Yeah.

Just being a family.

That's what we say when we break out.

Or we say family.

So we got a new stadium coming, new fieldhouse, no type of things.

So when you win, you know those things start to come into play.

But the proudest thing that I have is that we've signed 19 kids in two years, and that's the biggest day I'm proud of.

But I'm trying to help these kids, not just in football, but in life.

Big play right there by Mark L. Smith.

But 19 kids, did you hear that in three years they've signed this is a program as we mentioned, they went winless just back in 2001.

What a job Jesse Hicks has done.

You know, he's got that college background.

He knows what colleges look for.

They've had lots of kids come to this program contributing at the next level.

That's something else.

So Jesse comes out and he is a coach.

His coach, he not only is coaching them on the field, but he's coaching them off the field as well.

He'll go down into the places where the kids don't belong, find them and send them home.

First down and ten, another big third down conversion, the second of this drive.

And the ball is at the north side 35 and Smith still on his feet, bounces off one tackler, drives down to the 21 another first down again a 14.

And hit by Mitchell Bell there and what a job coach Hicks is fired up and he's out there on the field yelling at those guys.

And Baldwin's got some work in here.

Well, it's also offensive line as fired up.

He does one thing as an offensive lineman, you want to be able to give your back just enough of a seam so that he can do what he does best and look at the power to five guys to break them down.

Various marshall you get a look at his numbers today, 12 rushes, 53 yards.

First down and ten spears looking up in the air, firing endzone and it's going to be pop.

Oh, they're going to wear them out.

They're going to wave it off.

Wayne Bonner on the.

Receiving end of that one from Spears, another well thrown ball.

But his foot just on the wide line.

And Dave, give a lot of credit, too, to the Baldwin offense.

They whatever coach takes it at halftime, whatever motivational speech he gave, these guys have come out with like a new determination.

And that's what a good head coach does.

He is a motivator, gets those guys ready to play.

He puts them in situations to win football games.

And he's because they are.

Second and ten right.

Here again Marshall in the backfield drop play breaks one tackle.

And dives forward gets to the 20 Marcus Hill The defensive tackle was the guy in on that play so another third down and long situation right here third and nine and Baldwin has been able to convert a couple of big, long third downs on his drive here.

So let's see if they can get another.

Definitely good effort on Marshall Part on that last play.

He should have been stopped in the backfield yet still picked up a few.

So here we go third down nine single back.

Is Tommy Edwards throw it up top bay pattern one on one.

They were looking to Marshall, but neither he nor Sanchez Clements the corner knew where the football was and it landed in the endzone right there and completes a fourth down a nine and decision time right here for Coach Hicks.

What do you do here?

I mean, you're you're in too close, really, to punt the football.

I don't know how much range Danny Brisbane even has.

And it looks like right here the offense is going to stay on the football field.

It looks like the Braves are going to go for it.

Well, I like to call it definitely.

It gives a big compliment to your offensive line to say, look, I'm putting it all on your shoulders right now.

If you're going to make a break on this particular play.

At the turn it over.

They've got to go 80 yards.

So here we go.

Fourth down, hit on shotgun spears fire has a man 508.

And out of the hands of Blaine Bonner a heartbreaker right there.

You see the expression on coach Jesse Hicks face.

And that was a drop for six right there.

And then that has to be heartbreaking.

The big play, the big man, the big receiver just couldn't hold on to it.

Take another look at it.

Bonner 631 85, just a junior.

And you see Spears take a shot there and that one right in his mitts just aren't able to glove it.

Well, you.

Know, sometimes you get so excited about catching it, you see the end zone before you actually look the ball in and that's what receivers are tough talk to do look the ball in before you start hitting for the endzone.

So the ball will go over here North Side.

On offense on formation from on 2724 left third quarter and the game goes to Byron Lyons at a big first.

Half, but he's only got a yard right there.

Nice job by Marcus Robinson number 44 of the linebacker.

And we're talking about the linebacking corps for North Side.

But this Baldwin Braves linebacking corps is also pretty stout.

These guys come up here and make some plays a bit.

Number 53, Dexter Reaves is in the middle.

Gavin Cooper and the lineup at wideout for the Eagles.

As you see, Hunter's numbers, 12 rushes, 108 and a touchdown here tonight so far and still plenty of football left here for the senior second and ten and a quick hitter this time that is David Everett and maybe a yard or so and that's all for him.

So it appears, Phil, that both defenses are really settling down here.

Big number 45.

Josh Ingram, the senior, has been a monster this year and he made that last play.

41 solo tackles five sacks as well.

And a guy chosen for the North-South all star game is number 45.

Josh Ingram over there on that front for Baldwin.

So a third down and eight right here.

Big play for that north side offense equally big that Baldwin.

Defense and whistles a blow this one did.

Is that yellow flag.

Again they have some more movement up front.

I'm to look at Conrad Nix there once again, movement up front, all the offense.

That's certainly been a recurring theme here tonight.

So this third down and eight will become third and 13.

And you see Coach Hicks trying to rally his defense here.

This makes sense in the play there with Kevin Cooper, number 14, who will check in at wideout.

North Side with two turnovers in that first half.

They're actually a plus two turnover margin throughout the season.

Find themselves down two here tonight here's third and 13 Cooper and another flag comes flying in may have it the way game here and that is indeed the call right there too much time to get that play in motion.

Well, sort of like a reversal of over half in the first half, it seemed like Baldwin had more of a problem getting things together.

North Side comes out second half of 40 and just didn't seem to be able to get it together right now.

Northside established a 1964, incidentally, that's a year after Baldwin last made their appearance in the semifinals.

1963 was the last semifinal appearance for the Braves, of course, their first trip to the Georgia Dome.

