MADISON- Then there were none.

The post-season football playoffs began with three local schools advancing to the playoffs only to see two of the programs eliminated after round one with Madison Academy the lone survivor. In round two, the Mustangs suffered a gut-wrenching loss only to fall to the visiting Northside Rams 28-21 thus ending their season at 10-1.

The Class 4-A matchup featured the No. 2 ranked Mustangs hosting the Rams where the home team struck first on a touchdown pass by senior quarterback Avery Seaton as he rolled out of the pocket and hit his fellow senior Andrew Clark on a 27-yard strike for the opening score in the first quarter. The Mustangs opened a 14-nothing lead with 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter as Seaton scampered on a seven-yard run for a score. Northside cut the lead in half with its own TD inside the two-minute mark of the first half.

Midway through the third quarter the Rams struck again to tie the game only to see Madison Academy go up one score with 90 seconds remaining in the quarter when Lawson Minor made a spectacular catch off a tipped pass and score from 27 yards out.

The Mustangs’ defense gave its best in the final stanza, but Northside tied the game with seven minutes remaining and then went on a 70-yard march to score on a one yard quarterback sneak with 1:30 left on the clock to post a 28-21 lead. The Mustangs mounted an incredible drive to score and had one last chance effort from the Rams’ four-yard line on the final play of the game. Seaton’s pass fell incomplete to end the game.

With the upset victory, Northside (10-2) advanced to the quarterfinals of the AHSAA playoffs.