Another Beaufort County football season is in the books. It was a fruitful, historic season for Southside, which made its first regional final appearance in over a decade. With the exception of a shootout loss to powerhouse East Carteret, the Seahawks steamrolled through most of their regular-season opponents.

That paved the road for an enjoyable playoff run. They pummeled Southeast Halifax, 51-6, in their first-round contest. Northampton County and North Edgecombe proved to be peskier challenges, but Southside’s heart was on full display. The defense played its part, forcing timely turnovers that siphoned away momentum from the opposition, while senior running backs Lawrence Brown and Matt Baxter continued pounding on the ground.

After hosting its first three playoff games, Southside traveled to Plymouth for the 1-A state championship semifinal. The Seahawks came up short in the 17-12 loss, but that will not tarnish the incredible months of football to come out of Chocowinity this season. Their 12-2 finish is one of the best in program history.

Washington entered the season with its trip to last season’s state championship still fresh in its mind. As is the case with any team, there were ups and downs throughout the year. The Pam Pack decimated a formidable Southwest Edgecombe team, 53-13, on the road, only to turn around and get shutout in the second half en route to a 19-12 home loss to Beddingfield.

The boys went on to finish the season with back-to-back wins to earn a share of the 2-A Eastern Plains Conference Championship — along with the aforementioned Beddingfield and Southwest Edgecombe clubs.

They also earned the right to host their first-round playoff bout. Their campaign came to a shocking halt when Northside-Jacksonville came into town and shut them out, 34-0. The team’s seniors have a 7-5 finish and a share of a title to hang their hats on, but the early playoff exit stung.

The result may be a different offensive philosophy at Washington. Coach Sport Sawyer may deviate from the team’s traditional wing-T offense in lieu of a more balanced approach.

Northside’s season got off to a hot start. The Panthers started 2-0 with wins against Creswell and at North Duplin. Problems that plagued them a year before appeared to subside. Quarterback Jackson Midgette and running back James Barrow led a balanced offense and the team’s defense seemed set early on.

They sputtered from there and went on to lose out to finish 2-9. Northside’s campaign was punctuated by a 24-22 loss to a winless Lejeune squad.

The good news is that most of the pieces will return next year. Midgette and Barrow are both looking forward to their senior years. Midgette’s entire receiving corps will return. The group, led by rising senior Chris Slade, hauled in five touchdowns this year.

 

First Team

JOHNNY SULLIVAN, QB, SR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: 29-of-78, 609 yards, 8 TDs, 4 INTs

LAWRENCE BROWN, RB, SR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: 283 carries, 2,285 yards, 19 TDs

CLINTON POPE, RB, SR., WASHINGTON

STATS: 181 carries, 1,353 yards, 10 TDs

MATT BAXTER, RB, SR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: 133 carries, 1,244 yards, 20 TDs

JACKSON MIDGETTE, ATH, JR., NORTHSIDE

STATS: 41-of-84, 685 yards, 5 TDs, 6 INTs; 94 carries, 481 yards, 7 TDs

JARQUEZ KEYES, ATH, SR., WASHINGTON

STATS: 90 carries, 736 yards, 7 TDs; 69 total tackles (40 solo), 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries

JAMES BARROW, ATH, JR., NORTHSIDE

STATS: 100 carries, 600 yards, 7 TDs; 32 total tackles (9 solo), 1 fumble recovery

CHRIS SLADE, ATH, JR., NORTHSIDE

STATS: 634 all-purpose yards, 3 TDs; 19 total tackles (9 solo).

LEXROY BROWN, ILB, SR., WASHINGTON

STATS: 134 total tackles (60 solo), 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery

HUNTER SPARKS, MLB, JR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: 107 total tackles (77 solo), 2.5 sacks, 2 fumbles forced

MANUEL MENDOZA, MLB, NORTHSIDE

STATS: 75 total tackles (19 solo), 1 sack, 1 fumble forced, 2 fumbles recovered

NIGEL PEELE, OLB, SR., WASHINGTON

STATS: 84 total tackles (57 solo), 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries

TYRECE TAYLOR, OLB, JR., NORTHSIDE

STATS: 74 total tackles (31 solo), 3.5 sacks, 1 fumble forced

RAE’KWON MORNING, DE, SR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: 92 total tackles (60 solo), 7 sacks, 3 fumbles forced, 3 fumbles recoveries

AUSTIN O’NEAL, DE, JR., WASHINGTON

STATS: 99 total tackles (58 solo), 3 sacks

JOE MYERS, CB, JR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: 81 tackles (62 solo), 4 INTs, 4 fumbles forced, 5 fumble recoveries

ZIKAJAH CRAWFORD, S, JR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: 32 total tackles (26 solo), 4 INTs

HASAAN CREDLE, S, SR., WASHINGTON

STATS: 32 total tackles (13 solo), 3 INTs

NEILL JENNINGS, OL, SR., WASHINGTON

STATS: N/A

DONSHAE TATUM, OL, SR., SOUTHSIDE

STATS: N/A

 

Second Team

SUAE POE, RB, JR., WASHINGTON

JOSH CRANCE, OL, SR., SOUTHSIDE

SHAHEIM BREWINGTON, ATH, JR., NORTHSIDE

CONNER SAWYER, C, SR., WASHINGTON

CASHMIR BLOUNT, CB, SR., NORTHSIDE

TEDDY MINOR, OL, SO., SOUTHSIDE

BRANDON JACKSON, DL, SR., WASHINGTON

BRANDON SULLIVAN, OLB, SO., SOUTHSIDE

JEREMY MASSEY, DE, SR., SOUTHSIDE

NAZZIR HARDY, DB, SO., WASHINGTON

NICK BAUGHMAN, OL, SR., SOUTHSIDE

CAMERON CAHOON, MLB, SO., NORTHSIDE

KYLE HILL, CB, SO., SOUTHSIDE

MARK HALBERT II, LB, SR., WASHINGTON

IKEEM THOMPSON, DE, SR., NORTHSIDE

SHARWAN STATON, ATH, JR., WASHINGTON

AMARI PEELE, ATH, SO., SOUTHSIDE

 

 

Honorable Mentions

TRIPP BARFIELD, QB, JR., WASHINGTON

TANNER ALLIGOOD, OLB, SO., NORTHSIDE

DEMITRIUS EBRON, RB, SO., SOUTHSIDE

LOGAN LITTLE, JR, S, WASHINGTON

MATTHEW MARSLENDER, S, SO., NORTHSIDE

DYLAN LEWIS, RB, SR., SOUTHSIDE