AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2006 > December > 14 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTake Ten: Why N’side-WR will beat Marist
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Editor’s note: There are plenty of reasons to think Marist will win Friday. There are plenty more reasons to side with Northside-Warner Robins. Staff writer Jeff Haws knows them all and a few more. If he can stop arguing with himself for a moment or two, he might just hitch a ride down I-75 Friday to see this solo debate settled on the field. Here’s why Jeff says it’s a safe bet to pick Northside. (Then again, his other blog says… well… just the opposite. It’s OK. We’re confused, too.)
10: Home Cookin’ — Just because several away teams have won state championship games in the past doesn’t mean it can be done. Well, maybe it does. But this is the first time Northside has tried it. And they haven’t lost at home since 2004.
9: They’re Due — After a state final loss last year, the Eagles have lost two semifinals, two quarterfinals and a final in the past nine years, in which they’ve won 10 or more games each time. Somebody, somewhere once said the 10th time’s the charm. And everybody deserves to be right from time to time.
8: Youth Will Be Served — Forget about the elders. Seniors are old and decrepid. Marist has 40 of them. Northside only has three seniors on its offense, which has scored 27 or more points 12 times this season.
7: The North Can’t Hang — Everybody knows the football is better in south and middle Georgia than in the north. Well, everybody in south and middle Georgia knows it, anyway. Atlantans are trying to stake a claim to making a comeback with 3 out of 10 playoff teams hailing from the metro area, but Maconites know the score.
6: Ivory is Liquid — Northside quarterback Marques Ivory is among the smoothest signal-callers around, both throwing and running the ball, working mostly out of the shotgun. Marist hasn’t faced a healthy quarterback with his skill set this season, and War Eagles haven’t seen a heck of a lot of shotgun either.
5: They are Undefeated, Ya Know — Nobody’s beaten them yet. There’s got to be a reason for that, other than their snazzy unis. It’s probably because they’re pretty good.
4: Nothing Else to Do — Have you ever been to Warner Robins? Or Macon, even? They’re nice little places, but the options on what to do for high school kids is pretty much limited to going to the movie theatre and watching planes circle overhead. Might as well play a little football or channel your competitive energies into the Debate Team.
3: Daisy Chain Never Fails — Marist lost 27-24 to Tucker, who lost 14-7 to Mays, who lost 35-7 to Habersham Central, whom Northside defeated 34-0 in the quarterfinals. Through the power of indisputable advanced mathematics, this means Northside will win 110-38. Don’t even try to counter that argument.
2: Envy of Green — Tijuan Green put up 183 yards on the ground for Northside in the semifinal win over St. Pius, and he may be the biggest thing Marist is missing: a fast, game-breaking running back. At 6-0, 190 pounds, his size doesn’t hurt either.
1: What’s a “War Eagle,” Anyway? — Wiki it. Go ahead. It apparently comes from some made-up story about an Eagle circling Auburn’s first-ever football game, against Georgia, and then dying on the field after the Tigers won. It doesn’t say anything about a hobbled bulldog wandering onto the field to cheer on UGA. Frankly, the whole thing sounds sketchy. At least we know normal Eagles exist. “War Eagles” fraternize with unicorns and BigFoot.
Go on. Take Ten. Tell us why Northside-WR is going to bring the pain against Marist. Or not.
Permalink | Comments (23) | Post your comment | Categories: Take Ten
Comments
By Mark
December 14, 2006 12:56 PM | Link to this
I have to hand it to you AJC writers. Since this is the only State Finals game matching a Metro team against a Non-Metro team, you guys are really stirring the pot to create controversy. That being said, NHS is way overdue, and I believe they will bring their “A” game….
Northside 34 Marist 13
By War Eagle '86
December 14, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this
Marist 24 NSH 14
By RC
December 14, 2006 01:09 PM | Link to this
Man, you really should do a little bit of research on these things. Factual errors abound:
“10: Home Cookin’ — Just because several away teams have won state championship games in the past doesn’t mean it can be done. Well, maybe it does. But this is the first time Northside has tried it. And they haven’t lost at home since 2004.”
I guess you meant to say, this is the first time Northside has tried it in 5 years? 2001 State Championship was hosted by Northside. (Tried it, what, exactly? Tried winning on the road? That’s what your phrasing implies…)
“9: They’re Due — After a state final loss last year, the Eagles have lost two semifinals, two quarterfinals and a final in the past nine years, in which they’ve won 10 or more games each time. “
The Eagles only have one semifinal loss, in 1999. And they have lost two finals (2001 and 2005).