Here's third down and 18.

Jacoby Rodriguez looking for the he has a man knocked away great job by that secondary scenario in my line what a job right there by number five.

Mahlon has come a bit here a couple of times tonight and that.

Ball was in the hands of McGee.

A Jackson was unable to glove it because my line came over and looked like got a hand on it, swatted it away.

Here, take another look at it.

Great timing.

Wow.

Here we talk about, you know, having great defenses in Baldwin.

We really don't give him a lot of credit as far as having a great defense, but that was just great speed.

Be able to read that and react and get to it that quick.

Chris Bernard to punt it out of his own endzone.

A little bit of a rush there.

Boy.

Baldwin nearly got their hands on that one.

Dwayne Bonner back deep will let it roll.

It'll take a bit of an eagle roll down to the 42.

Still roll and file it down by Stephen Lucas.

So Baldwin does their job defensively.

They get the football back.

Well, this game can also be viewed live on the GPB Internet site around the world at W WW dot GPB dot org.

Just follow the links to connect to the game every game will also be archived and available later on the GPB website as well.

That's WW DOT GPB Dawg.

So you can see that if you want to do right now, you can fire up your laptop and have you doing this game.

Absolutely.

I don't know if I want to or not, but yeah.

Okay, that's that's an option.

As far as the option, though, that.

Live webcast and archive on GPB talk.

So first down a tune as Baldwin goes back to work offensively out of the formation there again Marshall on the carry and many around the state felt like if Marshall was able to get his hands on the football 25 to 30 times that the Baldwin offense had a pretty good shot here, putting up some points.

One of the challenges Baldwin's offensive line has is trying to get their pads lower than the defensive line of Northside.

And that's great, difficult.

When you're that much bigger, you've got to get down that much lower.

Second, down and seventh.

Look there, Jason Peacock, one of those big offensive linemen and is very is Marshall who is.

On the bulk for the working out on many of his peers going back to the air under pressure looking.

Long to Bonner while he was covered up down at the 35.

Give a lot of credit to the middle of that go set defense he just came with every day they had to take a look at.

You can look at the pressure from that north side defensive line, big number 92 Saturday.

Jones was one of the guys who got in the face of Patrick Spears.

So Spear is now faced with a third down and seven for three to go here in quarter number three from the Georgia Dome.

And Spears out of shotgun, firing across the middle, in and out of the.

Hands there they look like of Marshall, Brian Holder, number 28.

The safety rolled over and made the play there.

As we talked about, Holder was the leading tackler on this team last year and it certainly picked right up where he left off this season.

But once again, is that north side defense just letting you know, hey, Mr. Marshall, I'm going to be here, just can't come across like that.

Marshall has got a few passes out of the backfield this year.

Rackley set to punt it away on fourth and seven from their own 45.

Nick Bass again back deep, kind of angled this one away.

But Bass will field it at the 25 felony marker that will come back.

His bass takes it up across the 30 to the 32, but it looks like we're gonna have a block in the back here, and that's going to back the Eagles up inside their own 20.

What a gutsy performance.

Nick Bass is.

But one guy, Carrico Hawkins, we just saw him number 42.

I think he's been down there on about every special teams tackle.

But.

You know, a lot of times coaches look for those guys.

You might not be in there as a starter.

You might not even get a lot of playing time.

But the way you can break into some of these lineups is by performing well, the indication is blocking it.

Take another look at it right here.

Again, Bass will fill the up on here.

And you see right there in the back look like Mitchell Bell was the guilty party there.

You know, that's the thing as a punt returner in this place I mean dome it's a little bit harder surface even though this sprinter is a little bit softer he's got a little bit more cushion.

You don't want to let the ball hit the ground in this place because it's life will take a big bounce one way or the other that's on it.

Stayed right in front of bass.

Here's a long pass down the sideline, one on one going to overshoot the intended target.

McKay Yeah.

Jackson Good coverage by Baldwin.

There you see Jacoby Rodriguez taking back over on offense for Shai Perry the corner number 13.

You see him there had him all the way.

That you could tell by the way that he released that ball, that he tried to put a little bit more air up under it to give him time to get right up under it.

But fortunately, still over to.

Force out, as we mentioned, averaging 32 points a game offensively lost a state score in round two last year.

Well nothing states but again coming up here later on tonight against Griffin in the other half of this one a semifinal equation and that time Jacoby on the keeper there over the left side, Josh Ingram number 45, the guy with the hit there, bring up third down.

You know, we talk about 19 signing scholarships off of this Baldwin program over the last few years, five signing last year alone.

And this is a program that has certainly earned their way here.

Everybody said they're not supposed to be here.

Well, they've earned their way here, without a doubt.

But you got to give Coach Jesse Hicks a lot of credit along.

With that entire school, three and a half left, third period.

Third down and seven right here and off.

The option Rodriguez will keep and he will be close to the first down, but shy, it looks like, by maybe a yard, yard and a half.

Dexter Reaves, Emmett Green combining for the hit and it will be fourth down and Northside will trot on the punt team.

Baltimore's defense definitely just stepping up to the plate right now.

What they've got to do is get this ball back and they really got to put get those big heavies up front at some point, just start pushing that north side.

D And how about Emmett Green tonight?

Number four, you see him there in the left side of your picture.

He has been on just about every tackle here tonight.

It seems like we call it a lot of number four guard boots in a way good high.

But back to the 35 as Byers picks it up across the 40 and.

Will fall forward to the 43.

So pretty good field position again for Baldwin on offense.

Those are just plays very well.

On defense analyst teams and everybody was down there toward the ball, you know, no one would love to have made something special happen, especially from that earlier drop pass to the end.

