The Northside-Warner Robins football team showed why they are tops in the state and No. 11 in the nation Friday, defeating Baldwin High School 31-0.

The Braves kept it close in the first half, holding the Eagles scoreless in the first quarter, Northside found some rhythm in the second, scoring 10 points.

The Eagles first scored on a 37-yard field goal with five minutes to go in the half, and they broke into the end zone on a 50-yard touchdown pass right before the break.

Northside’s offense broke out of its slump in the third, scoring on a 31-yard touchdown run just 26 seconds into the half. With 6:39 to go, in the quarter they struck again, this time on a 52-yard pass to make it 24-0.

Baldwin’s best chance to score came late in the third quarter, when the Braves drove down to the Northside 3-yard line.

BHS quarterback Wayne Williams tried to run it in, but the Eagles stripped the ball and recovered in the end zone for a touchback.

Northside capped off the scoring with nine minutes to go in the game on a 10-yard touchdown pass.

Baldwin (4-1) returns to action Oct. 19, playing host to Jones County.

The Union-Recorder sports department can be reached at (478) 453-1465 or sports@unionrecorder.com