Houston County, Northside set for another big showdown

WARNER ROBINS -- The numbers that get people talking aren't that relevant for those being talked about.

Northside is No. 1 and Houston County is No. 6 in the latest Georgia Sports Writers Association Class AAAAA poll.

That's not to say that the Eagles and Bears aren't aware of those numbers.

But the most important on both teams' minds is 1: who gets that number in the GHSA Region 2-AAAAA race to end the regular season.

"I don't have any idea what our rankings are," Houston County head coach Von Lassiter said. "I don't even know if our kids know."

Students know and are likely offering reminders.

After all, being No. 1 is big and hard to ignore. Beating No. 1 may be bigger, at least to talk about. Getting first in the region is what matters.

Jones County's win Thursday over Warner Robins means the Greyhounds have one region loss, so a Houston County win would mean a three-way tie for first. Math is then involved to determine seeds.

The first tie-breaker, following head-to-head, is points allowed against teams in the region qualified for the postseason, with a cap of 21 points per game.

Northside is going for its first perfect regular season since 2012 and fourth under head coach Kevin Kinsler, who is 69-6 in his sixth season as head coach at his alma mater, and 11th since 1998.

The game, despite a lopsided 17-0 Northside lead in the series, has become a must-attend event.

"More people show up for the HoCo game than the Warner Robins game and the Jones County game," Northside safety Tae Daley said. "It is a big deal."

Last year, there was an issue with some Houston County students and fans on social media and at the game offering a variety of comments and chants that were considered offensive.

It was about perceptions.

Northside has a more diverse student body, and the school was built in 1963. Subsidized housing isn't far away, and new construction in the area is minimal.

Northside is clearly in an older part of town without much new construction and with a pretty locked-in district boundary.

Houston County's first year was 1991-92, and it still is undergoing part of an $11 million renovation project that included a new basketball court and weight room.

And in front of the school, Highway 96 is being widened from Interstate 75 to just east of Bonaire. To the southwest of the school, construction work has started on a football stadium that will be home to Houston County and much-younger Veterans.

There is no lack of confidence from the younger program and fan base, even with an 0-17 record against the three-time state champ, which naturally ruffles the fan base of the older, established and standard-bearing program.

Of course, the field -- the new FieldTurf carpet -- at McConnell-Talbert Stadium doesn't know any of that. And the old grass surface didn't know a year ago when the No. 5 Eagles and unranked Bears hooked up for a fantastic high school football game.

Northside quarterback Tobias Oliver accounted for 181 yards in the second half, turning in clutch plays with his feet and arm to help the Eagles overcome a two-touchdown deficit.

The Eagles' defense found a groove, as well, and prevented the Bears from adding to the lead.

But for a little more than three quarters, it looked like Houston County would break that long streak, the Bears outgaining the Eagles 259-113 in the first half. The table was set for a wild evening when Jake Fromm connected with Darion Anderson for a 71-yard touchdown on the game's first play from scrimmage.

Some key players are gone: running back Willie Jordan, defensive lineman Isaiah Johnson, and offensive linemen Quentin Stanford and Brandon Sandifer for Northside, and linebacker Zach Taisler, offensive/defensive lineman Stephen Robinet, and offensive linemen Josh Cisco and running back Kenny Gant.

But both teams have scores of returnees, from both starting quarterbacks, two starting linebackers from Houston County and Northside, four offensive linemen from Houston County and four of the top seven tacklers from Northside (excluding Chris Haughton, lost for the year in the season opener).

And two elite place-kickers, Jordan Strevig of Houston County and Justin Alonso of Northside, return.

Familiarity with the opposition and with the atmosphere of a crowd in the 11,000-people range will not be a problem.

As for the football part, Northside is undefeated despite losing Jordan, who ran for 2,246 yards and 31 touchdowns, most of those who blocked for him, the bulk of the defensive line regulars and a chunk of the secondary.

Desean Dinkins took over for Jordan, and is a few inches shorter and 30 pounds lighter.

"No, he's not quite as big," Houston County defender Mac McCullough said. "And that's quite a relief."

Both offenses' balance has increased with more weapons.

"Last year, it was strictly 90 percent of the time handing the ball off to Willie," Oliver said with humble exaggeration. "I feel like we're more versatile this year. Everybody at the skill position is a threat this year."

The schemes haven't changed much at all for either team on either side of the ball, so looking at last year's tape is something of a preview for this year's game, with staffs hoping to find some new way to take advantage of something.

"The tweaks are so minor, because they had a lot of success," Kinsler said. "Like us, if you're successful, there's no reason to make a bunch of wholesale changes.

"Both teams are pretty much (doing) the same things that worked for them before. They run the ball and throw the ball, and we're gonna run it."

That's not to say watching tape hasn't been an obsession all week.

"Its just a chess game, because you know with a good coaching staff, they're going to work on those things," Kinsler said. "You've either got to come up with something new or stick with what works. That's what both teams will be doing."

In the middle is the showcase of two junior quarterbacks of very different games and styles, yet similar success and game-changing ability.

Fromm is the pro-style pocket quarterback, whose 7,234 career yards are 15th on the all-time state list, with the 7,487 of North Paulding's Cain Campbell (2008-2010) next.

And Fromm's 61 touchdown passes put him at 18th, two behind Lafayette's Josh Morgan (2008-10) and Rodney Hudson of LaGrange (1988-91).

Oliver has accounted for 1,644 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground, as well as 2,056 yards and 15 touchdowns passing since taking over as starter in last year's season opener.

"(Oliver's) getting it more," Lassiter said. "He's keeping it, running the veer. As much as he runs it, I just take my hat off to the kid.

"He's run it that much all year long. and it doesn't matter if it was Jones County or Warner Robins or Cross Creek, he was running it. He's a tough kid."

Their methods are different, but both can devastate a defense, inspire and offense and thoroughly entertain a huge crowd.

"Both of them are the real deal," Kinsler said. "I think it's really pretty neat here in our community that we've got two quarterbacks (like that). This town's definitely been treated to some quality quarterback play."

With the second of a likely three-part series on tap for Friday.

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 11:03 PM with the headline "Houston County, Northside set for another big showdown ."