23rd all time meeting tonight between these two north side leads the series 16 to 6.

Although Baldwin has won the only two playoff appearances between these two in 1986 and 1993 and of course, that win in 93 was the last time that the Braves beat the Eagles, still trying to look to get back to that winning market.

Remember, this time it was number 34, hit hard running right here.

And Edwards hasn't had a lot of carries here tonight, but he's a guy that is right there with Marshall.

Typically, you got that fullback that's it's a big bruiser that opens up the holes.

But Edwards is actually a little bit smaller than Marshall.

He just runs more straight ahead.

But once again, if you're running behind the line, he's running behind.

All you want to do is to get a gap, to get a seam, take a look at it.

You just trying to pick a gap.

You try to find somewhere to just to to make cut before to only pick up a few yards.

What's again, this offensive line that they still have the ability to wear down this defense.

Second and four right here after a gain of six by Edwards, there is a hole right there and Marshall is able to hit it just shy of the north side 45 but into Eagle Territory.

And that is a first down.

Sam Robinson, the defensive end making the stop.

But again, the Braves are on the move here.

They still got plenty of time.

149 left here in quarter number three.

And eagle defense.

I'm just watching them now.

They all seem to just have they still got that bounce.

They still moving around.

I was watching the No guy.

He's just anticipating a snap of the ball.

To backs this time spears under center.

Looking to throw pass time caught up in a seam pass just beyond the outstretched.

Fingertips of Darius Marshall.

And they throw to Marshall a lot out of the backfield tonight.

Once again, he's one of those athletes of the year.

I think he had 21 receptions.

To talk about the team strength for Baldwin being that offensive line for returning starters, three over 330, as we talked about, the strength for north side, as we said, up top, knowing how to win 91 and 15 since 1994, of course, the year that Conrad Nicks came back to this program, second down and ten give up the middle.

There is a hole right there for Marshall who carry inside the north side, 40 down to the 37 and about eight or nine yards there on the quick hit or so.

Third short coming up.

You know, it's impressive but watch big hurt 75 he's going downfield making a block 12, 15 yards downfield.

Look at him.

Wow.

Just continuing that's a man and weighs £340.

He was paired up with Stephen.

Look as the D and you know as a heavy you hate to see that coming at you here's third one and Baldwin will convert another third down.

That's one area that the Braves have seemed to have some success in today, and they haven't just had third ones in third and twos.

They've converted third, nine, third and 17, third and seven throughout the second half.

But once again, Coach Hicks said, Hey, this is what got me here, running behind these big guys, just letting them open holes when they can.

One thing we haven't mentioned here tonight is Patrick Spears, the quarterback, actually played at Northside his freshman year.

So he's got some friends over on that side of the ball.

These guys know each other a little bit.

You think he might know a little bit about that Northside defense?

Yeah, well, they're working on him right now here again on the 32 spears looking to throw has a man too tall for Latavius Reaves the intended target.

Of course, we saw Spears hook up with Reaves early in the game on the first drive, but for the most part that Northside defense has been able to keep them under control.

Well, they are doing a good job.

But, you know, I went back to take a look at the replay here as we assess it and it oh, look.

Knocked down at the end.

They letting them know they're coming notify is coming every time I did.

Look Matthew real quick I added up the offensive line for a Baldwin 1400 £90.

Wow.

Across the five.

That's a lot of beef.

You couldn't fit those guys in an elevator.

They break the weight limit their.

Attempt, you said so.

They have to write it separately.

There's Marshall inside the 30.

And it's going to be stopped just shy of the 26.

And it will be third down of coming here, another third down coming up, turn about five as the clock winds down here in the final seconds.

Tick off this third period and no other player will get run here.

So that'll do it.

12 minutes left here inside the Georgia Dome.

14 nothing north side but Baldwin on the move when we return.

Again, quite a semifinal action from the dome north side of 14.

Nothing over BALDWIN As we get set for quarter number four inside the Georgia Dome, again, the first of two quarter semifinals on the night, of course, Statesboro and Griffin coming up a little bit later on here tonight live on GPB.

But first, Baldwin trailing, but on the move here just outside the door side 25 to open up the smile period.

And that is Darius Marshall, who will take it down close to the 20.

And Baldwin's on the move here.

And I'll tell you what, Phil, they are certainly gaining momentum.

And you can tell with this drive they're gaining a lot of confidence as well.

That is key.

Well, that's the whole thing about the momentum is getting those guys up front fired up to get get Marshall, hold everything.

You know what's Boris hurt?

You know, this guy has a 1018, they have a 3.3 GPA and something Kotex is really, really proud of.

He really strives to get these guys focus.

He says these guys are student athletes and that's something that they require them to do, is definitely be focused on the academics.

What are the most impressive stats about Patrick Spears alluding to?

That is a 3.89 GPA to get right here.

Marshall again, right side punches it inside the 20.

And, you know, we were looking down looking down the rosters of both these teams and reading the files on these guys is a lot of guys for both Northside and Baldwin that volunteer in their community, they do volunteer work.

And I think that says a lot for these high school kids to be not just great athletes, but great people.

As we take a look at on the replay here, these guys have to do, you know, they're part of the community.

And that's one thing you see a lot of community was support for.

They come out here, they perform and basically, like I said, there are a lot of great athletes out on the field, but they do a lot more than just.

On the field.

Big seven and eight right here.

Again, one back trips up top receiver to the near side, spears under center.

And looking to throw finds a man across the middle.

They're in and out.

Of their hands.

There.

Bonner, who is one the pass interference call there but won't get it.

It'll be third down and long here.

Third about eight.

