Northside hosted Kendrick of Columbus in their home opener of the 2010 season, and they dominated the overmatched Cherokees from the beginning for an easy 35-0 victory.

The Eagles fumbled the opening kickoff but the defense prevented Kendrick from cashing in what would turn out to be the Cherokees’ best scoring opportunity of the game. The Eagle offense first got on the board with 5:04 left in the first quarter after a 12 play – 68 yard drive when senior Shaquille O’Neill ran in from 5 yards out for a touchdown. Dillon Mixon added the PAT and the Eagles were up 7-0. After another stop by the Eagle defense, Northside was back on the scoreboard when Stephon Cross picked up a fumble from a backfield mate and powered into the endzone from four yards out for a touchdown with 1:56 left in the first period. Mixon’s PAT made the score 14-0. With 9:48 left in the second quarter, Mixon missed a 42 yard field goal attempt. The kick was plenty long but just wide left. Cross scored his second touchdown of the night on a 9 yard run with 6:33 left before halftime and Mixon’s PAT made the score 21-0. Chris Vickers added another TD on a 12 yard run three minutes later and Mixon’s PAT up the score to 28-0. Northside’s scoring on the night ended when Steven Nelson returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown. Mixon’s final PAT finished the scoring on the night to make the final score 35-0.

In the second half with the clock running continuously, the Eagles emptied their bench as every player on the squad was shuffled in and out of the game in order to get all of them playing time in the fast moving final 2 quarters. The reserves moved the ball well on the ground, and the defense preserved Northside’s second consecutive shutout to start the season.

The Eagles are off next week before traveling to Lakeside in Augusta in two weeks.