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HOUSTON COUNTY FOOTBALL 2007 NORTHSIDE From page 6 A lot of guys are really doing well. But everybody has a role to play and needs to be ready to as sume that role.” Nix made those statements early in the week of Aug. 20, right after a scrimmage with Perry High. This was another week of record heat in August with indexes reaching 115 degrees. It’s conditions that can take away a lot of that zip and glit ter, even for an elite football pro gram. Nix said, however, he is proud of his players for getting through the hot weather without any serious health problems. “That shows our guys are in good shape,” he said. “Obviously you can’t get complacent. You have to continue to hydrate and make sure you take care of yourself eating and nutrition. Obviously it affects you mentally, drains you a little bit, but it’s something we have to push through and keep getting better.” But what about all that talent Nix and his staff have to work with day after day? Is it getting better with each passing year? Even Northside has its concerns, because Nix said even here everyone has to perform at the same level or there will be , n 4 n r A a A a I 'l° I 2 l° I 3 l° I 4 l° I ¥ I 4 l° I ¥ I 2 l® I.. 1 1/ Northside SvHigh School 'At- 478-929-7858 Date Day Time Aug 31 Fri Sep 07 Fri 7:30 PM Sep 14 Fri Sep 20 Thu Sep 27 Thu Oct 05 Fri 7:30 PM Oct 12 Fri 7:30 PM Oct 19 Fri 7:30 PM Nov 02 Fri Nov 09 Fri ♦ Houston Healthcare Houston Medical Center problems. “You’re always concerned about consistency,” he said. “Everybody’s doing good, but one or two guys make a mistake. That affects the whole thing. You might do that once every four or five plays, but when you do it every play, it affects you tremendously” That’s the kind of bug the Eagle staff has been working to correct this month. Nix said the Eagles need to keep a consistent focus in a case where they have one unit on the field 12 to 15 plays in a row. The Northside offense is one that can be on the field a long time. Last year it was a young of fense with few exceptions like se niors Jacobi Rodriguez and Brent Moore. But even with it now being a veteran core group, Nix said they are not immune to the mistake here and there, especially from guys whom they need to make big plays. “They have plenty of experience and a lot of playing time,” he said. “Obviously they haven’t had this critical a role in the past. They were maybe starters, but with a lesser role as a starter. Now it’s their turn to be those big-time players, and they haven’t assumed that role yet.” Nix doesn’t have many worries, 926 Green St., Warner Robins Opponent Houston County (1-AAAAA) Warner Robins (1-AAAAA) North Clayton (4A-AAAA) Jones County (48-AAAA)* Dutchtown (48-AAAA)* Stockbridge (48-AAAA)* Baldwin (48-AAAA)* Upson-Lee (48-AAAA)* Westside, Macon (48-AAAA)* Region Playoffs Houston Lake Med-Stop Hwy 127 & Moody Rd. 478-988-1865 Visit our website at www.hhc.org though, about his senior quarter back Marques Ivory. Nix said this is a year where Ivory, without Ro driques there as a reliable backup, needs to be hungry along with his usual sharpness and knowledge of the game. “He can’t take things for grant ed,” he said. “A lot of times people who are sharp let things slip up on them where they weren’t quite as focused, where it wasn’t exactly like they saw it.” There are no concerns about running back, where Tijuan Green achieved star status with 1,000 yards rushing in the playoffs alone. Nix said both Green and Xavier Hawkins have had great practices so far. Green was particularly dan gerous running out of a shotgun spread, a formation Nix said fans will see again this year along with two-back sets. It will all depend, he said, on what the Eagles show they do best in the early going. Ivory’s targets at receiver look to be loaded with touchdown poten tial led by three-year starters Nick Bass and Kevyn Cooper. Nix said there’s no reason that these two, big parts of the 29-1 record the past two years, can’t be a dominat ing force. “Jerome Bibbins is an outstand ing player,” said Nix about just one of his many prospects on the Location Home Away Home Home Home Away Home Away Home Home Pavilion Med-Stop N. Houston Rd at Houston Mall 4789-923-2843 ° M .i m.■i...¥...i..M.j..?p.Tzar:i..:?i?..:i NEW STEAKHOUSE IN TOWN! QB , .. t . offensive line. “I hope he’ll have the kind of year we’re expecting of him. He has high expectations also. I believe all of our offensive line will have a good year.” Guard Vashawn Oats and center Jordan Dooley give Nix two more seniors up front. And there’s Will Zunino, a senior tackle who lost most of his junior year due to in jury Nix said he’s held up well to the rigors of the heat and doing a fine job. “We have three or four guys we are working really hard (at tight end),” said Nix about a spot that also picks up several years in the offense. “Hopefully they’ll take up some of the slack left with Brent’s graduation.” The Eagle offense averaged 35 points a game last year, and Ivory passed for more than 1,800 yards with 27 touchdowns. For Nix, this year won’t be so much a matter of improving on those numbers, but maintaining that pace. “I hope we can maintain. We were pretty good last year in a lot of areas,” he said. “Hopefully we’re a little bit better on the offensive line, places where we have guys who’ve played there before. But they have to do the job. Hopefully we can get back to the level we were last year. “A lot of it will depend on execu- W »V«A«MOV»l 100 HAMPTON COURT PERRY, GA 31069 •••■ ■ 478-988-1500 tion of little things. Against Perry we had a lot of penalties, most on the defensive side. Ball security is always a major issue and make sure everybody knows what to do.” Northside’s best experience and overall leadership last year came from its defense, a unit that only allowed 110 points. So this year, it looks to be a bit of the opposite with the least amount of experi ence (four starters back) and lead ership potential. “The big concern is the defen sive backs,” said Nix. “We lost all four of those guys. Not only were they starters and pretty big play ers. They looked good in uniform, but they were great kids, too. I really miss them. We have some guys who will have to step up. Our expectations don’t change. We coach them hard. Coach (Kevin) Kinsler’s worked hard with them. I hope they’re ready to accept the responsibility.” The secondary is missing Ma rio Armstrong and Mitchell Bell among others, and at linebacker, gone is Deonta Jordan and Isaac Wilson. “You don’t replace those guys,” said Nix. “But you have some guys who hopefully their ability as a unit will compensate for some of that. See NORTHSIDE 1, page 18 Sun.- Thurs. 11am-10pm Fri. and Sat. 11am-11pm Come Join Us And Have A Good Time! 13 1