Northside Eagles Aim for First Win Under New Coach in Rivalry Showdown With Warner Robins
This is the 68th matchup all-time between the Eagles and Demons, with Northside trailing in the series 25-42
WARNER ROBINS, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – It’s already Week Three, and one of Georgia’s biggest rivalries takes center stage as the Northside Eagles prepare to face the Warner Robins Demons in the Game of the Week.
The Eagles, led by first-year head coach Daniel Boone Williams, enter the matchup 0-2 after two narrow home losses by a combined 11 points. Despite the rough start, Williams is working to establish a new culture for a program that has won just six games over the past two seasons.
Northside is looking to reclaim the dominance it once had, when the Eagles captured eight region titles and three state championships within a decade. Williams brings championship experience of his own, arriving with three region titles, three state championship appearances and one state crown over the last four seasons.
The Eagles are young, with just five seniors and a heavy sophomore presence on the roster. Williams said his team is still adjusting after losing about 20 seniors and undergoing a full coaching staff change.
“Kids are growing. We put a lot on them,” Williams said. “Early on, we’re still expecting a lot. But again, next man up is our mentality here. I want us to be able to go out, just compete, and fight our tails off. Once we get to playing that way, we’ll be on the better side of a lot of ball games, including this one.”
Northside’s defense has kept the team in games, with standout performances from players like seniors Briston Blasingame and Braylon Price, preseason All-State junior lineman Elijah Patmon, and senior defensive end Kel Harris, who Williams said could lead the team in sacks. Younger players have also stepped up, including junior defensive back Amauri Fountain, sophomore linebacker Jacaleb Greene and freshman quarterback JD Garmen.
Players say they’re motivated by the rivalry. “It means a lot to me,” Sophomore Inside Linebacker Jacaleb Greene said. “It’s the first time I’m ever playing the Demons for varsity, but I’m ready.”
Senior Defensive End Kel Harris added: “We’ve been losing to them all our years in high school. We gotta come out with a dub this year. Come out and support us.”
The Demons, led by head coach Shane Sams, have won the last eight matchups against the Eagles. Williams praised Warner Robins’ physicality and discipline.
“Coach Sams does a good job with them. Man, they’re playing lights-out football,” Williams said. “They’re fast, they’re physical, they’re well-coached. They are loaded. Each day it gets closer, I learn more and more about this rivalry. The amount of pressure that comes with this rivalry is insurmountable. So you just gotta be ready to go play. But like I told the guys in the team meeting, not too high, not too low. This is just another game on the schedule.”
Northside hasn’t beaten Warner Robins since 2016. With Greene Street and South Davis Drive just 2.2 miles apart, the Eagles and Demons are set to add another chapter to one of Georgia’s fiercest rivalries Friday night.
Tune into highlights from the game of the week on The Endzone during 41NBC News at 11 p.m. Catch live pregame coverage of the week’s matchups from McConnell-Talbert Stadium during 41NBC News at 5, 5:30, and 6 p.m.