You can research out these things at www.northsidefootball.com
By Daddy Coop
December 14, 2006 01:32 PM | Link to this
Here are MY top ten reasons Northside will beat Marist:
10: So we’ll be able to strut while wearing those dry-rotting “Northside State Champs” ballcaps we’ve kept hanging on the wall since the ’60s.
9: To prove, after all this time, that “Stay the course until you complete the mission” wasn’t coined in Washington. This is the time, this is the mission. It just took a while.
8: Believe it or not, we believe with all of our hearts and souls that being #1 is better than being #2. Up to this point it’s been a theory. We’d like to prove it’s a fact.
7: We want to savor the experience of having our school name become a household word, just like MA…MAE…no, MARE…no… well, you know… that school that won in 2003.
6: Or maybe even as well-known as that school that won the state championship in 1989. You know… AFLAC… no… darn… I’ll get back with you on that.
5: We deserve it. We can spell “football” as well as PLAY football, unlike that other school from Warner Robins. You know, what’s its name.
4: We have to win so Patrick and Conrad Nix will at least have one reason to be “Merry” at Christmas. Oops… Did I actually say that?
3: Up until now, we’ve been the absolute embodiment of true Southern hospitality by allowing all the others to cut in line for their chance at the championship - mind you, without even a thank you. Now we’re ready to kick butt.
2: There’s only room for one Eagle on the championship perch and it doesn’t nest north of the Fall Line and gold ain’t the color.
1: We’ve been told the championship is the last formal step we need for Governor Perdue to officially establish the area north of Watson Blvd. as NORTHSIDE, Georgia. And then, just maybe those yahoos at AJC will stop calling us “Northside-Warner Robins.” GAG… GAG… Sorry. Just lost my lunch.
By What???
December 14, 2006 02:48 PM | Link to this
I do not understand #7…Maconites? Will someone please explain?
By Better Wait
December 14, 2006 03:02 PM | Link to this
Northside Warner Robins you better wait to crow. Watched your game against St. Pius and you were lucky to advance. Let’s see, you beat SP by 3 and Marist beat SP by 17…could be interesting. You definitely have significant holes in your game that will be exploited by a veteran Marist coaching staff… and if you are like your AAAAA buddies from down there, once you get behind you will CHOKE, CHOKE, CHOKE…should that be 10 CHOKES? I’m definitely not a Marist fan, I’m just tired of reading all your @#$%^&*(.
By Ben
December 14, 2006 03:55 PM | Link to this
Daddy Coop, that was a clever and humorous post. Thanks
By noneya
December 14, 2006 04:46 PM | Link to this
I hope there aren’t any bones in that “home cookin’”….don’t want there to be a CHOKING hazard. hack
Can you guys keep the lights on in your stadium this time? Make sure you have plenty of people turning the hand cranks!
By Ellen
December 14, 2006 05:05 PM | Link to this
Better Wait, that was ONE game. Take our ENTIRE season into account and then comment. BTW, we also beat two AAAAA playoff teams.
Daddy Coop, loved your reasons more than the original ones.
Go Eagles! (the real ones)
By Mark Montanto
December 14, 2006 05:15 PM | Link to this
Simple they are the best team in the state playing at home.
By Daddy Coop
December 14, 2006 06:36 PM | Link to this
Thanks Ellen and Ben.
7 has to do with Marist winning in 2003 and so does #6.If any of the 10 upset anyone, it was all suppose to be in good fun.
Seriously, there’ll be two teams playing Friday night, both with hard-working and hopeful young men. It’s too bad both teams can’t win, but unfortunately one team will have to lose. Even they should hold their heads high and know they’ve given it there all. There’s no shame in having been beat by the best…but, that long,long ride back to Atlanta will really suck.
Go Northside Eagles!!!
