Amid controversy, Ware County tops Northside

WARNER ROBINS -- The band had finished the alma mater, and Northside head coach Kevin Kinsler turned from his wife.

"I'm fixing to get fined," Kinsler told her.

Kinsler remained livid at a situation with a little less than seven minutes left in the game when the Eagles went from holding Ware County on fourth-and-1 and celebrating it to Ware County getting a timeout.

The Gators got the first down, adding a touchdown for a 16-7 win Saturday night over the Eagles at McConnell-Talbert Stadium in a GHSA Class AAAAA playoff game.

Northside fell 34-13 last week to Houston County. The Eagles hadn't lost consecutive games in the same season since 1997, when they fell 14-0 to Peach County and 22-3 to R.E. Lee of Montgomery, Alabama early in the season.

Ware County had a 10-7 lead and got the ball back with 9:04 left on a fumble by Desean Dinkins, another call Kinsler had trouble with, and replays indicated he might have an argument.

The Gators (9-2) had fourth-and-1 at Northside's 18. Quarterback Jemar Lincoln kept it up the middle and was stopped short.

The Eagles and Gators appeared to react accordingly, until it was clear that an official several yards from the play indicated that Ware County had called a timeout, thus nullifying the play.

"Their coach clearly called timeout after the ball was snapped on fourth down," Kinsler said. "It was clearly, clearly the guy called time We even got it on video him calling timeout after the ball was snapped.

"It was atrocious."

Ware County head coach Franklin Stephens said the situation was properly officiated.

"No, I was calling a timeout before," the former Lamar County head coach said. "The referee then called it after it was (snapped). I was calling the timeout way before the ball was snapped.

"So I am good with that call. Unfortunately for Northside, great for the Gators."

It certainly was. Ware County won its third straight over Northside.

Kinsler's aggravation with the officiating didn't change his overall thoughts on the game.

"I give Franklin Stephens and his kids all the credit in the world," he said. "They came (up) here and they played four quarters of football, and they made plays. We did not make plays. We had opportunities."

Both defenses were superb, but the Gators' offense got just enough going in the second half to take the small lead.

"We didn't make plays," Kinsler said. "We dropped a ball, we didn't block them. We didn't do what we need to do, and Ware County did."

On a night when punts rolled long, Ware County was on its 14 and began moving. A 55-yard blast up the middle by Jaquez Bolds was stopped by Armand Child on the Eagles' 14.

Four plays later, Dedrick Mills scored from the 1, and Noah Sheppard's kick put the Gators up 10-7 with 1:22 left in the third.

The Eagles went three and out, and Ware County took over on its 44 for the final play of the third quarter, moved to the Northside 37 and punted, the Eagles taking over on their 8.

Dinkins found room and got into the secondary, but the ball squirted out amid bodies, and the Gators got it on the 27.

Four plays later, things got a little crazy.

The first half was a slugfest, with neither team able to sustain many drives.

The Eagles scored on their first possession, starting on the Gators' 36 after a nice Marcus Jolly kickoff return.

Oliver kept around the left side for 14 yard and the score.

Northside was driving again on its next trip but fumbled inside the Ware County 40. The Gators moved from their 32 to the 6, but they lost seven on a fumbled handoff on third and goal.

Sheppard's 30-yard field goal was just wide.

Northside hit midfield and went backwards, and Ware County moved from its 16 to the opposing 17 -- thanks to 51 yards on consecutive plays -- and had to settle for another field goal try, and it was good from 34 yards with 2:46 left in the half.

The defensive battle continued in the second half, before and after the timeout fireworks.

"We weren't blocking them," Kinsler said. "At times, we moved the ball well, kept shooting ourselves in the foot. We kept putting ourselves behind the sticks.

"You can't win a ballgame when it's first-and-15 or first-and-20, especially against a real good defense like Ware County. It caught up to us."

This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 9:26 PM with the headline "Amid controversy, Ware County tops Northside ."