NORTHSIDE PICKS UP WIN AGAINST TIGERS

Northside needed a win at the most opportune time, especially since the Grizzlies were playing their second straight home game to start 7A-Central action. The Grizzlies got it, leading from start to finish and getting an important three-play drive inside the final minute of the opening half. They also built a 35-7 fourth-quarter advantage as they went on to a 35-20 Homecoming win against the Little Rock Central Tigers Friday at Mayo-Thompson Stadium. Northside ended up with 363 yards of total offense, including 286 on the ground, and also had 13 of its 20 first downs in the second half. Quarterback Deuce Wise rushed for 100 yards on 15 carries, junior tailback Eli Bolton added 88 yards on 16 carries and sophomore Jackson King finished with 86 yards on 16 rushes, and the three also combined for four rushing touchdowns. “We really just kept driving the ball up in the middle and watching our cutbacks,” Bolton said. “We were trying to spread out the defense and everything and it worked out. ... (The offensive line) blocked amazingly (Friday) and I couldn’t be more proud of them.” Northside (2-3, 1-1) had held an 8-0 lead for much of the first half. But Central, one play after a 31-yard punt return to the Grizzly 11, got a touchdown with 42 seconds left until halftime. The Tigers decided to kick the PAT, keeping Northside in the lead, 8-7. After Tyriq Adams returned the ensuing kickoff 18 yards to the Northside 41, the Grizzlies quickly marched the final 59 yards in three plays. On the first play, Wise threw a short sideline route to receiver J.T. Thorne, who shook off a tackle and rambled 37 yards to the Tigers’ 22. Wise then went 19 yards on a scramble down to the 3. Following a Grizzly time out, Wise found receiver Jordan Dilworth in the left flat, and Dilworth extended his arms beyond the goal line for the touchdown. The PAT was missed, however, keeping Northside ahead by seven, 14-7, with six seconds left in the half. The Grizzlies then took the second-half kickoff and marched 66 yards in nine plays, churning out five first downs along the way. King’s 1-yard run up the middle finished things off, and Jose Paredes added the PAT kick for a 21-7 Grizzly lead. Midway through the third quarter, the Tigers were attempting to cut into Northside’s lead. But sophomore defensive back Tumontay Parks picked off a pass right in front of the goal line and brought it back to the Northside 5-yard line. “I had just seen the quarterback throwing the ball, and I just got in front of the receiver and intercepted it,” Parks said. Parks’ pick then led to an impressive 17-play 95-yard drive which put the game out of reach. Northside picked up six first downs, including a fourth-down conversion, and ran the ball for all but one of those 17 plays. Wise finished off the lengthy drive with a 1-yard keeper on the third play of the fourth quarter, and Paredes’ kick made it 28-7. Northside added one more touchdown on an eight-play drive after holding Central on downs at the Tigers’ 42. Wise had his second TD of the night, again a 1-yard keeper to make it 35-7 with 6:04 left. The Tigers (1-4, 0-2) scored two touchdowns inside the final two minutes, including one on the last play of the game. Bolton had Northside’s first touchdown of the night, a 4-yard run up the middle late in the opening quarter which completed an eight-play 73-yard drive. The Grizzlies then went for two, and got it, as Wise found Anthony Travis in the end zone for an 8-0 lead. Wise completed 7-of-9 passes for 77 yards. King caught four of those passes for 26 yards, and Dilworth had two receptions for 14 yards. Central had 268 yards of total offense (113 rushing, 155 passing). Quarterback Jacob Howard was 12-of-35 for 155 yards and two TDs, and also added a rushing TD. Tailback Jacorien Whitaker added 61 yards on 19 carries. On defense for the Grizzlies, Adams had a first-quarter interception and had returned it for a touchdown, but was called back due to a penalty. Northside’s Travis and Cole Eddins also recorded sacks.

Central High School Athletics

NORTHSIDE PICKS UP WIN AGAINST TIGERS

Photo Credit: Central Athletics