The Northside Warner Robins High School Eagles, who are 3-0 and the state’s No. 1-ranked Class AAAA team, will provide the opposition for the Bainbridge High School Bearcats Friday night at Centennial Field.

It will be the first Region 1AAAA game for both teams. The Bearcats are 2-1 and are coming off an open date last Friday night.

The Eagles are led by junior running back Stephen Cross, who ran for two touchdowns in a 35-0 Sept. 4th victory over the Kendrick High School Cherokees of Columbus in Warner Robins.

Cross recovered a fumble by fellow running back Marte Pope at the Cherokees’ 4-yard line and ran in for his first touchdown in the first quarter. He ran 9 yards for a second-quarter touchdown.

Touchdown runs were also turned in by the senior running back tandem of Shaquille O’Neill and Chris Vickers.

They also got a boost from their special teams with defensive back Steven Nelson returning a punt 60 yards for a touchdown.

The Eagles, coached by Kevin Kinsler, were No. 2 in the state Class AAAAA playoffs a year ago.

In a 30-7 victory of the Lakeside High School Panthers this past Friday night in Evans, the Eagles pulled away in the second half.

They led just 10-0 on a 30-yard field goal by junior Dillon Mixon and a one-yard touchdown run by O’Neill, at halftime.

A 43-yard fourth-quarter touchdown pass from senior quarterback Briar Van Brunt to junior wide receiver Zedrick Scott helped seal the victory.