Macon News
8/19
Posted on Fri, Aug. 19, 2005
For Peach, Northside is the team to beat in 2005
By Robyn Disney TELEGRAPH STAFF WRITER
FORT VALLEY - The long wood table in Peach County football coach Rance Gillespie's office was barren except for two video tapes.
Those tapes in golden sleeves were of the Trojans' losses in 2003 and 2004 to Northside.
Like the Trojans need a reminder of those games. For the class of 2006, Northside has been the only team to beat them year after year after year.
"When we lose to a team, we always beat them the next time," said senior offensive lineman Dustin Chancellor. "But not Northside. We can't seem to get them."
"We need to get this win before we walk across the stage and graduate," said senior linebacker Victor Neal.
Peach County has not beaten Northside since Sept. 12, 1997, when the Trojans won 14-0. Since 1970, the two have played 13 times with the Eagles winning 10 of those games.
But Peach County came close in 2002 and 2003, losing by a combined six points.
It was especially close in 2003 when Peach County watched a 10-5 lead disappear in the final minutes of the game. Northside quarterback Ferlando Williams ran for a touchdown and game-winning two-point conversion.
"We thought we had the game at that point," Northside coach Conrad Nix said. "But their quarterback threw this long bomb. We managed to catch them on the 6-yard line to end the game. But it was a nailbiter."
"We let that game slip from our hands," Chancellor said. "We should've had that. It was heartbreaking."
Last year, Northside shut out Peach 14-0, something the Trojans have not forgotten.
"In four years, we're always battling Northside and we've never had the chance to get a win on them," Chancellor said. "This year, we'll see how the offense comes out against a real powerhouse. We'll see if we can throw the ball against them."
The Trojans' potent offense may have to try to beat Northside without quarterback Antonio Henton. According to Gillespie, the senior, who has verbally committed to Ohio State, is a gametime decision due to an undisclosed injury.
But Chancellor is confident the offense will get the job done no matter who is under center.
"We have a lot of returning starters," Chancellor said. "We have a bunch of linemen and our receiver back. Plus we have some running backs who are capable of doing some great things."
Neal said it will take a whole team effort to take down Northside. He knows how big this game is for everyone involved.
"This game means a lot to the community," Neal said. "It means a lot to us as a football team. It may not hurt us in the region standings, but it means a lot to us personally.
"We beat Warner Robins in the scrimmage this year. It was only a scrimmage, but it showed us what we could do as a team. It was a huge confidence booster. If we win this game, we will have so much momentum."