The Eagles clinched a state playoff birth by defeating the Mt. Zion Bulldogs in the Region 4 Play-in game by the score of 47-6 to finish the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record for the eighth time in school history and the sixth time in the past nine years. Junior QB Marques Ivory continued his recent torrid passing streak by completing 10 of 11 passes to lead Northside’s offense on a night the Eagles did not attempt a punt.

Mt. Zion started the game with 2 big first down runs, but the Eagle defense then righted itself as the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs. Northside then went on a 2 minute, 6 play drive culminated by senior Deonta Jordan’s 5 yard TD run. Devon Pike added the PAT and the Eagles led 7-0 with 6:47 left in the first quarter. Mt. Zion fumbled the ensuing kickoff and 2 plays later, Tijuan Green plunged into the endzone from one yard out and Pike’s PAT made the score 14-0 with 4:42 in the first. Mt. Zion quickly answered 3 plays later with a 79 yard touchdown pass. Their 2-point conversion pass attempt fell incomplete and the score stood at 14-6 with 4:42 still left in a long first quarter. The quick strike first quarter continued when Ivory connected with junior Nick Bass for 40 yards down to the one yard line, and sophomore Xavier Hawkins then completed the 3 play drive by plowing into the endzone from one yard out for a touchdown. Pike was again perfect to make the score 21-6 with 3:38 still left in the first.

Things began to settle down some now as Mt. Zion went ‘3 & out’ in two of its next three possessions that each ended with a punt while the Eagles fumbled on their next 2 drives. Northside righted the ship on their second drive of the 2nd quarter when Jordan scored his second TD of the night from one yard out to cap a 6 play drive. The PAT was no good and the score stood at 27-6 with 5:15 left before halftime. The Bulldogs ran 9 nine plays before the Eagles forced them to punt, and the punt pinned the Eagles on their on 16 with only 2:02 left on the clock. Northside then executed its 2-minute offense to perfection and drove 84 yards in 1:22 and scored on a 5 yard touchdown pass from Ivory to Bass. The PAT was good and the Eagles went into the locker room at half with the score at 34-6.

The Eagles took the second half kickoff and drove 63 yards in 5 plays and scored again when Ivory connected with Kevyn Cooper from 24 yards out. The PAT was no good and the score stood at 40-6. Mt. Zion fumbled the ensuing kickoff again and Northside scored again 5 plays later when Rodriquez scored from 3 yards after coming in to play quarterback for one series. Pike stuck in the PAT and the score was now 47-6 with 7:33 left in the third quarter. The Eagles then emptied the bench for the rest of the game and the score remained the same as the clock finally ran out after a long 2 ½ hour game. Northside now enters the state playoffs as the number one seed from region 4 to play Region 1's number 4 seed Lee Co. next Friday night in Round I.