By Donnell Suggs/Sports Writer ● Sports ● August 25, 2018
Macon, Ga.- The Peach County High School Trojans began a very competitive non-region schedule by defeating the Northside High School Eagles 27-24 at Anderson Field at Five Star Stadium on Saturday night. The Trojans will play Lee County, Houston County and Mary Persons before starting region 4-AAA play on Sept. 21. With the score 27-24 with just 1:40 remaining in the game the Trojans defense put an end to Northside’s final possession of the game with a crucial sack on a third and 10 and by tackling Northside short of a first down with 1:01 left on the play clock. The Trojans would run out the remainder of time and leave Macon with the victory. The Macon Touchdown Club Middle Georgia Kickoff Classic began with the Dublin Fighting Irish and the Tattnall Square Academy Trojans (Dublin won 55-0) and concluded with the Eagles and the Trojans (the other Trojans) in the night cap. Peach County, and a healthy amount of fans for both programs, were on hand for their season opener while the Eagles came into the game following their impressive season opening 38-14 victory over Centennial High School in Roswell last week. An estimated 9,000 fans were on hand to watch the game. In comparison the Dublin/Tattnall game had just under 3,000 combined fans in attendance. Both teams are fast and athletic but this game showcased why both Kevin Kinsler and Chad Campbell, respectively, have football teams that will make noise in their respective regions this season. Peach County would be the more impressive team after all was said and done. Trojans junior quarterback Jaydon Gibson, a first time starter, ran the Trojans offense like a seasoned veteran while amassing almost 100 yards rushing during the first half. He would have close to 200 yards on the ground in total. Eagles defenders like defensive back William “Tubby” McCall and Jajuan Ferguson set the tone for the evening with big hits that both elicited gasps from the crowd and put a periodic stops to the Trojans ground game during the first half. The game opened with both teams trading scoreless opening drives before Peach County struck first, capping a long drive with a three-yard run from junior bake Nigel Manns. Northside followed that drive with a scoring drive of their own when senior quarterback Jadin Daniels, who picked up 30 yards on a third and 15 quarterback keeper, found senior Daniel Neal for 19 yards and senior Eric Williams for 15 yards and a touchdown to even the score. Daniels would find Neal and Williams most often through this game. The Eagles were up 10-7 with less than a minute to play after a 35-yard Cory Munson field goal when Daniels, presumably attempting to run the remainder of time off of the clock, threw a pass that was intercepted deep in Northside territory. Peach County took full advantage of the gift when Gibson found senior receiver Alex Henton, a transfer from Crawford County High School, on a fade route in the back of the end zone to go ahead 14-10 at the half. The first Northside drive of the second half resulted in a three and a half minute run down the field that was highlighted by Daniels finding Neal for 25 yards on a third and five and Williams on a 15-yard pass down to the Peach County three-yard line. On fourth and one the Eagles called Williams’ number and the senior found his way into the end zone to put Northside ahead 17-14. Peach County immediately answered back with a 10-play, two minute drive that resulted in Gibson finding Noah Winnington for a four-yard touchdown and a 21-17 lead. The Trojans tacked another six points to go ahead 27-17 early in the fourth quarter when Gibson dove for the pylon to put the finishing touches on a six-yard run. His decision-making throughout the game has the Trojans in position to make another run to the 4A state championship game. There was no quit in Northside as the Eagles made the most of a Trojans fumble, recovered by senior defensive back Deandre McKenzie, and drove 40 yards to score again and cut the Peach County lead to three points. That would be their last score of the game, a game that reflected last season’s matchup between Peach County and eventual 5A state title runner-up Warner Robins. Northside (1-1) will be back in action on Friday for their home opener against Jones County High School. Peach County (1-0) will play at Lee County High School on Friday and won’t play their home opener until Fri., Sept. 21.
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