The Eagles and the Jones Co. Greyhounds squared off on a Thursday night at packed McConnell-Talbert Stadium in an early season showdown between two Region 2 contenders. The two teams did not disappoint the huge crowd with a playoff worthy performance that saw the game tied at 22 with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter after a Justin Alonso 37 yard field goal. Northside then converted two critical Jones Co. fumbles into touchdowns to come away with the win by a score of 36-22. Northside ended the game with an astounding 68 rushing attempts for a total of 409 rushing yards.



Jones Co. took the opening kickoff of the game and drove 58 yards before stalling and missing a 37 yard field goal. Northside took over on their own twenty yard line and drove 75 yards before settling for a 22 yard field goal by Alonso for a 3-0 at the end of the first quarter. After a Greyhound punt and an Eagle interception, Jones put together a 62 yard drive that ended with a 1 yard TD run for a 7-3 lead at the 10:18 mark of the second quarter. Northside responded with a 74 yard drive that ended in another Alonso FG from 23 yard out to cut the lead to 7-6 with 6:39 left in the half. On the second play of the ensuing drive, the Greyhounds struck for a 78 touchdown pass to push the lead back to 14-6 with 5:38 left. Northside came right back with a 80 yard / 5 play drive highlighted by a 48 yard dash by QB Tobias Oliver and a 2 yard TD run by Desean Dinkins to make the score 14-12 after a failed 2 point conversion pass. The teams exchanged punts to end the half.



Both teams fumbled to stop their initial drives of the third quarter. Northside started their second possession the Jones 44 and 8 plays later, Oliver scored on great 11 yard run after breaking several ‘Hound tackles to give the Eagles their first lead of the night at 19-14 with 3:07 left in third. The lead was short lived as Jones returned the ensuing KO 93 yards for a TD, and two point conversion made the score 22-19.



The fourth quarter began with Northside punting the ball away to Jones at the ‘Hound 33 yard line. The Eagle D forced a 3-and-out and Oliver and the offense took over on their own 22 with 10:37 left in the game. The Eagles drove 58 yards in 8 plays for settling for another Alonso FG from 37 yards out that tied the game at 22 with 7:08 to play. On the first play from scrimmage after the kickoff, Northside’s Yacht Jones forced and Taquan Northern recovered a Jones Co. fumble at the Jones 28. Six plays later, Dinkens scored his second TD of the night from 1 yard out. Alonso’s PAT made the score 29-22 with 4:18 left in the game. To prevent another long Jones KO return, Alonso squibbed the kickoff to Jones, and it was bobbled and recovered by the Eagles’ Tae Daley at the ‘Hound 29 yard line. After an unsportsmanlike penalty was marked off against Jones, Treyvon Willis took an option pitch from Oliver and streaked in for a 14 yard touchdown to give Northside a 36-22 lead with 4:07 left in the game. The Eagle defense stopped Jones on downs after a 9 play drive and Oliver and the offense ran out the clock for the big region win.



Here is the scoring summary:

Northside 1 03:35 22 yard field goal attempt by #37 Justin Alonso. Good! 0 3

Jones County 2 10:18 #95 Tracy Jackson runs for 1 yards. Touchdown! (Point after kick by #99 Josh Skinner good) 7 3

Northside 2 06:39 23 yard field goal attempt by #37 Justin Alonso. Good! 7 6

Jones County 2 05:38 #13 Bradley Hunnicutt pass complete to #16 Shareez Hamm for 78 yards. Touchdown! (Point after kick by #99 Josh Skinner good) 14 6

Northside 2 04:11 #5 Desean Dinkins runs for 2 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion pass by #12 Tobias Oliver to Team no good) 14 12

Northside 3 03:07 #12 Tobias Oliver runs for 11 yards. Touchdown! (Point after kick by #37 Justin Alonso good) 14 19

Jones County 3 02:55 Kickoff by #37 Justin Alonso to the 7 yard line. #7 Chandler Ramage return for 93 yards. Touchdown! (Two point conversion run by #15 Teldrick Ross good) 22 19

Northside 4 07:08 37 yard field goal attempt by #37 Justin Alonso. Good! 22 22

Northside 4 04:18 #5 Desean Dinkins runs for 1 yards. Touchdown! (Point after kick by #37 Justin Alonso good) 22 29

Northside 4 04:07 #22 Treyvon Willis runs for 14 yards. Touchdown! (Point after kick by #37 Justin Alonso good) 22 36