Fort Smith Northside Puts 2025 In the Past With 21-7 Win Against Crosstown Rival: Arkansas High School Football

Grizzlies break a three-year losing streak to city rival Southside in the "Battle of Rogers Avenue"

Fort Smith Southside (blue) takes on Fort Smith Northside in the annual "Battle of Rogers Avenue" | Karen Schwartz

It took a win in one of the top rivalries in Arkansas high school football for Fort Smith Northside to erase memories of 2005.

A winless team last season under first-year coach Dom Mirocke, the Grizzlies got Mirocke his first win at Northside in the best way possible, using a pair of big-play touchdowns for a 21-7 win against Fort Smith Southside in the renewal of the rivalry known as “The Battle of Rogers Avenue.”

Northside now owns a 36-28-2 advantage in the “Battle of Rogers Avenue,” and also avenged three straight losses to Southside.

MORE: Arkansas High School Football Preseason Top 25: Can Anyone Knock Off No. 1 Bryant?

Northside led from start to finish, scoring a touchdown on the game's opening drive. Early in the second quarter, Markell Whitfield returned an interception 88 yards to extend the lead to 14-0.

Then with the Grizzlies holding on to a 14-7 lead late, they used a little trickery to seal the win. On a third-down play, they went with a reverse, and Jayden Charles took it 63 yards to the house with less than two minutes left as the Grizzlies brought the post-game rivalry trophy back to Northside.

Follow High School On SI correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from Fort Smith.

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FS NORTHSIDE 21, FS SOUTHSIDE 7 FINAL

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POSTGAME

- Northside breaks a three-year losing streak to city rival Southside. And after going 0-10 last season, the Grizzlies are now 1-0 in 2026.

FOURTH QUARTER

- INTERCEPTION NORTHSIDE. Southside put together a late drive, reaching the red zone, but Northside's Jonah Caldarera picks off a pass at the goal line with 25 seconds left, and that will do it. Tremendous defensive performance from the Grizzlies.

- TOUCHDOWN NORTHSIDE. Wow, what a call by the Grizzlies on third down. They call a reverse, and it goes to Jayden Charles, who goes around the corner on the right side and races down the sideline for a 63-yard score, and it looks like the Grizzlies will win the "Battle of Rogers Avenue." (Northside, 21-7 | 1:31, 4th)

- Northside converts a first down and maintains possession with nearly three minutes left.

- Southside completes a pass, but comes up a couple yards short of the end zone. Northside delivers the goal-line stand.

- Southside faces a fourth-and-goal from the 8 with less than five minutes left.

- Southside gets the ball back and are putting together another drive. Mavs have a first-and-goal at the 10 with less than seven minutes left.

- Drive stalls for Southside and the Mavs try a field goal from about 35 yards out. But Northside's Cayden Dye comes through the line to block it, and the Grizzlies still have their seven-point lead with more than 10 minutes left.

THIRD QUARTER

- INTERCEPTION SOUTHSIDE. Pass goes through a Northside player and into the hands of Southside's Alex Cole, who runs it back inside the Grizzly 20 on the final play of the quarter.

- Southside marches into Northside territory before the drive stalls. Mavs will punt it back to the Grizzlies, who are still up by seven with less than three minutes to go in the third.

- FUMBLE RECOVERY NORTHSIDE. Southside gets past midfield, but fumbles a handoff and the Grizzlies come up with the football.

- Southside gets the ball to begin the second half.

HALFTIME

- Halftime in Fort Smith, and the Grizzlies are holding on to a touchdown advantage.

SECOND QUARTER

- Southside gets inside the Northside 25, but a bad snap pushes the Mavericks back. Then on fourth-and-long, Northside's Braylin Henry comes up with a sack in the final second of the first half.

- Southside forces Northside to punt, and it's a short kick. Mavs have the ball inside Grizzlies' territory with less than two minutes left in the half.

- TOUCHDOWN SOUTHSIDE. Mavericks get on the board as QB Michael Nolewajka hooks up with receiver Jeffrey Clunn from 9 yards out and it's a one-score game. (Northside, 14-7 | 3:27, 2nd)

- Southside goes for it on fourth down in Northside territory and gets a completed pass. Mavericks in the red zone near the five-minute point in the half.

- PICK-SIX NORTHSIDE. Southside putting together a deep drive early in the second, but Northside DB Markell Whitfield jumps the route and picks it off. He goes in all the way untouched from 88 yards out. (Northside, 14-0 | 9:24, 2nd)

FIRST QUARTER

- Southside misses a field goal inside the final minute of the opening quarter, and Northside takes over for its second series on the evening.

- Southside inside the Northside 35 and goes for it on fourth down. Pass is tipped, but the Grizzlies are flagged for a personal foul penalty. Mavericks retain possession and they are now inside the red zone.

- TOUCHDOWN NORTHSIDE. A very impressive opening drive by the Grizzlies, who take it in as QB Ja Posey gets the score on a short keeper. (Northside, 7-0 | 6:21, 1st)

- Northside advances into Southside territory on the game's opening series.

- Southside wins the coin toss and defers to the second half. Northside will be on offense to start things off. Southside in silver helmets, white jerseys and white pants; Northside in red helmets, red jerseys and white pants.

PREGAME

- Live from Mayo-Thompson Stadium on the campus of Northside High School in Fort Smith, it’s the renewal of the “Battle of Rogers Avenue” as the Grizzlies welcome their crosstown rival, the Mavericks of Southside High.

About Fort Smith Southside

The Mavericks finished 6-5 last season, and will bring back six offensive starters. One of those is sophomore running back Terrell Warren. Southside also has an experienced line headed up by senior guard Colby Castling and senior tackle Landon Grimm.

On defense, Southside also brings back six starters. The Mavs have size and experience up front with senior linemen Dalton Sherrod and Samuel Prewitt, as well as an experienced secondary headed up by senior safety Layden Rowe.

About Fort Smith Northside

It was a rough 2025 for the Grizzlies, as they didn’t win a single ballgame. They are definitely hoping things are better in 2026.

The Grizzlies are bolstered by the return of six starters on offense and they also brought in senior quarterback Jaseir Posey, who helped Pocola (Okla.) reach the state semifinals as a junior, and running back Jaryus Birdsong, who played with Posey at Pocola. Senior All-Conference receiver Keelan Mendoza will be one of Posey’s primary targets.

Northside also brings back six starters on defense, led up front by senior Cayden Dye. The Grizzlies also have a trio of experienced senior linebackers in Jonah Caldarera, Imani Marshall and Braylin Henry.