After missing the playoffs last season and a slow start to begin the 2015 campaign, the North Hall Trojans are finishing the season on a hot streak.

North Hall has won four of its last five games after Friday night’s 42-22 victory over Chestatee at The Brickyard.

The victory clinched their third playoff berth in the past four seasons with playoff seeding to be determined next week when the Trojans travel to White County.

“Well, it feels really good,” North Hall coach David Bishop said. “I’m so proud of our kids, coaches and just the job they’ve both done to get back to where we are, and we’re not finished.”

The usually ground-oriented Trojans squad (5-4, 4-2 in Region 8-AAAA play) came out throwing behind quarterbacks Drew Altha and Jackson Madonna, who alternated every other series. The two combined to complete 7-of-10 first half passes for 206 yards as Chestatee held the Trojans to only 36 yards on the ground.

“They’ve not packed it in the box (in past games) and we saw that early on in the first play or two, we realized they were gonna put nine in the box. And when they do that we put some play-action off of it,” Bishop said of his team’s passes on early downs. “We probably should have hit a few more but, you know, that’s part of the game.”

The Trojans passed for 222 yards total (152 by Madonna) and rushed for 177 behind Colby Miller’s 71.

North Hall began the scoring on its first possession when Sam Jackson scored on a 13-yard end around at the 9:03 mark to finish off a seven-play, 80-yard drive. The highlight was a 20-yard reception by tight end Mac Bennett from Altha. Madonna completed the two-point conversion to Bennett for the early 8-0 lead.

Maddox Turner ran in from 6 yards out to give the Trojans a 15-0 lead on their next possession after Chestatee failed to convert a fourth down in its own territory. After a 66-yard punt return by Jackson set the Trojans up at the War Eagles’ 1-yard-line, Madonna scored two plays later on a keeper, pushing the lead to 22-0 early in the second quarter.

The War Eagles played better than their record indicated and were able to move the ball on the ground, rushing for 137 first-half yards and 227 overall. But as has been the case all season, mistakes such as holding penalties cost Chestatee at least 40 yards on offense and another 20 on defense, extending North Hall scoring drives and killing their own. The War Eagles had 11 total penalties for 78 yards.

The first half was the Sam Jackson show, as the senior celebrated in style with 193 all-purpose yards. That included a 67-yard touchdown reception off a play-action pass by Madonna to make it 28-0 midway through the second quarter. Jackson also had an interception negated by a North Hall holding penalty. For the game, he gained 295 all-purpose yards with two rushing touchdowns.

Chestatee quarterbacks were under pressure all night by a ferocious North Hall front seven, causing them to throw off their back feet and sail passes. Chestatee didn’t complete a pass until just before the third quarter ended, and finished with only 2 completions in 10 attempts for 89 yards. That included a 69 yard pitch-and-catch to Nick Beard for the War Eagles’ final score with minutes remaining in the game.

Linebacker Jake Meeler led North Hall with 12 tackles with Kyle Bacus adding a sack.

“I think overall we played well,” Bishop said of his team’s defensive performance. “The big plays we saw for them the past few weeks (on tape) they didn’t actually run. They run a lot of straight dive which is pretty tough because our linebackers not only have to take on a blocker but shed a blocker and make a play.

“Overall, I think our defense played well. Their quarterback’s tough to get a handle on and I think we did a pretty good job of containing them most of the night.”

The War Eagles showed fight in the second half as Nick Lyles returned a kickoff 84 yards to put them on the scoreboard. They continued to run on the Trojans, finishing with 227 yards on the ground, but the early deficit was too much to overcome. Lyles finished with 92 yards rushing and Baylee Camp added 77 more.

Chestatee (0-9, 0-6) is host to Monroe Area to finish out the season Friday night.

Trojans 42, War Eagles 22

Stats that matter: North Hall quarterbacks Jackson Madonna and Drew Alta combined to pass for 222 yards while Chestatee quarterbacks combined for only 2 completions.

Game changer: North Hall running back Sam Jackson had 295 all-purpose yards, including a 66-yard punt return setting the Trojans up at the War Eagles 1-yard line early in the game. H had a 67-yard touchdown reception one possession later to give the Trojans an insurmountable 28-0 lead.

Up next: North Hall plays at White County; Chestatee is home against Monroe Area