team who has been "bestowed the tag of returning to the state championship even before we started practicing."
Under the guidance of signal-caller DeAndre Nance, the Seventy-First offense proved practically unstoppable, accumulating more than 40 points for the twelfth time this season—an impressive feat that no doubt casts a formidable shadow over West Charlotte, their upcoming opponents in the state final. According to Nance's statement obtained by The Fayetteville Observer, "Us seniors, this was our last game on this field tonight, so we had to prove to ourselves that if we're going to do this, we're going to go out with a bang," a sentiment which was palpable throughout the decisive match.
The Jacksonville Cardinals, arriving on a high from a previous against-the-odds blowout victory over Havelock, their conference rival and the number one seed, were quickly cowed by the Falcons' ferocity. The Cardinals' early 14-0 deficit spiraled into a 43-7 rout by game's end, as reported by WNCT, effectively dashing any hopes of a state title for the Jacksonville team this season.
Both Donavan Frederick and Jayson Franklin of the Falcons proved instrumental on the ground, each contributing a pair of touchdowns to the scoreboard. In an undeniable show of unity and determination, Frederick echoed his team's ambition in a statement obtained by The Fayetteville Observer, declaring, "We want it; we want it bad," regarding their march to win the coveted state title. Meanwhile, images of the event captured by The Jacksonville Daily News largely speak for themselves, with photos highlighting the drama and emotion of the high-stakes encounter.
Seventy-First's victory not only extends their postseason record to an enviable 16-3 over the past four seasons but also sends them forth to Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, where they will vie for the state crown against West Charlotte. With their eyes firmly on the prize, the Falcons are a scant game away from adding yet another accolade to their already impressive legacy.
