Power Scores: X Factors, Northgate

After going 2-8 last year, Northgate has turned things around in 2025 and sits at 7-0. According to our Power Score model, they are one of the best 5A teams in the state. They have a fun roster to dive into. Here is a look at a few of their X factors.    Clements' growth over the last year or so has been fun to watch. He is a baseball athlete and has always had some natural zip on the ball, confirmed by multiple in-person exposures. Now, his size and traits are starting to come along. He is listed at 6'2 195, built well into that frame, and has enough mass to remain durable against contact. Being tough helps too. He can push the ball vertically and works well on the move. He is fearless with the ball and has the arm to touch different levels. The next step in his development is to refine a bit down the field and get a better feel for trajectory. As far as drive ball throwing is concerned, I have always liked Clements, and he has another 2 and a half seasons ahead of him to continue refining.     Schettini has been the engine offensively for Northgate this year and continues to develop into one of the best 2028 backs in Georgia. He holds his frame with a low center of gravity and stout legs. His foot speed and short-area twitch are impressive, helping him jump around chaos in congested areas and search for open grass. Schettini is a sub-11 runner in the 100M and a school record holder, so once he finds grass, he can lift off. Schettini has an argument to be the biggest breakout RB in the state this fall, and it's a matter of time before he generates major recruiting attention.     Gill is the leading receiver for Northgate. He is a smaller receiver hovering around 5'8 160, but he contributes vertically at a high level for his size. He is quick to eliminate cushion and quickly puts DBs in recovery mode. His body control and adjustment skills are excellent for his size. Gill lines up some in the backfield, and in my opinion, I think he might project better as a receiving threat out of the backfield paired with a bigger back.     Kelly is one of the unsung heroes on the Northgate squad and possesses ideal measurables and physical upside at TE. Kelly is willing as a blocker, fires his feet, and has ample space to add play strength. Not to mention his 6'5 frame is a lot of body to run around. He projects more as a blocker to me, but does offer a "box out" option over the middle of the field as a receiver.     [player_tooltip player_id='908944' first='Brysen' last='Davies'] is a warrior on defense for Northgate and is pound for pound, one of the most productive players on his squad. He is well covered at this point. Here is a segment from a recent write-up from PRZ Scout Matt DeBary:   "One of the top linebackers in the metro-Atlanta area, Davies is a speedy, instinctive linebacker and one of the hardest hitting defenders across the state in the 2026 class. He has a nose for the football and brings a tough, physical presence. He's fundamentally sounds, wraps up properly, and was a tackling machine during Northgate's 27-21 win over Stars Mill. The 6-foot-1 210-pounder was all over the field and ended the night with 20 tackles and two quarterback hits. He continues to play at a high level and has a chance to light up the stat sheet all season long in 2025. He's currently ranked as the No. 22 LB prospect in Georgia for his class."     Williams is an underrated Northgate DB and one of the most productive players against the ball on his squad. Despite the size, there's not much to complain about with his game as a corner. He has good instincts at critical points of the route, squatting on receivers at the top of their stem and working through the hands to attack the football. He is a willing tackler. Long term, I could see Williams sliding inside to play nickel at the college level. He compensates for his size and is a trusted corner.     I dove into Stigall's film this summer, and he continues to validate some of what I saw on tape this fall. Here is what I said in that write-up, which still echoes true:   "Stigall is a big S prospect with D1 offers under his belt. He is tasked with covering a lot of territory, which he does well when combining his long strides with his pursuit skills. Lacks the elite juice that would typically get bigger schools involved, but compensates for it with his ability to leverage the ball and chase it across the field. He is a willing tackler at the point of attack who does a good job settling down before he strikes. He rarely misses the mark and will get better at bringing ball carriers to the ground as he adds play strength. His combination of pursuit skills and large tackling radius ties together the makings of a highly productive tackler at the next level."

After going 2-8 last year, Northgate has turned things around in 2025 and sits at 7-0. According to our Power Score model, they are one of the best 5A teams in the state. They have a fun roster to dive into. Here is a look at a few of their X factors.