H.S. FOOTBALL: North Side beats South Gibson

MEDINA – The North Side coaching staff found out on Thursday afternoon that starting quarterback Tyalen Shaw was not going to be able to play due to concussion symptoms against South Gibson on Friday night.

No problem. They put sophomore Dexter Pirtle with minimal experience in at quarterback and challenged the whole team to rise to the challenge.

North Side (8-1), behind a stingy defense and a second half running attack, was able to grind out a 19-7 win over South Gibson (2-7).

“Dexter did a great job for us tonight. He got some extra reps on Thursday and just came in and took command of the huddle and offense tonight,” North Side coach Tab Vowell said after the game.

“This was a great win for us tonight. We had to do things the hard way. I have to give the South Gibson kids a lot of credit. They came out and played hard all night.”

The Indians’ running back Tedaruis Wilson powered his way into the end zone from three yards out to give North Side a 7-0 lead with just 32 seconds left in the first quarter. The scoring drive of just 14 yards was set up when South Gibson on fourth down snapped the ball over the punter’s head and recovered it 31 yards from the line of scrimmage.

The Hornets were able to tie the score when quarterback Airan Reed dropped back to pass on third and nine, then pulled the ball down and raced 45 yards around the left side for South Gibson’s only touchdown of the night tying the score at 7-7.

Tyler Dysart set the drive up with a 25-yard punt return that gave South Gibson the ball on the North Side 46-yard line.

North Side’s defense, which was able to come up with a big stop almost every time the Hornets tried to get a drive started, held South Gibson to 62 yards of total offense in the first half and 151 yards for the game.

“I am very pleased with the way the defense played tonight. They rose to the challenge,” Vowell said.

The third quarter was a battle of both defenses as neither was able to move the ball into enemy territory. Only one first down was gained in the quarter.

North Side took control of the game in the fourth quarter after Jordan Winston recovered a fumbled punt return by Dysart on the Hornets’ 27-yard line. Three plays later Wilson ran up the middle for three yards and his second touchdown of the game to give the Indians a 13-7 lead with 5:38 left in the game.

North Side hosts Haywood on Halloween, and South Gibson visits Dyersburg.