This year could mark difference in Northside/Warner Robins rivalry

This Friday

the oldest rivalry in the city of Warner Robins will renew again. The Northside

Eagles and the Warner Robins Demons will kickoff at McConnell-Talbert Stadium

to start the football season and the stands will be packed with fans, the food

and drink will be plentiful, both cheer teams and bands will be working their

tails off and there will be quality football played throughout. The only major

difference from last year’s game -On August 19, 2016 the Eagles defeated the

Demons 55-3- will be the outcome. Whether the Demons win the game or the Eagles

continue their three-game winning streak over their rival (Under current head

coach Kevin Kinsler the Eagles have only lost once to their neighbors, 28-18 in

2013), the outcome will be different. The Demons are different, the Eagles are

different, such is life in high school football (and college football for that

matter) and the end of the dominance was sure to happen at one time. The best

time for that to happen in the favor of Warner Robins would be now.

The preseason

scrimmages played by both teams -last week the Demons defeated Westside-Macon

22-6 at The Mac and Northside lost 13-10 at Peach County on Friday- cannot

truly be used as a barometers of the team’s upcoming seasons but if you did you

would see the power shift that may occur this season.

The Demons managed

three points during last year’s game against the Eagles behind an offense that

would fail to generate more than a couple first downs while completing on a

handful of passes. The major difference this season is that the Demons have

more options on offense starting with senior back Jarius Burnett who had to

share carries last. The quarterback position is in solid hands this year with

transfer Dylan Fromm as the receiver position is also deeper with the promotion

of underclassmen Juwight Hutchinson and Marcayll Jones to go along with senior

running Jaeven West and and junior receiver Tyler Fromm. The offense that

Northside kept from the end zone last year will most likely make a couple trips

to it on Friday. The Demons scored through the air and on the ground during

their scrimmage against Westside. There were times during last year’s game that

the Northside defense, which was stacked with college talent including current

Vanderbilt University freshman safety Tae Daley, had no trouble producing a

three-and-out.

The 2017 Eagles will

have hang its hat on defense despite having an offensive weapon the likes of

senior do-it-all receiver/runner Marcus Jolly. Against Peach County, a

senior-laden side that will probably be the best team in a competitive 4-AAA

along with Central High School and Jackson High School, the Eagles defense kept

the Trojans scoreless during the second half. Keeping senior quarterback

Antonio Gilbert and five-star receiver Kearis Jackson out of the end zone is no

small feat and despite being a scrimmage, should not be taken lightly.

The Northside offense

will be a different story as the season begins and Kinsler looks to take

advantage of Jolly’s gifts while starting a newcomer at quarterback in Jadin

Daniels. Junior running back Daniel Neal will also be a player the Demons have

to keep an eye on but the difference between last year’s game is that they can

count the number of key players on offense for the Eagles.

Last season there were

too many Eagles for Warner Robins to stop. This year’s game might be the 180

degree turn that changes the rivalry, at least, for the moment.

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