Storm stops scrimmage

With the season opener less than two weeks out, the Perry Panthers and the Northside Eagles met for a scrimmage in the Panther Pit. Both teams are coming off good seasons, with Northside finishing up 8-4 on the year and Perry going 11-2, and they are trying to build off that success. They match up well on paper, but that doesn’t always coincide with reality. In this case, however, it was fairly accurate.

Northside received the kick off to begin the game.

Entering his junior year, Damien Dee, named starting quarterback at the beginning of the season, started fast, hitting a few screen passes to start the game. Northside’s offense used a balanced attack, running and throwing to keep the defense guessing. Senior running back Michael McClendon chewed up some yards, moving the chains to keep the drive alive. Then Dee hit EJ Riley on a screen pass for a chunk of yards, putting Northside near the 20-yard line. The Perry defense tightened up in the red zone, however, forcing fourth down.

In the first half, the Perry Panther starters established a solid initial momentum. Smith commented on the starters saying, “After they settled down, we got better as the game went along.”

Perry started with a few short passes as well and picked up a first down. Northside defense wouldn’t give up another first down, though, and Perry had to punt.

In the second quarter, Northside’s running game came to life, and Michael McClendon picked up a big first down and then the drive culminated in a touchdown run by McClendon. Perry’s defense got a hand up and blocked the point after attempt, making it 9-0 Northside.

Perry’s quarterback, Armar Gordon, a dual-threat quarterback, had some success on the ground. A shifty runner, he can hit a jump cut and turn it up field. Northside’s defense managed to get some pressure, forcing Armar out of the pocket. Northside’s Isaiah Harvey, a senior defensive end and a disruptive force on defense, drew double-team blocks all night, but he still managed to get good penetration on several occasions. Northside’s secondary, led by Ricardo Jones, kept Perry’s passing game under wraps for most of the first half, but Perry managed to get the running game going in the second quarter.

After getting the ball back, Northside dove the ball down the field again. EJ Riley, the junior running back, pounded the ball in the endzone, putting Northside up, 16-0. Early on in the game, it looked like Northside was going to run away with it, but Perry came storming back in the second quarter.

“We had good field position and momentum,” Coach Smith explained.

Demetrious Carter, the senior running back for Perry, found a crease in the line and once he got to the next level, he was gone, running 75-yards for the touchdown, putting Perry on the board, 16-7.

Perry got the offense going and scored again. However, before the momentum could snowball into the fourth quarter, a thunderstorm rolled in, causing a game delay. After waiting many minutes, with thunder and lightning dragging the delay further and further, a decision was made between the coaches.

“Coach Alligood and I decided to call it,” Coach Smith said. “Had it been a regular season game, we would have tried to finish it.”

Coach Smith said he is excited and hopeful for the upcoming season opener as Perry opens up against Houston County at Freedom Field on Aug. 26. Northside kicks off the season against Jones County on Aug. 20.

Both teams could make some noise this season, but we will have to see how it all unfolds.

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