He almost threw it right in the hands of Deontay Jordan, number four, torso.

You know, we talk about not calling Jordan's number a lot here tonight.

He's the big play guy on defense.

But in all honesty, Baldwin's offense really hasn't been able to get back to those linebackers that much.

That defensive line is really tied up at front line for the most part.

For the.

Most part.

But on this drive right here, it's the Braves that are starting to get a little bit of a push.

So here we go, another third down right here.

This is an area that the Baldwin.

Offense has done pretty.

Good in tonight.

Fade pattern for corner the end zone fires there but out of bounds and a.

Nice job on the coverage there by Sanchez Clements, the senior cornerback who was able to stretch Bonner towards the sideline there.

He made the grab.

It was out of bounds.

Take another look at it to wait.

Bonner is an exceptional athlete, is six foot three.

He just goes up in just a little bit out of bounds.

But thing is, a guy that good with that kind of talent.

I got to go back at him a couple of times.

And again, just a junior there at a six foot £385 frame.

So fourth down and eight right here.

And once again, that.

Ball good offense.

Four of eight on the field here.

Twins left and right, one back.

That's a lot of fade pattern up top.

And are we going to have a flag there?

It doesn't look like flag.

They're going to say incidental contact there.

Michael Smith was the intended target there.

And Stephen Lucas, the safety was back there along with Bryan Holder.

So the ball will go up on downs and Northside defense holds.

And you know we've talked about the Eagles defense this year only average in allowing given up six points a game this year they've got four shutouts to their credit as well.

Baldwin missed a great opportunity right there.

Still plenty of time left, though, 1036 as we take another look at it here.

And that's one of those that can go either way.

They're these officials have done a great job here tonight, though, without it out, they've been busy.

So a first down and ten as you see the Northside offense first half total yards 186 second half no yards on the six plays.

Baldwin has had the football but here's Byron hurt breaks one watch out midfield 40 cuts it back inside inside the 35.

And just like that Byron Hunter takes it down there is a shot.

Perry and Emmett Green made the stop of the secondary hunter again was huge in the first half there and a big run right there of 48 yards.

And he just gets to the outside and just turns on the speed.

And it's not a whole lot you can do about.

So that'll certainly change the stats here in a hurry.

Again, no yards in this half up until that play.

Once again Hunter breaks a tackle 20 driving down to the 16 goes Byron Hunter and just like that, the Eagles have grabbed the momentum back and this one is Green and Perry again combined for another stop, but not before another north side first down.

And they've up front no offside here just opened it up holes now it's almost like fourth quarter they can start to feel it a little bit.

We even though we got a lot of time to go see these guys are really just executing.

Well they've scored no less than 14 points all season in three games.

They've allowed no more than 14.

As you see Hunter again reading his blocks.

Well, and we've got a time out on the field here with 1002 left in the football game and North Side, again, trying to knock on the door while Georgia's longest running weekly high school sports and academics program prep Sports Plus returns January 13th and 14th with a one hour state cheerleading championship special.

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So first down at ten right here after the run by Hunter, the lines back up again here with twins to the near side.

And again, they gave it to Hunter, who takes a shot as he crosses the 15 there and the Braves with a pretty nice job defensively there.

That offensive line for Northside they're just getting a surge current Nix will take what you give them two, three, four or five yards at a time.

Dexter Reaves, the middle linebacker with the a stop there again Northside has scored 14 points in their last two playoff games.

Again, 114 seven over Thomas County Central 114 two overall lead at 14 nothing here with nine and a half left.

And as you see David average number 22 the fullback feed to the right Mr..

Play by Rick Hunter five touchdown what a run by Byron Hunter who.

Finds the end zone for the second time tonight.

What a great play call by Notre.

14 yard touchdown Puts it at 20 nothing pending the extra point And this eagle crowd is fired up David Grayson looking to add the 18 here with 918 left Lucas will hold it and it's right down the pipe.

So the lead is now 21.

Nothing in favor of the Northside Eagles who as John Matt Nelson mentioned, are just one win away from breaking a school record with 14 wins.

They've done 13 a couple of times in their history, but never 14.

That could be well on their way to that tonight.

I just see what a great run by Byron.

Now what set that up?

What a guard here.

Just pull and kick out the end so we don't get to see it.

But bam, he just leaves them a nice big scene.

100 does the rest, Chris.

Rory, number 77, the big guy in there, the senior guard pulling there with the kick out.

There's no one close to a.

Here's another angle right here.

Great read to by Hunter who started the play out to the right side, came back to the left and found some daylight.

And Hunter, as we mentioned, again, in the end zone for the second time tonight, four plays, 81 yards and a minute, 18.

That's a quick strike right there by the North Side Eagles.

What a job tonight by that young man right there.

Byron Hunter had a big first half and has picked it back up here in the fourth quarter.

So Bernhard boots it away short kick this time to two just inside the 20 by Marshall he has hit drop at the 25 and one area that we haven't talked a lot about tonight is special teams that was number 29 Kyle James making via hit there and north side has certainly had great coverage because this is a a Baldwin team that's broken a couple of long kickoffs this year.

But we've talked about that before.

We talked about their defense.

But one of the things that we really need to look at is some of these guys, like I say, they on special teams, you go out there, make a big hit like that, a coach takes notice of that, getting more of an opportunity to play.

Now, the Baldwin offense will go back to work here with 914 left in the ballgame.

In that hole.

All right.

You just saw Deonte Jordan.

He was really just firing up that Northside defense.

In the winner of this one takes on the Griffin Statesboro, a winner that went later on tonight right here on GPB looking possibly halfback pass Marshall couldn't find anyone though so Tuck didn't ran it but lost two yards.

