GRIFFIN — On Thursday, the Griffin Bears put on a performance that will go down in history. They rolled past Northside-Columbus with a score of 60-14, securing their first playoff spot in four years.

Griffin now has a record of 5-2 for the overall season and 3-0 in region play. With three games left, the Bears are in a strong position to contend for the region championship.

The Bears got off to a slow start, leaving the game tied 14-14 at halftime. They erupted in the second half with 46 points while also holding Northside to under 100 yards.

Both the offense and defense dominated the game.

Sophomore quarterback Kelvin Johnson led the offense, accounting for four touchdowns and over 200 yards of total offense. Caden Ellis and Marquel Colden each added two rushing touchdowns. On defense, Griffin forced five turnovers, including an interception made by Zamaurey Daniel late in the game.

Head coach Bernard Goodrum attributed the slow start to the challenges of playing on an unfamiliar Thursday night. However, he was glad the coaches and players were able to overcome the obstacles and show their resilience in the second half.

“Tonight was special,” he said. “We practice on Sunday, and there are a lot of different variables that contributed to the slow start.”

Northside proved to be a formidable opponent despite entering the game with a losing record.

“They possess some excellent skills. For instance, 6 is an outstanding ball player and a Division 1 caliber kid,” Goodrum said. “It takes a little bit of time to get used to the Wing-T, but we came out in the second half and did a great job. I challenge those guys and the coaches to go out in the second half to play Bear football, and we definitely did that a little bit more.”

The win put the Bears in the driver’s seat to win the region championship, with three region games left. If the Bears win all three, they will secure the region title.

“It feels awesome as it’s a testament to our coaching staff, players, and the hard work that these kids have put in,” Goodrum said. “We are tied for first with Central Carrollton, and we have a big matchup against Jonesboro next week. They are ranked 11th in 4A and are one of the top teams in our region.”

The upcoming stretch will be a crucial test for the Bears as they close in on the region title.

“This will be an excellent contest for us and a measuring stick as we have three games left,” Goodrum said. “We win all three and we will be region champs, but we are just trying to take it one game at a time.”

With this win over Northside, the Griffin Bears mark a major milestone with five consecutive wins this season.

“The win tonight does secure a playoff spot, at least a four seed,” Goodrum said. “We are in the playoffs for the first time in four years. That’s a huge accomplishment for those kids and the program.”