GAME DAY 2018

Story by DONNELL SUGGS
The Northside High School Eagles
and long time head football and
athletic director Kevin Kinsler
had to hold multiple signing
day ceremonies this past season
to properly accommodate the
number of players moving on to the
collegiate level (In the county, only
rival Warner Robins High School
had more players move on to play
college ball).
With all of that success comes a
lot of turnover, yet Kinsler and his
staff are in one of the best positions
possible to keep the ball rolling. The
Eagles are returning starters at key
positions, including rising seniors
Jadin Daniels, Keonte Stewart,
Tre Odom, Justin Kuke, Kobie
Phillips, Kentrez Anthony, and quite
possibly the best players at their
positions in the region in kicker
CJ Munson, who recently verbally
committed to play at Western
Kentucky University, and Swiss
army knife do-it-all back Daniel
Neal. What was an up-and-down
season last year, the Eagles were 8-4
after losing two of their last three
games of the regular season before
losing in the second round of the
AAAAAA playoffs to Tucker High
School, has the potential to end in
yet another region title and long
playoff run a la the 2016 team led
by current Georgia Tech sophomore
quarterback Tobias Oliver. That
team, 11-3 overall, finished the
season with a 1-AAAAAA region
title and a semifinal playoff loss to
Tucker.
Northside
looking to get
back to
championship
ways
NORTHSIDE EAGLES
Daniels will run the offense at
quarterback again after having a
solid junior season, his first as a
starter. This past spring gave Kinsler
and his staff even more confidence
in the athletic department. “Jadin
had a very good spring throwing
the football and running the
changes on offense,” said Kinsler.
“He has a strong, accurate arm and
has really improved his reads. His
athleticism should be a plus for him
as he continues to improve.”
The 2018 Eagles will depend
heavily on Neal who led the rushing
attack last season. “[Daniel] Neal
has worked hard all offseason and
continues to be impressive as a
receiver and running the ball,” said
Kinsler.
Kinsler will also look to get onfield
leadership from Daniels, who
made his debut as the starting
quarterback last season and at
times looked like the secondcoming
of Oliver and at others, like
a first-year starter. Phillips and junior
Willie Northern, who is coming off
of a career year, will do a ton of
the receiving. “Offensively, we are
inexperienced and will have to rely
on dependable playmakers like
Neal and Northern and others as we
progress,” added Kinsler.
On defense the Eagles will have a
unique mix of veterans and rookies
starting this season. Players like
Tubby McCall, Kentrez Anthony,
KJ Little, and defensive linemen
Deandre Walker and Fred Chappell
Kevin Kinsler
Long time Northside High
school head coach Kevin
Kinsler will once again rely
heavily on the run game
behind a versatile group of
seniors and juniors but also
has plans to shake up the
offense this season.
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GAME DAY MAGAZINE 2018