And Dave I'm not so sure that Baldwin that momentum they start to start to walk a little bit more and it looks like northside side just keeps on got that same little swagger that that same little bounce they've had that Deontay Jordan just calling the plays, keeping those guys fired up.

Antoine Ries made that last tackle.

He had interception last week in that win over Rome.

Patrick Spears again but work out of the shotgun this time on second down and 12 or side off a little bit of pressure gets a hand to face look at long they've got a completion.

Dwayne Bonner No.

Latavius Reaves Number 36 down to the North Side 40.

And we talk about the deep ball from Spears.

He's got a great touch on it.

And again, later, another one right in the breadbasket.

The thing is, they've sometimes you just need that one play.

You need something to spark you nice throw downfield.

Look at that pass.

Nice catch.

Right in your living room right there.

Now let's see if they can capitalize on the momentum going their way.

So first and ten from the north side, 40 twins left and right again.

Spears working out of the shotgun.

Another deep pass throw in long.

He's got a man there and it's going to be caught inside the ten.

A flag comes flying down.

It could be pass interference, but that's Dean Taylor, the sophomore wideout, who went up and got that one.

Wow.

Great kid.

Let's take a look at it.

See this with nice touch on the ball.

But this is just a great kid's great athletic catch.

Keeps his eyes on the ball, comes down with the two hands.

Fantastic here.

Decent coverage on him.

Looks like they're going to call it on Leslie Jordan.

As you could see, Jordan playing the man and not the ball.

They're got flag but again it will be pretty much first and goal anyway from the eight after an excellent catch by Taylor just a sophomore if you look at Markell Smith number 11 who checks and lineup at wideout also the backup quarterback has taken some snaps this year and some movement over on the left side of that offensive line look like big.

Jason Peacock may have jumped early.

Once again, our referee tonight is Mr. Chip Huffman from the snap.

All star on the offense.

First down.

Dean Taylor, the man who caught that last pass limping off the field there and see the fans in the house here tonight from North Side High School, the blue and marching band doing a great job.

They're going to look at Taylor hobbling over on the far sideline.

They're as you see, the Baldwin Braves, two possessions in the red zone today.

No touchdowns, no field goals.

They'd love to change that right here.

They definitely would.

So still first and goal but from the 13 spears looking to throw throws it back the other way intended for latavius Reaves by little too tall there REAVES Unable to catch up to that one.

SANCHEZ Clements was in the area for Northside.

They give Northside a lot of credit up front.

They're definitely putting a lot of pressure on that ball went off the offensive line.

For several another day of action tomorrow.

We've had some great games here this afternoon have seen some good football has always, of course nine years of coverage.

Right here on GPB inside the Georgia Dome.

Again, the 23rd meeting tonight between these two teams, the first since 2001.

Braves on the move, trying to score over the head of Spears who will just fall on it right there.

Ball still loose and Northside has recovered.

They will mark him down back at the 39 but a.

Big recovery right there by Eric Manns number 49 and man if we called his number a lot today.

And if you just take a look at Robert Crawford getting the ball off the ground, his expression said it all.

But here you see it.

Gets over his head.

Spears just trying to fall on this football, but took a shot from behind there, unable to field it cleanly.

And Manns was right there.

You can see the knee was clearly down, but Manns does recover the football there.

He has certainly been big.

He's got two recovered fumbles heading into that 1 to 3 on the year.

Now, as we mentioned, he's got.

A knack for being around football.

And here is a big run.

By David Everett.

It looks like number 22 who lined up at tailback that time.

And a big run right there up to the 49, just shy of the midfield stripe.

No side just seems to be getting stronger as the game goes on.

Just take a look at this replay.

They're just busting through holes.

These guys have got the momentum right now.

They're pretty fired up.

As you get a look at Everett, number 22, go back to the fullback spot here again first and ten ball right at midfield.

This time back to 100.

He's got a freeze.

Watch out 3530 still on his.

Feet up in it, but a big gain right there of about 23 yards and Hunter adds to his total limit Green able to get him down in the secondary there as Hunter collided with teammate Nick Johnson their receiver as you see the tail end of it there.

And I tell you what, Byron Hunter has had a huge game.

Well, you've got a lot of the ball with defensive linemen.

Roller skates on the north side of the offense is getting up into the chest and just moving them out the way.

Hunter Again, as we mentioned, 120 average.

Per game and little bit more room over there.

This is average bounces off of one tackle.

What a run right there for David Everett.

Wow.

The senior running back carries it in from 22 yards out and the Eagles of Northside out of Warner Robins build to that lead.

What a tremendous drive by that north side offense.

Give Coach Nix a lot of credit.

We've talked about Byron Hunter but Everett again the misdirection play there was able to break it outside great Reid is running backs really find the daylight David Grayson the sophomore kicker to try to make him four for four tonight and he does so right down the middle so 617 left in the ballgame and northside with a commanding 28 nothing lead as we take another look at it right here again into your living room, David Everett, great cut right there.

And it was a footrace.

And then they'll go inside the offensive line.

They just put a helmet on everybody.

Nice kick out block there and never does most of the work on his own hoop.

Excuse me.

Tremendous effort.

You know, we talked about being a key here as you see it.

Again, we're in.

Down who?

We're in down who?

You know, we thought with Baldwin's offensive line, having those big guys, you know, lean it on you as a defensive lineman, that maybe that we're north side down a little bit.

But that hadn't been the case.

Again, three plays of 60 yards in under a minute, Everett, number 22 with a 22 yard touchdown run.

As all smiles here in this.

Fourth quarter, we talked about having that big size on one side, but at the same time, that big size is trying to keep up with all that speed on the north side, defense.

