The Eagles met cross town rival the Houston Co. Bears Friday night for the 12th time in the series, and Northside maintained its perfect record by defeating the Bears by a score of 42-7.
The Bears received the opening kickoff and the Eagle D quickly forced a punt. Even though the Eagles were setting up for a return, senior Darnell Slaton broke free and blocked the punt. Fellow senior, Chris Vickers scooped up the blocked punt and returned it 24 yards down to the Bear 1 yard line. Shaquille O’Neill took the handoff on Northside’s first offensive play and scored. Devon Pike’s PAT put the Eagles up 7-0 with less than 2 minutes gone in the game. The Bears fumbled on their next offensive series and O’Neill found the endzone again from 2 yards out and Pike’s PAT made the score 14-0 with 7:16 left in the first quarter. Midway through the second quarter, Northside answered the only Houston Co. score of the night with O’Neill’s third rushing touchdown – this time from 3 yards out. Pike’s PAT made the score 21-7 at halftime.
With 1:34 left in the third quarter, O’Neill scored his fourth touchdown of the night on another 1 yard run. Dillon Mixon came on for an injured Pike to kick the PAT and the Eagles led 28-7. Renis Perry scored another Eagle touchdown on a 31 yard run at the 10:47 mark of the fourth quarter and Mixon added the PAT to give Northside a 35-7 lead. Cartell Brooks finished the scoring for the Eagles with a 7 yard touchdown reception from junior QB Dan Masteller with 7-16 remaining in the game. Mixon’s third PAT made the final score 42-7.
The Eagles now prepare for a showdown with the number one ranked Lowndes Vikings next Friday night at the MAC.