Wayne Grandy
WARNER ROBINS — Colquitt County came up four points short of possible Region 1-AAAAA championship on Friday, falling to Northside of Warner Robins 20-17 at McConnell-Talbert Stadium.
With the loss that drops the Packers to 8-2, Colquitt County will finish No. 3 in the region and will travel to play Westlake High in Atlanta next Friday in the first round of the state playoffs.
Westlake is the No. 2 team from Region 4-AAAAA.
The victory gives Northside the Region 1-AAAAA championship. Meanwhile in Valdosta, Lowndes County defeated Warner Robins, 31-16, Friday night to clinch the second-place spot in the region.
The Packers trailed 20-3 in the third quarter, but got a pair of short touchdown runs from Quin Roberson to pull to within three with 7:59 remaining.
And Colquitt had one final shot when it took over on its own 28 with 4:32 remaining.
The Packers drove to Northside 35, but stalled and faced a fourth-and-16 with 1:40 left. Northside’s Donatavius Anderson intercepted Tyler Brown’s pass to seal the region title for the Eagles.
The Packers were unable to slow down the Eagles in the first half.
Northside had drives of 80 and 83 yards on their first two possessions then moved from their own 35 to the Colquitt 20 and got a Devon Pike field goal on the last play of the half to lead 17-3 at the break.
The Eagles had seven plays of 20 yards or more in the first half and, with the help of the officials, gave up only a field goal.
The Packers moved to a first down at the Northside 29 in the second quarter and Tevin King then bolted for nine yards.
The Packers then were held for no gain on the next two plays.
But instead of having fourth down and a foot at the Northside 20, the Packers were forced to give the ball up when the officials lost track of the downs and gave the ball to the Eagles.
The Packers Amel Magwood intercepted three plays later, but Colquitt had to settle for a 32-yard Tyler Dismuke field goal with 1:33 left in the half.
Colquitt had reached Northside 7 three plays before, but a holding penalty moved the ball back to 20 and Colquitt had to go for the field goal moments later.
Northside needed just four plays to drive 80 yards for a touchdown after taking the opening kickoff. The fourth play was a 27-yard touchdown run by Shaquille O’Neill. Pike’s extra point put the Eagles up 7-0 just 1:17 into the game.
Chris Vickers finished off the second Northside possession with a 6-yard touchdown run and the Eagles led 14-0 with 4:49 still remaining in the first quarter.
Pike’s 44-yard field goal with 6:08 left in the third quarter put the Eagles up 20-3.
The Packers took the next kickoff and drove 80 yards for a touchdown, scored by Roberson on fourth-and-goal on the last play of the the third quarter.
Davis Durham intercepted Van Brunt on the Eagles next possession, setting up Roberson’s next touchdown, with 7:59 remaining.
But that was as close as Colquitt County could get.
Brown completed 14-of-20 passes for 178 yards and the one interception.
In addition to his two rushing touchdowns, Roberson caught eight passes for 139 yards.
The Packers rushed for 95 yards.
Northside rushed for 232 yards and threw for 99. Van Brunt was 6-for-11 for 99 yards.
O’Neill led all rushers with 121 yards. on 19 carries. Van Brunt added 81.
