The North Middle School Gators opened the 2026 season with plenty to celebrate Thursday night, traveling to Cannon County and earning an impressive 44-30 victory over the Lions. The win was North’s first season-opening victory in five years and the first regular-season win for head coach Landon Relford since taking over the program. More importantly, it offered an exciting glimpse of the progress being made by the Gators. North’s offense produced big plays throughout the night behind a strong performance from the offensive line, while Zi Eady delivered a standout effort in all three phases of the game.
Despite playing in the heat of July 30, the Gators came out with energy and immediately began moving the football. North appeared to strike first when quarterback Kaidon Speck connected with Eady on a deep touchdown pass, but the score was erased by a penalty. The Gators remained composed, continued the drive and took an 8-0 lead on a four-yard touchdown run by Jacob Sweeton and a successful two-point conversion. North would never surrender the lead.
Cannon County answered when quarterback CJ Bethel found Amir Wilson for a 30-yard touchdown pass after a breakdown in the Gators’ coverage. The Lions pulled within 8-6, but North responded with another strong offensive possession. The Gators continued picking up yards in bunches before Eady finished the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 14-6. Bethel and the Lions answered again, connecting with Gavin Cuttler for a 25-yard touchdown. Cannon County’s conversion attempt failed, leaving North in front 14-12.
The Gators responded with one of the biggest plays of the night. On the first play of the following possession, Speck connected with Leo Dorsey for a 55-yard touchdown — Speck’s first official touchdown pass of the season. The successful conversion gave North a 22-12 advantage. The Gators immediately created another opportunity when Eady recovered the ensuing onside kick. North capitalized on the extra possession, with Eady carrying the ball across the goal line to increase the lead to 28-12 before halftime.
The closing moments of the first half also provided a reminder that the game was about more than football. Wilson was injured during a tackle and remained on the field in visible pain while being evaluated by emergency medical personnel. Relford and the Gators gathered in prayer for the Cannon County player on the visitors’ side of the field.
At halftime, Relford left his assistant coaches to begin making second-half adjustments with the team while he walked across the field to check on Wilson. It was a powerful moment that showed his players what truly matters.
North carried its momentum into the second half. Eady intercepted Bethel on Cannon County’s opening possession, and Speck crossed the goal line from eight yards out moments later to extend the Gators’ lead to 36-12. After also losing Cuttler to an injury, the Lions leaned heavily on Bethel’s athleticism. The Cannon County quarterback rushed for a pair of touchdowns as North began rotating some of its younger players into the game, allowing the Lions to close the gap to 36-24.
With just over a minute remaining, the Gators delivered the decisive blow. Speck completed a screen pass to Eady, who found open space and raced more than 60 yards for a touchdown. The conversion extended North’s lead to 44-24 and secured the season-opening victory. Cannon County added one final score with 10 seconds remaining when Bethel connected with Cash Cranston for a 75-yard touchdown, producing the final score of 44-30.
Eady earned Player of the Game honors after contributing in nearly every possible way. He finished with two rushing touchdowns, a receiving touchdown, an interception, a forced fumble, and an onside-kick recovery. Bethel accounted for all five Cannon County touchdowns, throwing three and rushing for two, but the Lions could not consistently slow North’s split-back power offense.
The Gators controlled the line of scrimmage, created explosive plays and answered nearly every Cannon County challenge with a score of their own. For a North Middle program working to build confidence, excitement and a winning culture, Thursday night represented an important step forward — and an encouraging beginning to the new season.
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