Northside Finishes Regular Season Undefeated for First Time in School History

Northside, which has been one of the top football teams in the Tuscaloosa area year in and year out, has just added another incredible accolade to its dominant run through the decade, with Thursday's win marking the Rams' tenth win of the regular season, which makes this Northside team the first one ever to finish the regular season undefeated.

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Northside, once considered a struggling program 14 years ago, has undergone a significant transformation since the hiring of former head coach Chris Hilliker in 2012. Over the course of nine seasons, Hilliker achieved a remarkable record of 76-27, leading the Rams to the playoffs every year. Notably, in 2019, Northside reached the third round of the AHSAA Playoffs, marking the first time in school history that the team won a playoff game, although Jacksonville ultimately defeated them.

Hilliker retired after the 2021 season, finishing with three playoff victories as Northside's head coach. In 2022, Robbie Jones was named the new head coach and has successfully upheld the high standards established by Hilliker. On Thursday night, Jones elevated the program even further.

On Thursday, Northside defeated American Christian Academy with a final score of 45-14, which secured the Rams' tenth win of the season and their first-ever undefeated regular season. Jones and the Rams did so in a dominating fashion.

This team is led by junior quarterback Jackson Rhoades, who has had an outstanding season. He has consistently excelled in every game, highlighted by a remarkable five-touchdown performance against Demopolis in a region championship, which resulted in a 48-14 victory. In that game, Rhoades threw for over 300 yards.

He is supported by an impressive group of wide receivers, including junior Austin Kightlinger, senior Evan Taylor, and senior JJ Case, all of whom have played a significant role in Rhoades' success. Additionally, Northside's run game has been exceptional this season, primarily due to junior running back and outside linebacker Bennet Green. Standing at six feet and weighing 210 pounds, Green has proven nearly impossible to tackle, contributing multiple touchdowns in several games.

The success of the Rams' offense this season would not have been possible without the strong performance of the offensive line, which is composed of experienced upperclassmen. This has been a significant factor in the team's high-powered offense.

This season, Northside has shattered several program records, boasting the most efficient offense in the school's history. They scored a remarkable total of 496 points, averaging an impressive 49.6 points per game. The Rams had a dominant season, winning all their games with an average margin of victory of 56 points, a new school record. Their closest game was a 49-25 win against Jemison on October 10.

Northside's defense has also been playing lights out, with this defense only allowing 102 total points this season, while only allowing 10.2 points a game on their way to claiming the Class 5A Region 3 championship, with the Rams' defense only allowing 69 points in Area play, while its offense scored 313 total points in those games.

Northside aims to extend its ten-game winning streak as it seeks its first playoff victory under Coach Jones. The Rams will host Beauregard (3-6) from Opelika, Alabama, who is the fourth seed from Region 4, on Friday, November 7.

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