MOULTRIE — Colquitt County head football coach Rush Propst is obviously thrilled with the opportunity for his team to travel to Warner Robins on Friday to meet Northside and take a shot at the Region 1-AAAAA championship.
Propst just wishes he wasn’t catching the Eagles when they are likely to still be seething from their loss to Warner Robins last Friday night.
While the Packers were defeating Houston County 35-10 in Moultrie last week, the Eagles were squandering a 20-0 fourth-quarter lead and losing to cross-town rival Warner Robins 21-20.
Northside can still win the region championship with a victory over the Packers.
But the Eagles are not used to losing, especially to Warner Robins, which hadn’t defeated Northside since 2004.
In fact, Northside has won 10 or more games in each of the last 11 seasons.
And after losing some outstanding players of its 2008 team — including running back Xavier Bacon, who rushed for 1,677 yards and 23 touchdowns and defensive and tackle Abry Jones, who was one of recruited players in the country before signing with Georgia — Northside managed to win its first eight games this season.
Among the Northside victories was a win over Carver of Columbus, one of the top Class AAA teams in the state; a come-from-behind victory over Valdosta; a 10-7 decision over Lowndes, the Vikings only loss this season; and a win over Tift County in a game in which it trailed 13-0 at the half.
The Eagles had allowed an average of just nine points a game before giving up 21 to the Demons in the fourth quarter last Friday.
Northside appeared human against Warner Robins. Running back Shaquille O’Neill, who had rushed for 759 yards in the first eight games, managed just 17 on nine carries.
And quarterback Briar Van Brunt, who is the other arm of the Eagles two-pronged running attack, had just 65 yards after rushing for 478 heading into the game.
Northside was done in last Friday by some mistakes it is not likely to repeat.
All-State defensive back Brison Williams fumbled a punt leading to a Warner Robins score and the Demons scored the winning touchdown on a pass when an Eagle defensive back fell down.
What Northside also has in its corner is coach Conrad Nix.
In his 27 years of coaching in Georgia, Nix has won more than 80 percent of his games.
With his 8-1 record this season, he has a 263-65 record at Irwin County, Fayette County and two stints at Northside.
As recently as 2006 and 2007, Nix led the Eagles to 15-0 records.
Friday’s game will be just the second between Colquitt County and Northside. The Eagles defeated the Packers at Tom White Field at Mack Tharpe Stadium in last year’s season-finale 31-7.
Local Sports
Northside will be a handful
- Local Sports
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10-and-under champions
- Middle school soccer teams to open today
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Heading to Arkansas State
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Conference champions
The Colquitt County seventh-grade girls basketball team celebrates its South Georgia Athletic Conference championship. The team includes, front, from left, coach Sheila Williams, Za'Nautica Downs, Akia Sutton, Ty'Asia McNeal, Shy Seay; and back, Sydnee Dalton, Shay Stanfill, Kiarra Lovett, Abiyah Spencer, Coach Jon Scroggins, Angel Kinchen, Chyna Calhoun, Michaela Bennefield, Istajhe Johnson, Ashuntee Stewart and Ja'nysia Brown. Not shown, Coach Tamika Seay and Emily Dozier.
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Lady Pack clinches top seed for region tournament
Makeba Ponder’s free throw with 6 seconds remaining gave the Colquitt County girls a 55-48 victory over Lowndes on Tuesday on the William Bryant Court at the Gladys Espy Gymnasium and ensured the Lady Packers would have the top seed in next week’s Region 1-AAAAA tournament at Tift County.
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Rifle team defeats Worth County
The Colquitt County High rifle team remains unbeaten after taking a 1,098-1,082 victory over Worth County on Tuesday in Sylvester.
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Prine shines at Snowflake Invitational
Kenyadah Prine is progressing just fine in her comeback from two frustrating seasons that were marred by injuries. The Lowndes High senior is making the most of her opportunities to return to top form, no matter how big or small the stage.
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Prine shines at Snowflake Invitational
Kenyadah Prine is progressing just fine in her comeback from two frustrating seasons that were marred by injuries. The Lowndes High senior is making the most of her opportunities to return to top form, no matter how big or small the stage.
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Level 3 gymnasts first, Level 4 team second in Thomasville
The Moultrie YMCA MGs headed to Thomasville on January 28 to continue their meet season in the Rose City gymnastics invitational and the Level 3’s took first place and the Level 4’s placed second.
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Register wins region wrestling championship
Travis Register will take an unbeaten record into next weekend’s state sectional after going 2-0 and winning the 220-pound weight class at Saturday’s Region 1-AAAAA wrestling tournament at Lowndes.
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