The Northside Eagles defeated the Rome Wolves in the third round of the 2005 AAAA state playoffs by a score of 14-2. The Eagles got off to a slow start when they were called for a block in the back on the opening kickoff, pushing them back to their own 7. On the first play, QB Jacobi Rodriguez was dragged down in the endzone for a safety and Rome led 2-0 with just 12 ticks off the first quarter clock. The offense continued to sputter the remainder of the first half with penalties and with the stunting Rome defense, but the Northside defense again turned in an amazing performance. Rome enjoyed great field position the entire first half, the the defense continually turned them away by forcing 3 punts and 2 missed field goal attempts. Both teams went into the locke rooms at halftime with less than 100 yards of total offense each.

The offense made some halftime adjustments and came out in the third quarter with renewed focus. The offensive line began picking up the Rome stunts and backs David Everett and Byron Hunter began finding the gashes in the Rome defensive front. Held to only 36 yards rushing in the first half, the Eagles rebounded for 185 yards on the ground in the second half. After a long Everett run down to the Rome 12, Mario Armstrong scored on a reverse to put the Eagles ahead for the first time. David Grayson added the PAT and the score was 7-2 with 7:43 left in the third quarter. The Eagles sealed the game with 6:15 left in the fourth quarter when Rodriguez scored from 3 yards out on an option keep; Grayson's PAT made the final score 14-2.

The defense continued its punishing performance throughout the second half. Rome's wing-T offense was held to 52 yards rushing on 38 attempts and to only 4 pass completions for 43 more yards for a total of 95 for the game. Senior linebacker Antoine Rice picked off one pass and returned it 13 yards to end one Rome second half possession. The other 5 possessions ended with a punt.

The Eagles now advance to the semifinals in the Ga Dome for the 3rd time in their history to face former region rival Baldwin Braves (now in Region 2).