The Northside Eagles advanced to the third round of the state playoffs with a dominating win over the visiting Clarke Central Gladiators by a score of 48-14. The night started off shaky for the Eagles as the lost the ball on their second play from scrimmage to set up Clarke Central deep in Northside territory. Eight plays after the turnover, the Gladiators scored on a 1 yard TD run. The Eagles responded with a 4-play / 80 yard drive, all on the ground, to tie the game. Senior Marte Polk scored from 26 yards out at the 6:30 mark of the opening quarter. With 4:51 left before half, Curtis Martin score on a 1 yard TD run. Three minutes later, Dillon Mixon drilled a 35 yard field goal for a 17-7 halftime lead. After allowing 2 first downs following Northside’s turnover on the first drive, the Eagle defense held Clarke Central without a first down for their next 5 possessions before half.

Northside blew the game open in the third quarter. After forcing Clarke to punt on the opening possession of the second half, Marte Polk free for a 60 yard touchdown run to push the Eagle lead to 24-7 following Mixon’s PAT. With 2:59 left in the third quarter, Mixon added a 20 yard FG for a 27-7 lead. Ten seconds into the fourth quarter, quarterback Jack Montgomery scored on a 4 yard touchdown run after the Eagle D stopped the Gladiators on downs. Clarke cut the lead to 34-14 with a touchdown pass at the 9:33 mark of the final quarter. The Eagles once again responded to a Clarke score with a 5 play / 80 yard touchdown drive highlighted by a 52 yard run by Martin and culminating with a 8 yard TD run by Keshun Hill. Northside ended the scoring when AJ Booker scored on a 5 yard run with 3:43 left in the game. Mixon’s 6 (of 6) PATs on the night made the final score 48-14. The Eagle defense held the explosive Gladiator rushing attack to 16 yards on 23 carries until two late runs against Northside substitutes. Rodney Levine and Lee Bradley had interceptions for the Eagles to help the Eagle defense hold Clarke Central to 200 yards of total offense.

The Eagles will be at home at the MAC again for round III of the playoffs next Friday when they host the Tri-Cities Bulldogs of East Point, GA. The Bulldogs were the third seed from Region 4 and defeated Pope High School by a score of 35-0 in round 2.