Northside Eagles soar over Lee County, 26-7

The Northside High School Eagles bounced back from their 14-6 loss at Valdosta High School on October 7 with a 26-7 victory over the visiting Lee County High School Trojans on Friday night. A week earlier the Trojans defeated Houston County 55-29, so they were coming into McConnell-Talbert Stadium (The Mac) with a 1-0 AAAAAA-Region 1 record and all of the momentum. That momentum now rest in the hands of the Eagles and their upcoming opponent Coffee County. Also nicknamed the Trojans, Coffee County has won two games in a row against Warner Robins based teams (Warner Robins High School and Houston County this past Friday) and will be playing their second game this season at The Mac.

Against the Trojans of Lee County the Eagles defensive unit continued their stranglehold on their opponents offense by allowing 14 or less points in every game this season. Senior linebacker Kam Burnett, fellow senior defensive end Trashon Owens and junior outside linebacker Kameron Tate along with the rest of the Northside defense kept the otherwise potent Trojan running game at bay. The same offense led by senior running back Mark Robinson and junior quarterback Jase Orndorff that generated 55 points against Houston County was held to a single touchdown a week later. Northside would score their first points of the game early in the second quarter after a long drive that included a fourth and one on the Lee County 16 yard line. Senior running back Desean Dinkins dove down the middle for two yards to continue a drive that would end with an 11-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Tobias Oliver to senior receiver Jaylan Sandifer.

The Eagles would get big defensive plays from Burnett midway through the quarter that kept the Trojans from gathering any momentum offensively. He and Owens would combine to tackle Lee County junior running back Nikko Cruz behind the line of scrimmage to stop another Trojan drive. With 1:31 remaining in the first half Oliver would take off from behind center for one of his patented long runs, this time for 84 yards and a touchdown to put Northside up 13-0 at the half. Oliver (7-13 for 34 yards passing) finished the game with a team high 150 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns.

During the second half the Eagles defensive backfield decoded to take over and put a stop to whatever passing attack Lee County attempted to mount in order to make up points in a hurry. Seniors Isaiah Nelson and Tae Daley consistently broke up passes and put pressure on Orndorff to check down to his running backs rather than throw to his receivers. His longest pass, a 30-yard connection with junior receiver Drequan Gorman, came halfway through the third quarter and that drive ended in one of two Nelson interceptions. Lee County’s first and only touchdown, a 16-yard quarterback keeper from Orndorff, came with 7:49 mark of the fourth quarter. Junior defensive back Marcelle Griffin and Burnett each recorded an interception during the fourth quarter as well.

Junior running back Marcus Jollyran for 23 yards on nine carries while also completing a pass for 26 yards. Dinkins finished with 24 yards rushing on 12 carries. Sandifer led the team with three receptions. Marquaevious Williams, a senior receiver and Jolly each finished the game with two receptions.

Notes:

The Northside defense had a total of three interceptions and four tackles for loss.

Nelson has a total of three interceptions this season.

Coffee County, along with Valdosta High School remain the only two teams in AAAAAA-1 without a region loss. Both schools have only played one regional game thus far this season. Northside’s game against Coffee on Friday is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. at The Mac.

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