After disappointing exits from the state playoffs in the second round the past two years, the Northside Eagles defeated the Thomas County Central Yellowjackets 14-7 in a hard hitting and exciting game to advance to the third round of the AAAA playoffs. The Northside defense rose to the challenge of the vaunted TCC veer rushing attack to hold them to only 58 yards on 34 carries!

After forcing a punt on TCC's first possession of the game, the Eagle offense took over at its own 36 yard line and began a methodical 10 play, 64 yard drive that culminated with senior Byron Hunter hurdling the line of scrimmage on 4th and 1 from the TCC 5 yard line and maintaining his balance to drive into the endzone for a 5 yard TD at 5:38 of the first quarter. David Grayson added the PAT and the Eagles led 7-0.

The Eagles threatened again on their next possession as Hunter broke free on a 36 yard run down to the TCC 20 yard line, but a holding penalty brought the ball back to the Northside 30. Undaunted, the Eagles roared right back when quarterback Jacobi Rodriguez connected with Sophomore Nick Bass on a 'Utah' pass for a 60 yard gain down to the TCC 10. However, another holding penalty pushed the Eagles back to the 15 forcing the Eagles into a passing situation, and the TCC defense bowed its neck and ended the scoring threat by intercepting the pass in the endzone. TCC hooked a short FG as the second quarter wound down and the teams went to the lockerrom at the half with the score still 7-0 in favor of the Eagles.

Northside received the second half kickoff and were forced to punt. The snap from center sailed over the punter's head and the Yellowjackets tackled Richardo Negron on the Eagle 7 yard, and one play later, TCC's Debrale "The Train" Smiley roared into the endzone and with the PAT, Thomas County had tied the game at 7-7 with 9:38 remaining in the third quarter.

The score remained tied entering the fourth quarter as the Eagles took possesion on their own 32 to begin to what would prove to be winning scoring drive. The drive was highlighted by a crucial fourth down 10 yard pass completion from Rodriguez to Makaya Jackson followed by a great below-the-knee catch by Hunter on a 18 yard pass down to the TCC 5 yard line. On the next play, Rodriguez kept the ball on the outside veer and broke a tackle and wiggled into the endzone for the winning touchdown. Grayson lined the PAT just over the cross bar for the 14-7 lead with 7:23 remaining in the game.

The Yellowjackets returned to kickoff to their 34 yard line and began their final drive of the night. TCC completed 2 passes to convert first downs on crucial 3rd and 4th down plays to push the ball all the way down to the Eagle 16. Senior Eric Manns then bull-rushed through and over the TCC O-Line to sack Yellowjacket QB Doug Pilcher for a nine yard loss. Two plays later, fellow senior Sam Robinson blasted through for another sack forcing the decisive fourth down play from the 19. Pilcher's pass into the endzone was well defended by seniors Brian Holder and Sanchez Clemonts thereby turning the ball over on downs to the Eagles who then ran out the clock with 2 kneel-downs.

The victory propels the Eagles into the third round with a game next week at the MAC agaist Region 7's Rome Wolves.