Northside, Veterans enter region opener against each other hoping to start playoff bid | Game of the Week

For the last two years one of Northside or Veterans has been winless entering this matchup that, until now, has been at the end of the season.

In 2024, the Warhawks avoided their first winless season in program history with a 17-0 shutout victory. Although 17 was not their season high, it was the most points they’d scored since Week 3.

In 2025, it was the Eagles who escaped their first winless season since 1965 with a 36-22 win, by far a season high for the offense.

Now both programs enter Friday, which is the region opener for both teams, with multiple wins and some tangible progress under their new head coaches.

Steven DeVoursney’s Warhawks are 3-1 and fresh off of a three-game road trip where they won every game. It’s Veterans’ longest winning streak since 2020, and their longest consecutive road win streak in program history.

In Week 2 they traveled to GIAA foe Trinity Christian and got their best passing performance out of Jake Trail.

The senior was 20-for-31 (64%) for 368 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. That is, by far, his most efficient game and highest output in terms of yards. That game also accounted for his only two passing touchdowns on the season.

Two weeks later against Forsyth Central, a 22-6 final, they leaned far more on their rushing offense. Trail and Rowan Singleton combined for nine pass attempts for 39 yards and an interception.

Junior Davareon Lightning led the way with 14 carries for 74 yards and senior Honest Howell was close behind with 11 carries for 72 yards. In total, Veterans tallied 186 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Last week the Warhawks came from behind to win 21-15 at Sumter County in what could be a breakout performance for Lightning. His 14 carries for 131 yards and two touchdowns helped them score 14 in the fourth quarter, and it gave him the season lead in yards, yards per carry, yards per game and touchdowns.

Northside’s offense has, to this point, relied heavily on explosive plays and the legs of sophomore quarterback Keirion “KT” Tate.

Tate is 44-for-70 (62%) for 666 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions through the air. A lot of that yardage has come from passes of 50 or more yards.

In Week 1 against Eagle’s Landing, Tate connected with Jereion Wims on a 70-yard strike to the end zone. In a Week 2 loss to Mays, Tate found Kaiden Little at the end of a 54-yard pass to paydirt.

To beat Warner Robins in Week 3, Tate found Ja’noah Hicks for a 68-yard touchdown pass. He also rushed for three on the ground, the longest of which went 49 yards. Hicks threw a 50-yard score himself, too.

Defense has been the Eagles’ calling card. Texas A&M commit Elijah Patmon leads the unit with a team-high nine tackles for a loss, three sacks and eight quarterback hurries.

His 25 total tackles are second only to safety Travis Walker, who has tallied 39 and been a force coming down into the box.

Hicks and Broderick Huphrey III have also been productive in the secondary. Hicks has two interceptions and three passes defensed, and Humphrey has four PDs. Sophomore Kayden Turner leads the room with six PDs.

It will be a long road for either one of these teams to make the postseason in one of the toughest regions in Georgia, even with the new Post Season Ranking formula.

As of Sept. 21, Northside is ranked 22nd and Veterans is 28th in the PSR rankings, which would have both of them in the postseason picture if the season ended today.

The Warhawks haven’t beaten a region opponent who isn’t Northside since 2022, and similarly, the Eagles haven’t done the same since 2023.

This is just the start for both teams, and it’s set to kick off on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Freedom Field.