The Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets made their way to the MAC for the second straight weekend this time for a showdown with the Eagles for first place in Region 1-AAAA. In their best overall performance of the year, the Eagles defeated TCC by a score of 34-14 to remain unbeaten and to remain alone in first place of the region.

The Eagles opened the game by scoring on their first 2 drives – 9 plays/73 yards followed by 10 plays/79 yards. Shaquille O’Neill scored the first touchdown on a 5 yard run; Dillon Mixon added the PAT. Stephon Cross caught a 16 yard touchdown pass from Briar Van Brunt for second score. Freshman Isaac Rivera – in place of an injured Dixon – came on to add the PAT to give the Eagles a quick 14-0 lead with 6:49 left in the first quarter. Northside’s next 2 drives ended in missed FGs, but the Eagle defense continued to hold the dangerous TCC veer in check to send the teams into the lockerooms at halftime with the Eagles leading 14-0.

On their first drive of the second half (9 plays / 55 yards), the Eagles added a Rivera 32 yard field goal with 8:03 left in the quarter to build the Northside lead to 17-0. TCC finally got on the board with a 8 yard touchdown run and point after with 2:19 left in the third quarter, but the Eagles responded with another Rivera field goal – this time from 25 yards out with 10:30 left in the fourth quarter to make the score 20-7. Four minutes later – following a Taz Thomas interception and 24 yard return, Van Brunt scored on a 6 yard run. Rivera’s PAT made the score 27-7. TCC added another touchdown run with 5:13 left but the Eagles answered with a 4 yard TD run from Marte Polk. Rivera’s PAT made the final score 34-14 and setup a crucial region matchup next week with county rival Houston County.