The Northside-Columbus High School Patriots, the Bainbridge High School Bearcats Region 1AAAA opponent Saturday at 2 p.m. at Columbus’s Kinnett Stadium, likes to mix it up on offense.

They have had success both running and throwing the football, and also have a strong kicking game, according to reports from the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.

Senior kicker Tyler McKay kicked a career long 42-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 10-7 victory over in-town rival Shaw High School of Columbus.

Offensively, running back Pat Smith, who has averaged 15.7 yards a carry, senior captain Michael Faggett, who has averaged 4.8 yards a carry, and quarterback Jalen Lacy, who has thrown for 150 yards, are the leaders.

Defensively, the Patriots have tackle Walker Seldon, who leads Region 1-AAAA with 43 tackles this season, 25 solo and 18 assisted. Four of his tackles were for a loss.

Seldon’s teammate, linebacker Stephen Graziano, is the region’s fourth-leading tackler with 48, 18 solo and 20 assisted.

Bearcats Head Coach Ed Pilcher says every team in Region 1-AAAA has playmakers, and his team will have to play well to win.

“Northside Columbus has good players on both sides of the ball,” Pilcher said.

Northside won its first three games against lower-class opponents but then lost to region foes Lee County and Thomas County Central.

Stats included in this article were provided by Region 1-AAAA statistician Chip Ariail, a local teacher and coach.