By Joey Krieg, Staff Writer
Three straight losses have put a damper on the football season, but all is not lost for the Nighthawks as they head into a busy final week.
Their biggest rivals and their biggest prize await.
The Marlin. The most sought after fish by high school football players on the Outer Banks. But this is no ordinary fish. This beast is a trophy, and every football player at First Flight and Manteo wants this fish. It’s the trophy to one of the most intense rivalry games of the year in the annual Marlin Bowl.
“Last year, I got hurt in the beginning of the game,” said junior Porter Braddy, the Nighthawks’ starting quarterback. “I’m looking forward to taking back the Marlin.”
In 2019, First Flight lost The Marlin for the first time in six years. The game was at First Flight, where the Nighthawks were defeated 16-6 as they watched the Manteo Redskins hoist the Marlin off their turf.
“We were very embarrassed.” senior tight end Kenneth Lokie said. “We talk about it every day. It hasn’t left our minds since. There’s nothing more important to the team than winning the Marlin Bowl.”
Last season’s Marlin Bowl loss was part of a 2-9 season — a year that was anything but satisfying. The team opened this year with some excitement, beating Camden 20-14 thanks to Braddy’s clutch rushing touchdown in the closing seconds of the game. The next few games didn’t go exactly as planned, though, as the Nighthawks currently sit at 1-3 after suffering losses to Perquimans, Hertford County and Northeastern.
“This year’s season is absolutely more exciting than last year’s,” senior running back Johmar Gonzalez said. “We have a lot more experience and more to prove.”
And there’s reason for optimism when the Nighthawks visit Manteo on Monday night at 7. Manteo is 2-3 and has allowed more than 50 points in its last two games.
“Manteo is a big game every year,” coach Jim Prince said. “But this year we have 11 seniors compared to last year’s two.”
Win or lose Monday night, the Nighthawks will face a quick turnaround, visiting rival Currituck on Friday night to close this COVID-shortened season.
Junior Joey Krieg can be reached at 22kriegjo52@daretolearn.org.
