Southside Finding Its Stride: Two Weeks of Growth and Grit Spark Turnaround

After a rocky start to the season, the Southside Seahawks are finally finding their rhythm. Over the past two weeks, the team has shown clear signs of progress — starting with a 32-6 win over Jones Senior and continuing with a dominant 44-24 homecoming victory against Pamlico County. The back-to-back performances have reignited belief within the program and validated what head coach Andrea Quinerly has been preaching since August: steady improvement pays off.

Quinerly couldn’t hide his relief after the win at Jones Senior. “Oh wow, I feel good. Very good about it,” he said. “We still gotta clean it up a lot — we had a lot of cloth on the field, 100 yards of penalties in that game. But the kids executed, they followed the game plan, so I was pleased with that.”

That win marked a turning point. The Seahawks, who had struggled to finish games earlier in the year, suddenly began to play with confidence and purpose. “They needed this one very badly,” Quinerly said. “It gave them the strength to continue throughout the season because if we lost that game, it would’ve been harder every week pulling the kids together.”

The message landed.

One week later, Southside came out with even more fire against Pamlico County, feeding off homecoming energy and a standout performance from senior running back Javonn McCall. McCall turned in a performance to remember, rushing for more than 300 yards and four touchdowns, powering the Seahawks’ most complete offensive outing of the season.

“Going into the game, the energy was different,” McCall said. “It was a rivalry game, and also homecoming, so I had more energy coming into it. The energy from my teammates really boosted how I played.”

McCall said he knew it was going to be a special night early on. “The first offensive drive, I had that 60-yard run — I knew it was going to be a good game,” he said. “After that, I was just in a zone. But it was all because of that line — they really helped me out.”

The senior credited his breakout game to improved discipline and trust in his blockers. “This week, my coaches really emphasized staying tight on blocks and letting them lead me where I need to go,” McCall said. “Once I get there, I just take off and make a move. That really helped me out this week.”

Coach Quinerly echoed that sentiment, pointing to improved chemistry and maturity across the roster. “Defensively, we’re getting to the football,” he said. “Offensively, they’re supporting each other and playing well together. The offensive line is starting to gel just a little bit now.”

The past two wins have shown that growth. Southside piled up 369 rushing yards against Pamlico County and 227 total yards against Jones Senior. Quinerly also praised his senior leader — a receiver and defensive back who has become a major playmaker — returning multiple kickoffs for touchdowns this season and showing steady leadership. “He has become a leader,” Quinerly said. “He came in this summer and matured big time. He’s taken losses and learned from them, pulling his team together. Very mature young man.”

As for McCall, his mindset is centered on leaving a lasting mark. “It’s the most important thing — leaving something behind so the younger guys can look up and want to do better,” he said. “I want to take football beyond high school, but I also want to leave an impact to help others become better.”

With two straight wins, Southside has climbed to No. 32 in the state 2A RPI rankings and 16th in the East, positioning itself well for a playoff push. The Seahawks now stand at 3-5 overall and 2-1 in the Coastal Plains 1A/2A Conference, sitting third behind Northside-Pinetown and East Carteret.

Their next test is a big one: an undefeated Northside-Pinetown team on Friday night. But with momentum, confidence, and a star running back finding his stride, Southside believes it’s ready for the challenge.