Northside, Carver to square off in important region opener

Although the 2017 high school football season is still only in its early stages, one of Friday’s games may very well determine Region 1-4A.

Friday’s matchup between Northside and Carver is the first region game of the season for both squads and could be their most important. The two teams have their sights set on making a run at the top spot in the region. Despite two very different starts to the fall, both enter Friday with the same chance to make it happen.

The Patriots’ 3-0 start has featured games that were far from perfect but ones that showed they could contend. Northside head coach Morgan Ingram has been pleased with the progress he’s seen, particularly with his offense’s run-pass balance.

With quarterback Chandler Blanton finding targets like tight end Caleb Johnson and wide receiver Quincy Brown coupled with lead back Fred Davis and fellow contributor Marcus Smith handling the carries, the Patriots offense has shown itself capable. There just remains room for improvement for everyone going forward.

“We still made too many mistakes, particularly in the first half Friday (against Jordan),” Ingram said. “We corrected a lot of those in the second half and were able to put some things together. Getting into the region schedule, we have to eliminate those mental errors that we’ve been having. We are improving in that area, but we still need a lot more.”

Miscues are always easier to fix after a win. Carver, however, hasn’t had that luxury.

The Calvin Arnold era at Carver has gotten off to rough start, as the team sits 0-3 including its first loss to rival Spencer since 1998. Along with penalties and general miscues, Arnold said the biggest problem in the Tigers’ losing streak has been their inability to capitalize in big moments.

Carver’s three losses have been by a combined 16 points, meaning that just a few breaks going its way could have the team sitting undefeated.

“Everybody’s still on the same page; we just have to make sure we get a ‘W’ in the win column,” Arnold said. “It’s about making sure we come ready to play every game from this point on. Every game counts, so everybody understands what’s at stake. We still have our goal in mind, which is to win the region. I think we have a chance to do that, starting with this week.”

Ingram said the film shows Carver is not playing like an 0-3 team, as its players’ athleticism is hard to dismiss. He emphasized that the mental aspect of the game will be important, as his team needs to believe it can beat what has been the most consistent squad in Muscogee County over the last 10 years. On the flip side, the Northside players can’t get overconfident because they’re playing a winless squad.

Ingram’s Patriots are eager to make the most of this season and win the region for the first time in school history. To do that, the Patriots will likely need to beat the Tigers, something else Northside has never done.

“The last 10 or 12 years, Carver has been a top-notch football program, and everybody knows how good they’ve been,” Ingram said. “It does add a little bit to know it’s a really good football team and one the school has never beaten before.

“They are the next team on our schedule, and our goal is to win a region championship. (Beating Carver) would be the logical next step.”

This story was originally published September 14, 2017 at 1:25 PM with the headline "Northside, Carver to square off in important region opener."