So the Eagles are booted away here, as you see the Baldwin Braves looking on here trying to make something happen on offense.

Once they get this football back with 617, they have a fairly short kick bobbled.

At the 20, picked up a little bit of room there at the 25, bounces off the takeaways.

Watch out.

Wow.

Nearly busted that thing outside.

If he could have turned the corner, he had all kinds of room over there.

But credit the Eagles special teams again for sticking with the play.

Once again, 11 men headed to the ball.

These guys are relentless.

They don't give up.

Both teams starting two and three respectively in the preseason here.

Baldwin, of course, though, fell out after losing three of their first five games but bounced back to close out the season.

And they've got an eight game winning streak basically heading in here tonight in jeopardy.

Spears will work out of the shotgun in a hurry up offense.

Looking firing deep sideline he's got Bonnar 35 makes the move and will fall forward to the 37 Bryant Holder the safety on the tackle again Bonner as we talked about the big basketball player has got a great vertical over 21 yards a catch on the season there in six touchdowns.

And he is a key for you right now to get the ball into his hands.

He's a playmaker.

He can make things happen, but right now they need some things to happen.

Good, rangy kid.

Six foot three.

You know, one thing I've noticed tonight about this missile defense, they don't miss too many tackles.

These guys have been great one on one tonight.

But they don't miss tackles and they all get to the ball.

One defensive touchdown on the year for North Side.

Here's a quick pass right here dropped and intended for Marshall out the flap there will be third down and about a yard here it was second and one after that last play.

As you see coach Jesse Hicks looking on, he was actually played on the number one defense in the nation at Albany State.

So he knows a little something about defense for sure.

And he certainly put together a pretty good offense here as well, just held out of the end zone here tonight.

But they've been able to move the football.

They've had some situations where they had to go forward inside the red zone there and oh, for three in the red zone is just not going to get it done.

Not against the Steelers north side teams.

Third down and yard right here.

They just want to get the first down, throw it over.

The middle, complete.

Marshall breaks a tackle gets a block big field in to.

North side territory inside the 40 down to the 39 nicely executed play right there.

Leslie Jordan The corner making the hit.

Brian Holder the safety getting up slowly back down at the other 35.

And great effort by Marshall got hit right there should have been down too but if you don't wrap up you're not going to grab them.

And that was Holder who made that initial hit still down on the turf here, crossing route right here.

They like to throw that to Bonner but it was Marshall that time on the receiving end and from their.

Speed and watch Barnett deliver a lick right here boom you like you like a bag that can do that.

Bonner is up as you see Marshall's numbers here tonight, 23 rushes, 118 yards.

So again, another strong night for the junior running back from Baldwin High School.

And again, the Braves are on the move and you see Holder off on his own power.

It doesn't appear to be too serious there as you see some of the fans in the house here tonight.

So Spears will work out of the shotgun from the Eagle 39.

And that time, take your pick.

Two or three guys moved.

Look like maybe the center was supposed to snap the ball there and did everybody else was on the same page it looked like maybe.

That happens is.

That amount of.

Cheerleaders in the house firing up the crowd here?

Again, five or five left in this one north side, of course, showing why they're number one, looking to go to a perfect 14 and oh and advanced to the state championship next Friday right here on GPB against the winner of the later game here tonight between Griffin and Statesboro that went bad it down Sam Robinson number 30 the guy we focused on from the beginning and has played a heck of a ballgame here and was able to bat that one down.

And Sam read that all the way lined up on the outside, put outside pressure, and just as the ball was released, he just put that big mid up.

Look at Robinson, who's also complemented.

Well, as we talked about, my man's the other defensive end and that front for has really kind of done here tonight the north side.

Second down and 15 right here Pierce looking to throw once again incomplete but Tobias Reaves 30 and.

Down to the 27 nice move right there by Reaves Charles McKenzie the junior DB had to bring him down there, but a big gain and a first down.

Here in Baldwin keeps finding these little flashes of greatness and they keep doing some good things here.

They just got to keep it up.

They can't let their heads drop right about now.

They've got momentum.

They're moving.

These guys have to get their confidence.

REAVES Again, that 90 yard kickoff return last week against Marist has been big all season long.

His first and ten throwing it long towards the end.

So he's got a man there.

Touchdown.

Wayne Bonner, the junior wideout.

Gets his hands on one and makes it pay off.

If I recall correctly, did not say that a little while ago.

That man has to touch the football.

Great effort.

But partner Bonner, or again with a big time reception right there, it's got to look a disappointment on his face because he knows his team still trailing and it doesn't do a lot of good and.

Good concentration, especially having a defender right there in your face.

Take your hats off to Bonner.

A great catch right there.

Great concentration.

And Danny Byers, Albania, the junior place kicker.

We'll try to have the Pats here.

Gets it just inside that left up right there.

So 28 to 7 with 431 left and credit this Baldwin Brace football team for five right to the end.

Well, just talking to Coach Hicks, he's not going to let these guys give up, but we'll take another look at that great catch by Bonner.

But coach coach is a motivator here.

He'll get these guys on.

He didn't realize it until the clock hits zero that we just got to keep playing.

Leslie Jordan The DB Beyond the play, you see the Braves drive their 6.72 yards a minute.

46 is all off the clock there.

And again, 27 yard reception for Bonner from Spears.

So a quick strike there for the Baldwin offense, as you see coach Jesse Hicks there and what a job he's done to take this team to the dome in four short years.

A playoff team, each of his first four years at Baldwin, met him before the game.

Tonight, he's a class act.

You know, one of the things that he did, we talked about Maurice Hurt, who was a senior this year, but he was the first junior ever named captain of a Baldwin football team.

