Northside follows script in hammering Cross Creek

WARNER ROBINS -- For the first few minutes, Cross Creek picked up a couple of moral victories.

The Razorbacks' defense faced a Northside offense on the Cross Creek side of the field but held the Eagles to 9 yards on five plays to force a field goal try.

The 50-yarder was quite short.

And so ended Cross Creek's moral victories.

Northside scored on its next four possessions and threw in some special teams points en route to a 45-6 rout Saturday afternoon at McConnell-Talbert Stadium.

The top-ranked Eagles improved to 9-0 overall and 8-0 in GHSA Region 2-AAAAA while the Razorbacks fell to 1-8 and 0-8.

Cross Creek has lost to the four Middle Georgia teams in the region by scores of 44-6, 41-6, 44-12 and now 45-6. A year ago, the scores were 63-6, 49-7, 51-12 and 51-0.

So the reality was that both teams had a pretty good idea what would transpire on a cloudy and warm afternoon.

"We wanted to come out and make sure we played with some energy, and we played with some intensity," Northside head coach Kevin Kinsler said after improving to 69-6 of the Eagles' head coach. "You don't want to take steps backward. Once you get sloppy, it's hard to get focused back in the right direction.

"That was important, to come out and play well and execute."

The Eagles got out healthy to set up this week's showdown with No. 6 Houston County.

The overall offensive numbers weren't dazzling, mostly because of the abbreviated action for starters and regulars. But Northside's defense stayed steady, allowing only 101 yards of total offense and holding the Razorbacks to minus-3 yards rushing.

"I thought we had some people play well," Kinsler said. "The effort was there."

A short punt and decent return was followed on the first play by Desean Dinkins' 17-yard touchdown run. After a three-and-out, Marcus Jolly backpedaled to catch a punt, then went straight ahead for a 54-yard touchdown, and the Eagles had a 14-0 lead with 4:43 left in the first half.

Cross Creek recorded a three-and-out and Jolly's 29-yard run up the middle set up Dinkins' 5-yard score with 1:49 left in the first.

The Razorbacks then struck. Xavier Gay got open deep down the right side, and Devon Hicks' pass found the mark. Hiram Johnson chased him down, and the Razorbacks got a jump-pass 2-yard touchdown from Keshawn Dyson to Kenyatta Brown. The kick was blocked for a 21-6 game 27 seconds into the second quarter.

Quarterback Tobias Oliver rolled left and made the nice read, connecting with senior tight end Larry Lightning for an 18-yard touchdown.

Soon enough, Oliver kept around the right side and scored from 58 yards out for 35-6 lead, and then the teams exchanged fumbles. Even that hurt Cross Creek, which got the ball back on its own 14, and punted 22 yards.

Trayvon Willis started the possession with a 21-yard run, and the Eagles settled for a 23-yard Justin Alonso field goal.

Oliver was picked off and the Razorbacks got it on the Northside 49, but went three-and-out.

Willis's 20-yard punt return got the Eagles to midfield, and Dinkins went in from the 5 two plays after Oliver's 32-yard run.

Cross Creek had seven three-and-out first-half possessions.

"I thought we executed pretty good," Kinsler said. "Once we got in control so early, (we were) able to work on some things.

"We'll put this behind us and get ready for next week."

This story was originally published November 1, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Northside follows script in hammering Cross Creek ."