Class 4A Semifinals - Northside-WR vs. Tucker

4SHOT Sports

Football - 2007
Class 4A Semifinals - Northside-WR vs. Tucker
By Larry " L.A." Williams
Dec 7, 2007, 06:30 EST

Class AAAA Semifinals

Northside Warner-Robins (13-0) vs. Tucker (13-0)
Ivory’s second half heroics send “Tigers” into shock
Tucker looses heartbreaker to Northside-WR

Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA

Northside-WR quarterback Marques Ivory sliced up the Tucker secondary in the 2nd half.

Atlanta, GA – The Class AAAA semifinals game between undefeated Northside Warner-Robins and undefeated Tucker was the match-up everyone was waiting to see and the fans got their monies worth, actually seeing two different games. Game 1 was the first-half, less Northside-WR quarterback Marques Ivory and Game 2 which was the second half with Marques Ivory at the helm for the “Eagles”.

Northside-WR started the game with reserve QB-Joe Scott at the helm and he had no answers for the “Tigers” hard charging defense which was led by DE-Marcus Nedd, LB-Forlando Johnson, LB-Jonathan Davis, DL-Corey Billings and DL-Deion Robinson.

Offensively Tucker Head Coach Franklin Stephens and his “Tigers” stuck to the script that had brought them to this point as his undersize offensive line opened hole after hole for his elusive, hard running tailbacks Jonathan Davis, Derrick Harris and Drayton Calhoun to run through.

A beautiful 36-yard touchdown run around the end by Davis put the “Tigers” on the board first. The PAT by K-Ricky Peacock made the score 7-0.

Davis wasn’t done as he scored again early in the second-quarter on a short 4-yard plunge to increase the Tucker lead to 14-0.

The “Eagles” struck back in the second-quarter when Scott connect with WR-Nick Bass who had gotten behind the Tucker secondary for 23-yards and a touchdown cutting the lead to 14-7.

Tucker really dominated the play in the first half and it showed on the faces of the fans and players from Northside-WR. Before the half ended Tucker exploded for two more scores, one on a beautiful 68-yard jaunt by Clahoun and another on a fumble the was recovered and returned 17-yards by LB-Tristan Carter. At the half Tucker had what appeared to be a commanding 28-7 lead, but we all know that appearances can be real deceiving.

Tucker pulling guard Joe Moore leads tailback Drayton Calhoun into the hole.

At the half I had to walk pass the Northside-WR team to get to the elevator to head back to the press box and even as I approached the elevator, which was down the hall a ways I could here the “Eagles” legendary Head Coach Conrad Nix yelling out the “Riot Act” to his players.

Hence Game 2 known as “The Second Half “, the “Beginning of the end” or “Ivory the Remix”.

Either title you choose it all spelled disaster for Tucker because Northside-WR cleaned up with a little IVORY, starting quarterback Marques Ivory to be exact. Ivory started the second-half and the “Eagles” were a totally different team.

All game long the “Eagles” receivers were getting behind Tucker’s secondary but because of Tucker’s pressure Scott was unable to get the ball to them but with 8:48 left in the third-quarter Ivory solved that problem going deep to WR-Rashad Young for 68-yards and a touchdown to cut the lead to 28-14.

Meanwhile Tucker continued to stick to the script, running the ball on almost every down but that script had been played and canceled by the Northside-WR defense led by DL-Eddie Thomas, DL-Abry Jones, LB-Darius Ivey and LB-Ben Hicks.

Facing a second down and 8 from their own 18-yard line Ivory and the “Eagles” struck again, this time he connect with WR-Kevyn Cooper for 82-yards and a touchdown. The PAT made the score 28-21 with 9:28 to play.

With the defense having done their job Ivory and the “Eagles” got the ball back with 4:42 to play and they mounted a 2 minute drive that culminated with a game tying 31-yard touchdown pass WR-Brandon Jordan.

The Northside-WR defense total shutdown the Tucker running game in the 2nd half.

Tucker failed to get a first down and was forced to punt from its own 14-yard line. On the ensuing punt Northside's Nick Bass returned the punt 30-yards to the Tucker 30-yard line with 1:42 to play in the game.

Ivory calmly ran a couple of plays to eat-up time on the clock and with :12 seconds left to play sophomore kicker Devon Pike drilled a 23-yard field goal to give the “Eagles” their first lead of the game 31-28.

Tucker recovered a squib kick at its own 49, but a personal foul pushed the Tigers back to their 34. QB-Chris Simpson connected with WR-Jamoris Slaughter on a quick 10-yard pass to the 44-yard line with :07 seconds left. Simpson hit Slaughter again and he raced 20 yards, but he was tackled as time expired. The shocked Tucker fan could only looked on with heartbreak and disbelief while the Northside-WR fans jumped, ran and screamed with jubilation.

Deceased former NC State Head Basketball coach Jim Valvano said during his now famous ESPY Award speech “Don't give up, don't ever give up” and Northside-WR never did. They now take their No.1 ranking and undefeated record into next weekends Class AAAA State Championship Game match-up against Ware County.

Final Score: Northside Warner-Robins 31 - Tucker 28