NORTHSIDE DIVISION 2STATE CHAMPIONS

By
December 17, 2006

NORTHSIDE DIVISION 2 STATE CHAMPIONS. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

The Northside Indians won the Division 2 State Championship Saturday played in Abilene at Shotwell Stadium by the score of 60-41. The Indians did what they had to do to win a back and forth kind of game. On the other hand, Jayton lost the game. TO was the problems. Not Terrell Owens this time. I am talking turnovers. Seven times Jayton lost the ball and eventually that led to the game being lost.

That sounds like I am trying to take away something from the Northside Indians and I am not. They played well enough to overcome 5 turnovers of their own. Between the two teams there were 12 turnovers. That isn't exactly what one would expect between schools playing in the Championship game.

There were seven lead changes that occurred in this game and the clock read only 2:05 seconds left in the third quarter when Northside became the first team in this game to score back to back touchdowns.
Jayton led 6-0 at the end of the first quarter. That score was a result of a 15 yard run by Josh Wood. The PAT failed.

The second quarter saw a bit more scoring as Jayton led at the half 19 to 16. With 8:28 left in the half, Northside got on the board on a 48 yard pass play from Colby White to Zach Agnew. Landy Freeling made the kick on the PAT and Northside led 8-6. Jayton got the lead back with a nifty run by Tyler Speed of 26 yards. Again the kick failed and Jayton led 12-8 with 7:25 left in the half. That lead was last less than a minute as White would score for Northside on a run of 29 yards and the Freeling kick on the PAT would make the new score 16-12 Northside. Before the half would end, Jayton would score once again this time Speed scored on a run of 17 yards and Jayton would convert the single extra point and led 19-16 with about 4 ½ minutes left in the half and that was your half time score.

Scoring got started in the third quarter on yet another turnover. Northside's Corey Samson picked up a Jayton fumble and ran it in 25 yards for a touchdown. The PAT was no good. The Indians had a 22-19 lead with 7:18 left in the third quarter.

The ensuing kickoff looked like it might be yet another turnover by Jayton as Tyler Speed had trouble finding the handle on the ball. Once he did finally pick the ball up he was off to the races. 78 yards and a touchdown. Jayton again would fail on the PAT and the score would be 25 22 Jayton with 8:51 left in the third quarter. Later in the same quarter, Nathan McGee would start up the middle and break the run to his left and go 21 yards for a touchdown and with the PAT good, the Indians would take the lead 30-25.

The kickoff would go into the end zone and Jayton would take over on their 20 yard line. From that point Jayton started what appeared to be a very promising drive. On 1st down, Josh Wood picked up about 20 yards for a first down. Later in the same series, Jayton was called for intentionally grounding the ball. They overcame that mistake on a pass play that took the ball down to the 22 yard line. Keeping the ball on the ground Jayton drove the ball to the 4 yard line of Northside where it would be 1st and goal. Trailing by 30-25, the unlikely happened. On the next play with 4:52 left in the third quarter. The ball appeared to hit off the thigh pad of the Jayton running back on the exchange. The ball hit the ground rolling and went right through the back of the end zone for a touch back. Northside's ball on the 20, 1 st and 15. Northside definitely dodged the bullet.

Overcoming some stout play by the Jayton defense and a penalty on themselves, the Indians would drive 60 yards for a touch down and it was capped by a 23 yard run for a touchdown by Colby White and one more time Freeling would convert the PAT. The Indians opened up the lead to 38-25 with 2:05 left in the third.

The kickoff by Northside was short and picked up by Speed and he reversed his field and started up the left sideline. He was hit by a defender and the ball came loose and Northside recovers. Northside would score but it would be called back on a penalty. Eventually the ball goes over on downs and Jayton knows they need points.

The start of the 4th quarter begins with Jayton scoring on a pass to Lynn Mayfield for 22 yards. The kick is good and Jayton closes the gap to 38-33 with 9:51 left in the game. Jayton kicks the ball five yards deep into the end zone on the kickoff but the kick receivers decides to bring it out. He fumbles the ball when he is hit and Jayton takes over on the Northside 17 trailing by 5. With 9:20 left Tyler Speed catches the ball along the left sideline and loses the ball as he dives toward the end zone. Again, the ball goes out of the end zone and is ruled a touch back. Video shows the ball was fumbled short of the end zone and the officials call was correct. Twice, Jayton drives to the goal line to see the ball fumbled away and Northside getting the ball on their own twenty.

Knowing they had dodged the bullet once again, Northside makes a 2 play statement drive. On the first play they complete a pass to the Jaybird 35 yard line and the very next play McGee would score on a 35 yard run. The PAT was good and Northside was on their way to winning the Six-Man State Championship for Division 2 leading 46 to 33 with 8:44 left in the game.

Jayton would make one last run at coming back scoring on a 1 yard run by Mayfield and the PAT conversion kick by Wood coming at the 7:10 mark in the 4th quarter pulling as close as it would get 46-41.

Northside responded with 2 additional scores. Freeling would score on an 11 yard pass from White. The kick would fail putting the Indians in control 52 to 41 with 3:47 left. The icing on the cake and the State Championship came with just :27 seconds left on the clock. White would score on a 41 yard run and the PAT was good. Your final score Northside Indians 61 Jayton Jaybirds 41.

Congratulations to both teams and good luck next season.

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