By B State Historian
December 14, 2006 07:46 PM | Link to this
MARIST RUNS THE TRIPLE OPTION. TWO OF THE TRIPLE GOT HURT IN THE DOME AND ARE OUT FOR THE SEASON. THAT MEANS THAT SOMEBODY FROM THE BENCH WILL HAVE TO STEP UP FOR THE FIRST TIME ALL SEASON IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP. NOT LIKELY. WHICH MEANS THAT THE TEAM STRATEGY ON OFFENSE MEANS THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO DO THE QB KEEPER OR GIVE THE BALL TO THE FULLBACK. THE TEAM STRATEGY HAS BEEN DESTROYED
By mrb62
December 14, 2006 10:09 PM | Link to this
“It’s too bad both teams can’t win,”
A tie game game means both teams win unless they’ve changed the GA rules since 2004. A tie in the Championship doesn’t go into overtime.
By Northside_Owns_GA
December 15, 2006 12:29 AM | Link to this
Northside 35, Marist 13. The Eagles are going to HAMMER Marist! There will only be two options remaining for a triple option team. Kevin Kinsler is one of Georgia’s finest Defensive Coordinators and Northside will not struggle as much against the option in week 2.
Too much speed…too many dynamic skill players…too much big game experience…too many fans packing McConnell-Talbert Stadium. Marist will be humiliated Friday night.
By Tammy
December 15, 2006 12:33 AM | Link to this
You don’t need a “Top 10” reasons why Northside will win. You only need one reason……because they are the better team. Marist has seen nothing like what they will be walking into tonight. That stadium will be a sea of blue and orange that will engulf that gold and rust it out. Marist can just hang out in Atlanta and watch the game on television at the Varsity, because they will get better results that way. My Eagles will soar high and the entire state will know that the International City is home to the true champions. NORTHSIDE HIGH, OUR ALMA MATER. THOU TO US ART DEAR. MAY THY VIRTUES AND THY TEACHINGS GUIDE US THROUGH THE YEARS. EVER ONWARD BE OUR WATCHWARD, CONQUER AND PREVAIL. EAGLES RISE TO SET OUR STANDARDS. NORTHSIDE HIGH, ALL HAIL. NHS class of 1985….and proud of it.
By DAVIL
December 15, 2006 04:46 AM | Link to this
Cherokee High Class of 85. My son plays for Northside’s Marching Band and is in the Class of 2010. I’m already a nervous wreck. Conrad and the staff is ordered to show more coaching wisdom this week. The Shotgun Formation with 3rd and goal at the 1 yard line didn’t show wisdom last week. The Northside Eagles will SHINE tonight!
By powbeech
December 15, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this
If Northside does not win their team nor their fans will be taken seriously again. They’ve choked so many times after being undefeated or favored that it is almost hilariously insane and very risky to pick them now, but apparently so has Marist, especially against teams from the south… Thomas Co. Central sound familiar
By Eagle Fan
December 15, 2006 10:47 AM | Link to this
Lets see who is the better team tonight at McConnell Talbert Staduim at 7:30. We’ll see who chokes….cough cough. Go Northside Eagles!!!!
By mrb62
December 15, 2006 10:04 PM | Link to this
Congrats to Conrad Nix and Northside. I thought for sure he’d find a way to lose. Afer watching the game you could tell that Northside’s team speed was just too much to overcome, even Conrad couldn’t mess that up. This game reminded of the 5A championship game last year when Lowndes simply humiliated Brookwood 49-7 before calling off the dogs. It was all team speed there also.
By Tammy
December 15, 2006 10:04 PM | Link to this
I told you Marist should just stay in Atlanta and watch the game at the Varsity. NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL…..STATE CHAMPIONS!!!
By Ed
December 15, 2006 10:35 PM | Link to this
What kind of handshake was that after the game, Alan Chadwick? You sore loser. Sorry you and your “upper middle class” fans and parents couldn’t “buy” a championship for Marist this year. You are such a poor excuse for what high school athletics is all about. You are pathetic!!!
By Ed
December 15, 2006 10:44 PM | Link to this
Alan Chadwick’s “handshake” after the game was despicable, but typical of the elitist, spoon-fed, spoiled rotten brats of Marist (parents and fans included.) Sorry your big pockets could not buy a championship for Marist again. The hard-working middle-class of central GA kicked your snotty a@@@@@ again!
By DemonFan
December 16, 2006 12:59 PM | Link to this
Hey Daddy Coop, be nice. WRHS kids can play football as well as spell it. I cheer for NHS when they aren’t playing WRHS. There is no need to be evil. It’s easy to be unkind when you are on top. Win four state titles, and then get cocky…