Northside Rams Stay Undefeated At Home
The Northside Rams moved to 8-1 on the season and managed to keep their home winning streak alive with a dominant 42-7 win over the Hale County Wildcats.
Everything went as planned, according to Rams coach Chris Hilliker, as the Northside offense had well over 250 combined rushing yards before the cold night was over.
"We're run-first, I mean, everybody knows it," said Hilliker.
"We're gonna run the football, try to eat the clock, try to keep the other team's offense off the field, and our kids did a great job of that tonight."
The plan worked as the Rams dominated the time of possession and seemed to be firing on all cylinders in all three phases of the game.
A penalty derailed Northside's first drive of the game, but it wouldn't last as they managed to record the first score of the game, a four-yard rushing touchdown from junior quarterback Braden Green, off of a blocked punt from NHS junior Luke Jones.
The Rams' second score was all on senior running back Jace McNutt as he rushed both times in a two-play drive, ending it with a 61-yard touchdown late in the first quarter.
McNutt would all but put the game away in Northside's fourth drive with a 16-yard touchdown after a 26-yard strike caught by junior Justin Montgomery.
Pinned back deep into their own territory, the Wildcats were forced to punt a third time in the first half. But the special teams unit let the Rams strike again, this time, with a 51-yard touchdown off a returned punt for senior Keiton Camp.
Hale County's only score of the night came just before halftime as the Wildcats' senior running back Smith Garner tried to keep the game in reach with a 6-yard rushing score.
But the damage was done before halftime and Northside put the final nail in the coffin with a 17-yard passing touchdown - off of a trick play - from junior Braden Green to sophomore Logan Sullivan.
With the game essentially in the books through two quarters, Northside didn't pass the ball on any play in the second half. The game's final score came from Green's 6-yard rush in the fourth quarter to put the Rams up 42-7 with under nine minutes left to play.
Green ended Week 10 with three touchdowns and 131 yards of total offense from 12 carries and just four passing attempts. McNutt notched two scores from 13 carries and had a total of 129 yards on the ground.
Junior Justin Montgomery also made significant plays for the Rams and would end up with 76 yards from scrimmage from just four touches on the night.
Hale County, now 4-5 for 2021, will play their final game of the season at home in Moundville, AL, against a solid Lamar County Bulldogs (7-2) team fighting for positioning in the 2A playoffs.
Northside will play its final regular-season game on the road as they try to finish the season 9-1 over a lackluster Sipsey Valley team.
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