Northeast Raiders Seek Redemption in State Quarterfinal Clash With Toombs County
The 10-2 Raiders ride dominant defense, late-season surge into Week 16 showdown for The EndZone's Game of the Week
MACON, Georgia – (41NBC/WMGT) – Week 16 of the high school football season has arrived, and only three area teams remain in the hunt for GHSA state titles. One of them, the Northeast Raiders, are back in the Class A Division I state quarterfinals and hungry for revenge.
The Region 2-A D-I champions (10–2) enter Friday’s matchup riding a five-game win streak powered by one of the state’s toughest defenses. The Raiders have allowed just 41 total points during that stretch while their balanced offense has surged for nearly 200 points in that same stretch.
Head coach Jeremy Wiggins says Thanksgiving week practices are a reminder of how far the program has come.
“It’s a lot just to be practicing on Thanksgiving right now, just to be able to come out and get a chance to play another week for these seniors and for these guys and coaches in this community,” Wiggins said. “We know Toombs County is a very, very good football team… Coach Martin does a great job… They’ve got a real good running back, solid O-line, solid D-line. We look forward to the matchup.”
Friday’s opponent is a familiar one. Toombs County eliminated Northeast last December in Atlanta at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the GHSA Class A D-I State Championship, and the Raiders have spent the year eyeing another shot.
Defensively, Northeast has been electric. Two-way standout Kortnei Williams has produced 400 rushing yards and a remarkable nine interceptions, while Juju Miley has added five picks of his own. Linebackers Tailen Sampson and Tayvon Shivers have combined for nearly 200 tackles, anchoring a unit that has carried the Raiders through key stretches.
But injuries have complicated the Raiders’ postseason push. Star pass rusher Amari “Agent Zero” White, who leads the team with seven sacks, will miss his fifth straight game. Freshman quarterback Jordan Wiggins, who threw for more than 2,000 yards and 29 touchdowns, has been sidelined for the season with a broken clavicle.
In response, Northeast has turned back to senior playmaker Bam Glover, who quarterbacked last year’s deep playoff run. He and guys like Isaiah Stubbs and Harold Simms have stepped up as the roster reshuffles.
“The momentum is kicking back in,” Glover said. “We had to change it up a little because Jordan Wiggins went down… But you got me coming back in, getting guys ready, getting that rhythm again. I’m ready for the role.”
Glover said he expects to lean on his legs more this time, attacking Toombs County’s secondary and bringing a more physical edge than he did in last year’s meeting.
“This revenge game, we are coming out hungry,” he said. “We want it.”
The Raiders travel to Lyons on Friday for the rematch in The EndZone’s Week 16 Game of the Week, with a berth in the state semifinals on the line. Tune into The EndZone Friday night during 41NBC News at 11 p.m. for highlights and more. Kickoff between the Raiders and Bulldogs is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
