By TONY JONES

tony@newnan.com

Banneker didn't just play spoiler on Northgate's Homecoming night. Like a unwanted party guest, the Trojans did just enough to continuously irritate the Vikings in a 21-0 loss at Henry Seldon Field on Friday.

Banneker scored on its first possession, then took advantage of a Northgate drive that stalled at its own 28 with just over a minute left in the first half to take a 14-0 halftime lead, forcing the Vikings to play catch-up over the final two periods.

The Vikings had opportunities to jump back into the game, down 6-0. An 11-play drive chewed up more than six minutes of the Henry Seldon Field clock got the hosts to the Trojan 28.

Facing fourth and four at the Trojan 28, Northgate elected to call a timeout and roll the dice. The gamble didn't pay off as Banneker denied Northgate on fourth down.

"We weren't thinking about giving up points," said Vikings head coach Bill Luckie, with the Vikings to receive the second half kickoff. "We were thinking about saving as much time as we could and picking up the first down."

Banneker wasn't content at being only up 6-0. Following the fourth down stop, the Trojans had just enough time to go 74 yards in six plays, scoring with only 10 seconds left in the first half.

A five-yard touchdown pass from Quantavious Houston to DeMarco McNeal and the subsequent two-point conversion run by Alfred Moreland gave the Trojans a 14-0 advantage and momentum heading into the break.

Northgate tried to take advantage of the second half kickoff. On the second snap of the third quarter, Malcolm Poindexter raced 47 yards to the Banneker 13. But Northgate, looking at third and two from the four, bobbled the ball on third down. Then on fourth down, Cody Gatewood was stopped in the backfield at the Trojan 6.

"We made too many mistakes as we moved closer to pay dirt," said Northgate offensive coordinator Ben Anderson. "We had fumbles and missed assignments."

Northgate ran 30 offensive plays in the opening half. Poindexter finished the game with 96 yards on 15 carries. Freshman Peyton Usher rushed seven times for 30 yards.

But Northgate struggled through the air. Copeland was 2-for-8 passing for 14 yards. Poindexter and Usher also threw incompletions.

Northgate's best pass play was a 13-yard one handed fourth quarter grab in front of the home sideline by Poindexter.

An exhausted Viking defense, playing without Nic Dickens, Sterling Usher, and Chadd Smith, kept the game at 14-0 until Houston and McNeal connected a second time on a 34-yard touchdown pass with only 3:06 remaining.

The Viking defense, led by Toby Slagle, Alex Fitchett, Trent Parrera, and Dan Smith "gave a good effort," said Luckie. "They had to?face some gifted athletes," added Luckie.

Banneker opened the scoring in the first quarter, going 60 yards in just three plays. Moreland made one cut, jumped outside, and left the containment behind on a 37-yard rush with 5:10 left. The snap on the PAT was bobbled.