Northside edges Peachtree Ridge in OT

By Adam Lazarus

For the AJC

WARNER ROBINS -- An hour before kickoff, Peachtree Ridge coach Bill Ballard knew what his team needed to do for a victory in a Class AAAAA quarterfinal battle against Northside.

“It’s gonna be one of those games that you gotta keep the ball from them, you gotta shorten the game and you gotta try to minimize the big play,” Ballard said.

For nearly the entire game, the Peachtree Ridge Lions -- playing more than 100 miles south of their home -- followed Ballard’s plan. But with the game, and the season on the line, Northside-Warner Robins made just enough plays to win on Devon Pike’s 32-yard field goal in the third overtime for a 20-17 victory.

With the score tied 10-10 at the end of regulation, both teams missed field goals in the first overtime, then matched each other with touchdowns in the second overtime, forcing another overtime.

The Lions held the potent Northside rushing attack (running back Shaquille O’Neil and quarterback Brian Van Brunt combined for 25 touchdowns and more than 1,800 yards this season) in check. On the other side of the ball, Peachtree Ridge was turnover-free, and led by running backs Brandon Stanley and Chris Swadey, controlled the second-half clock.

But despite its offensive woes, Northside found an opportunity late in the game.

With less than 4 minutes remaining, and trailing 10-3, the Eagles finally awoke. Following a pair of defensive penalties that produced a first down, quarterback Dan Masteller dropped back and floated a deep pass down the sideline that Brison Williams hauled in for a 66-yard touchdown pass.

A three-and-out promptly put gave the ball back to the Eagles, and a 16-yard completion from Masteller to Quin Lester combined with a pass interference penalty gave Northside the ball at the Lions’ 28-yard line.

But Peachtree Ridge clamped down, forcing three straight incompletions. And on fourth down, Pike’s 45-yard field goal try — his first of three late, game-winning attempts — fell short, forcing overtime.

The Lions grabbed the lead late in the first quarter when Justin Watts nailed a 47-yard field goal. Nick Lombardo then gave Peachtree Ridge some breathing room midway through the second when he threaded a 33-yard touchdown pass to Brad Roby.

Trailing 10-0, the Eagles closed the deficit on Pike’s 32-yard field goal. They trailed 10-3 throughout most of the second half.