And coach said it was because of his leadership, you know, that he saw this guy who was very mature and the guys around him.

I think that's a great compliment for the big hurt.

He was headed on to the next level.

And not only that, he's going to graduate in December and enroll at the University of Florida early, go ahead and start classes.

And I think that says a lot about a guy that's got the the athletics and the academics to win onside kick right here my ball when they get the pass and go out of bounds it looks like it will be Northside football.

Mitchell Bell knocked it away they're 430 left in the ballgame.

Let's go ahead.

Throw it on down to the sideline.

John Nelson, what do you got?

Well, you sit here and you see two eagles kind of going at it.

Look at the darker build eagle, the one that is brown, that is Hannah Carswell.

And she is a 10th grader at North Side.

And you know how they say things are all in the family?

Well, mascots are all in her family.

Her parents, Robert and Rebecca, have spent time as Smokey the Bear.

Her dad has also been woodsy, the owl and the GMC bulldog.

She's got the job this year, but she's going to have to audition to keep it next year.

It runs in the family.

You know, we talked about that on the football field, but it also happens with the mascots as well.

There again, Hannah Carswell doing an excellent job as the Northside Eagle prior to Snap all star on the offense first down the Eagles take back over here as you see the blue in marching band in the house of course the Baldwin High marching band on a Thanksgiving Day parade up in Philadelphia, unable to attend here tonight.

So no battle of the bands here in this first quarter semi final of the evening certainly so hot.

All those folks though, in the Baldwin defense make it a big stop right here.

You know, it seems like in the in the playoffs over the last few years, the key has been the team that beats Rome.

In 2004, Warner Robins beat Rome in the quarter finals, won the state championship.

Thompson won it in 2002, won the state championship states for 2001.

They won the state championship.

The only team to beat Rome in the playoffs and not win the state championship was North Forsyth back in 2003, which were all with a very football program.

They unable to get.

It in though, and they're.

Running up against this very North Side Eagle program certainly flourished and has been one of the top programs throughout the state of Georgia the last decade.

So based upon what you just read to me, does that mean that the next person to win the state championship would be also.

Possibly.

But you've got to think Griffin and Griffin and or Statesboro, they're going to be thinking thinking differently there, states Statesboro, of course, last year's forte, runner up, falling to Warner Robins in the state championship game there.

Statesboro trying to get back to that point.

And later on tonight right here live on Jeopardy!

This is game four of ten right here this week.

You need to throw it, haven't you?

The football game here, Northside has been able to generate more offense.

They'll put up some points here.

Baldwin's been able to move the football.

There's a fingertip grab by David Everett up across the 40, up to the 43.

And there's another young man right there that's gotten it done on the ground and now in the air with a big reception.

And what a great catch.

One handed.

Take a look at it again.

Coming right at you.

Stick that big man out.

Grab it one hand.

Good concentration, just following the ball and pull it in.

Great camerawork there.

Once again along the sideline.

He'll be Rodriguez with the completion there.

And it looks like we've got a time out on the field here.

As you see, David Everett, a guy who is also gone and done.

You know, we talk a lot about Byron Hotter and deservedly so.

But I'll tell you what, he's complemented well by Everett here, the senior running back who has also been known to catch a few passes out of the backfield, six receptions on the year coming into this game.

These guys like to spread the football around, as we talked about, typically a a running football team.

But I bit surprised with the amount of passes they thrown here this evening.

But Coach came in with a game plan and they seem to executed it well, especially on defense.

It's that's exactly what Northside is known for.

But the offense has done a tremendous job tonight.

Jackson, Bass, Armstrong and Cooper, the four main targets for Northside have combined for over 64 catches on the year.

It almost sound like a law firm.

That does, but it will be fourth down despite that catch.

Of course, no slides back up here, so it will pump the football away.

A bit of a rush there, but able to get it out.

Bonner will let it roll like a bit of a north side bounce inside the 20 now be down at the 17.

Mario Armstrong number 25 for Northside has been one of those big play receivers this year.

It's also played a big part on special teams.

And so Patrick Spears will go to work against peers, as we talked about, played his freshman year at Northside High School.

Friends with some of those guys over there does a lot of volunteer work in Milledgeville.

And as we talked about, 3.89 GPA.

He also gets it done in the classroom, considered undersized, not a very big quarterback, but can throw that deep ball well, as we've seen here tonight.

Well, this is a good time to throw 1/1.

And Tim Spears firing across the middle, in and out of the hands there of Bonner.

That's his second drop of the night.

Of course, he's had some nice catches here.

Of course he had the touchdown catch a while ago, but unable to hang onto that one.

And that's got to be frustrating for a go to receiver to be able to not bring that ball in.

You've mentioned a couple of drops tonight.

You know, he just wants to do well because that's just how this kid is.

Of course, Northside their defense as we talked about, four shutouts this year.

They won't shut out.

BALDWIN Tonight, the Braves again with that touchdown on their last drive.

Have it here, 237 Spears again working out of the shotgun on second at ten fires and an ice attempt there.

It will fall incomplete, though Batavia series with a good effort unable to glove it.

And no side defensive line continuing to just push back that offensive line of Baldwin.

Plate.

The thing that really jumps out about Northside is something that John alluded to earlier.

As we talked about eight consecutive ten, ten plus win seasons.

That's remarkable when you think about it, when you put that in perspective, to think that every year these guys for the past eight years, almost a decade of one, at least ten games, there's I don't know if there's another program in the state of Georgia.

They can say that.

Well, you got to give a lot of credit to their coaching staff.

That also speer's on third and ten right here.

Pressure takes a hit off the fingertips.

BONNER And it will be fourth down right here.

