Northside returns to AAAAA title game

Northside-Warner Robins was held to negative yards rushing last week, but that was mostly without Briar Van Brunt.

The quarterback who was knocked out of last week’s overtime victory over Peachtree Ridge rushed for 141 yards on 31 carries, scored a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass in Northside’s 29-24 victory over Newnan in the Class AAAAA semifinals on Friday night.

It was believed to be Northside coach Conrad Nix’s 300th victory, though the coach said he wanted to double-check the numbers. It put his team in the state final for the fourth time in five years, during which the program has won 67 of 71 games.

“It’s really big coming up here and beating the only undefeated team in the state,’’ Nix said. “Our guys just came to play.’’

The difference was Van Brunt, who was lost early to a bruised sternum last week when Northside (13-1) survived a three-overtime game and won 20-17.

This week, Northside led 23-17 after Newnan kicked a short field goal with 1:55 left in the third quarter. Northside then drove 69 yards on 13 plays, with Van Brunt carrying 10 times, typically from the shotgun.

Shaquille O’Neill, Northside’s leading rusher, typically lined up beside Van Brunt in the backfield as the second option but got one carry on the drive, a 2-yard touchdown run.

“Our quarterback, I can’t say enough,’’ Nix said. “He kept running and kept running. He figures a whole lot into the way the situation was, which was getting first downs and keeping them off the field. That was the way to do it.’’

Newnan (13-1) scored on quarterback Lendell Arnold’s 1-yard run with 3 seconds left. The game marked the end of the high school career of Newnan star safety/receiver Alec Ogletree, who had eight receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown.

Arnold was 15-for-25 for 195 yards, but Newnan was held to 18 rushing yards in the second half.

Northside’s success on offense came as a surprise because Newnan was allowing only 6.3 points per game. Northside had 21 first downs and 281 yards of total offense. Van Brunt was 8-for-12 for 76 yards.

Northside will play Camden County in a final that will match the Class AAAAA programs with the most victories this decade. Northside is 121-13 and Camden is 120-13. Both have a pair of state titles.