Northside Does Best

Old Enemies

The 2024 football season has started for Northside and West Blocton as they face off in the first game of the year. Excellent turnout for the Rams and the Tigers as fans of each team filled the stadium to watch these two teams play once again.

Northside and West Blocton have not played each other since the historic 2019 season under Head Coach Chris Hilliker, where the Rams were region champions in 4a region 5 going a perfect 6-0, with a 9-1 regular season record, also advancing past the first and second round of the AHSAA playoffs before falling to Jacksonville in the third round. Jacksonville went on to lose to UMS Wright in the AHSAA State Championship.

The last time these teams played, in 2019 Northside won with a score of 50-24. West Blocton and Northside is sort of a rivalry game. Over the years from the 2014-15 up until the 2019-20 season, Northside holds a 4-2 record in the series over West Blocton, now a 5-2 lead with Northside's win on Friday night.

Northside Does Best...

A very good start for West Blocton as their quarterback Caden Fatcher takes in the first touchdown for the Tigers on a 15-yard run. The Tigers go up on the Rams in the first quarter with a 7 to 0 lead after the extra point was good. West Blocton comes out on defense, crushing Northside for an easy three and out. Northside fails to stop West Blocton again as the Tigers drive it downfield and take it in for a touchdown on the goal line from a handoff to running back #1 Nathan Barron putting the Tigers up 13-0 after a failed two-point conversion. The Tigers end the 1st quarter up 13-0.

West Blocton stopped the Rams in the second quarter, getting to the red zone before throwing an interception to Northside's Evan Taylor. Northside's running back #24 Bennett Green helps the team drive downfield getting the ball to the goal line before taking the snap in the wildcat formation for a 1-yard touchdown.

West Blocton responds on the kick-off as #4 Nicholas Kelly returns it for a 60+ yards touchdown. The Tigers hold a lead on the Rams 19-7 after the two-point conversion was again, unsuccessful.

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Northside rallies up for a very incredible contested touchdown catch thrown by quarterback #15 Parker Shirley to wide receiver #12 Evan Taylor. The Rams are on the board again down 5 as the Extra point is good.

The game enters halftime with West Blocton leading 19-14.

During the second half, West Blocton starts to lead Northside again 27-21. The game ended on a high note for the Rams as Northside does best at showing up when it counts. The Rams win the game 35-33 as Northside sends West Blocton home with their first loss of the 2024 season. This marks history as Northside and Coach Robby Jones' first win as a 5a football team.

We hope to see Northside continue to dominate as they play their next game away, against the Cordova High School Blue Devils.

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