PIERCE Took a pretty good little shot back there and so on will come the punt team here with 225 left.

Take another look at it.

And I believe that was man's.

Yup yup that's the man big.

Number 49 here at man the senior had that fumble recovery has made plenty of tackles here throughout the night Kevin Rackley will but Northside will leave their defense on the field and won't drop anybody back deep, anticipating a possible fake right there.

But Rackley does boot it away and it'll be down at the 48 and Northside will go back to work.

There's Carson Hill, another guy that we've talked about, one of the top three corners in the state, number ten, Darian Barnes, number 43.

And here you get a look.

The signs are written out here.

Number one, Northside Eagles.

Think they're starting to feel it a little, starting.

To feel it without it out here.

They're going to look at Jacoby Rodriguez, the starting quarterback who has led that offense throughout the year on eye formation right here.

Northside, just looking to pound the football here and run out the rest of the clock.

Give spread of hair.

That's Hunter who takes it into Baldwin territory and a gain of four yards right there.

Marcus Robinson with the tackle and Northside looking to move on to that state championship game next Friday night.

We'll give credit to that north side offense, offense and defense.

I mean, these guys, they still playing.

I mean, this is like you could easily just start walking in now, causing the teams some problems.

But these guys are great character and you got to give coach nix a has off.

Second and six right here to give his back to Hunter he's got the first down and puts up one of his own man out of the way there at the tail end of that play, down to the 41, that'll be another first down and they could pretty much take a knee from here.

That's about how strong, you know, we talked about how fast he is, but pretty powerful, too.

You take a look at the replay, just bust through the line, gets a nice kick out.

It just runs over the offensive tackle.

Hey, if you're in the way, you got to move.

We go well, of course, this is the Northside offense that rushed for over 400 yards in their first game of the season.

As you see, Hunter's numbers, 24 to 31 and two touchdowns.

Wow.

Tremendous night for the young man.

And of course, that 400 yard rushing night was against Peach County, who, of course, is a triple-A semifinalist.

And Rodriguez will take a knee here as we go under a minute.

And the celebration is on on the North Side Eagle sideline here as they look to close it out, 27 in front of the faithful who have made the trip up from Warner Robins.

And are you going to look or sound high Eagles number one, which they have pretty much been most of the season, they've averaged 32 points a game.

Offensively, they'll fall just shy of that tonight.

But right around that defensive average, six or seven as Rodriguez takes another knee, they won't have to snap it again.

So what a job here.

And what a night for the Northside Eagles, who will improve to 14 at zero as they step into next week's state championship, ranked as the number one team, top team and quarter in the state of Georgia.

Congratulations to coach nix and that those those Eagles played a tremendous ballgame.

And I mean, what a great defensive effort.

Those guys taking that big ball, one offensive line and just allowing them to do anything.

28 seven the final the Northside Eagles again in next week's state championship, the Baldwin Braves again will end their season at ten and four.

Overall, what a year for coach Jesse Hicks and the Braves, generating a lot of excitement in Milledgeville, the mighty Braves, as they're called throughout town, but falling a little bit short here tonight.

Well, in their season inside the Georgia Dome here in the semifinals, what a ball game again.

Northside getting 230 plus yards from Byron Hunter.

And that was basically the key in this one right here.

Again, that offensive line, getting a great push and able to block out a lot of those great blocking schemes that we saw there that we talked about.

It's going to take a time out for Northside Eagles 28 seven winners over the Baldwin Braves in the first of two quarter semifinals on the night.

Let's throw it downstairs to John Nelson, standing by with a winning coach here with Coach Nick's first question, you're playing for a state championship.

Does it feel it?

We certainly are about to say it's great to be on Northside Eagle.

I want to praise God for all that he's done for us this year.

These guys are really hard and just a great omelet by cam and just really, really super proud of our guys in that we've had a lot of adversity, you know, a lot of guys injured, a lot of people don't know that.

We don't talk about it a lot, but a lot of guys have just kept sucking it up and playing.

And we've got a great group of guys and I'm real proud of them.

During that fourth quarter, we came back, had to get something going.

We didn't do very well in the third quarter, so really proud of our way.

Our offense stepped up, made some big plays, you know, and just really, really proud of them.

Let's talk about that line play.

They were blowing some holes for Byron tonight.

Fourth quarter did a great job, man.

You know, excellent blocking at times.

And you know, those guys that they were playing against are not, you know, little boys either.

You know, they're me and full grown man.

And I just congratulate our guys on the day for the idea, you know, and then that's sort of the North side, you know, we're going to get physical we and hopefully we'll stay in there arm go with you know Jojo Georgetown you know football with.

You and we'll talk about that John edge off football on defense.

They were pretty tough.

Well, it was again, that sort of shows that, you know, some of our injury situations now that we're a little bit depleted in the secondary some and the guys just, you know, hung in there.

We've had a lot of guys play in that, you know, the Leslie Jordan, a little 10th grader that, you know, he's now going about five 732 did a great job for us.

A lot of guys stepped up now and I give Coach Hicks and his staff credit.

It's a great tribute to his guys for being here to not people don't understand what they've done to accomplish the feat that they did just being here.

And of course, I'm glad that we won.

Certainly.

But they did a great job getting here.

Well, we'll see you next week.

Congratulations.

Conrad Hicks.

He gets the first.

Round of it.

He is going to have one of the dates next Friday night.

We'll figure it out who his opponents going to be coming up next.

We'll send you back upstairs.

All right.

Coach Nix and his Eagles victorious headed to the state championship.

That's it for us for Phil Proctor, John Nelson, I'm Dave Gardner.

Say it's so long, everybody.

More coming up from the dome later on here tonight.

Stay with us.

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