The Conroe Northside Lions Varsity Football team defeated the Georgia Force Blue Knights in the first ever American Homeschool National Championship in Mobile, Ala. earlier this month by a score of 34-6, to claim their first ever national title and their first undefeated season 13-0.
Led on offense by sophomore QB Kohein Jergenson, senior RB/LB Karston Jergenson, senior WR/DB Ethan McMillan, senior WR/S Kole Alexander, and freshman kicker Finn Isbell, the Lions’ perfect season became a reality.
With their best defensive game of the season, the Lions held Georgia Force, a team that averaged almost 40 points per game this season, to just two field goals.
The Lions were led on defense by Karston Jergenson, junior DB Mark Phillips, juniors OL/LB Daniel Buchanan, OL/LB Joseph Buchanan, OL/DL Rylan Reagan, sophomore RB/DL Deklen Kearney, senior DL Kaven Geoffrion, junior DB Jackson Riley, McMillan and Alexander, Northside was able to force 3 turnovers and keep the Blue Knights out of the end zone.
The Blue Knights’ head coach, Steve Riley, whose team was coming off a big win in the South Carolina High School Playoffs offered, “Great game, very impressive game Lions. We thought that we would give you a more competitive game, but you were clearly the best team tonight.”
Northside’s Head Coach Mike Helmer added, “Georgia Force has set the bar high on a national basis for years and we are the new guys on the block. Our hats are off to you guys, and we look forward to future matchups.”.
Helmer later told his team, “In my 29 seasons of coaching, this is my first ever perfect season. You guys enjoy this because a national championship and an undefeated season is rare air. Probably has only been accomplished by a few high school teams.”
Named to the All-Tournament team from the Lions were Kole Alexander, Joseph Buchanan, Karston Jergenson (MVP), Kohein Jergenson, and Ethan McMillan.
After the team’s season ending banquet in early December, NSL seniors Alexander, Jergenson, and McMillan will be traveling to Gatlinburg, TN, to play in the All-American Bowl in mid-December. Private school and homeschool players from across the country will play in this event.
The Lions are part of the Northside Sports Association, 501c3 organization that offers professionally coached, Christian based cheer and football programs for junior high and varsity student athletes who attend homeschool, private school, charter school, or online classes. If you are interested in learning more about NSA or if you have a student athlete who is looking for a championship caliber organization, contact us: nslionsfootball@gmail.com, northsidelionsfootball.com, or follow us on Instagram @lionsnorthside.
