The Monarch Booster Club isn’t discouraged over Northside’s 28-6 loss to the Shelby Golden Lions Saturday afternoon.

“The boys did a great job, they worked hard out there and we’re proud of them,” Booster Club President Lori Erickson said.

The Northside Monarchs and Shelby Golden Lions battled for the NCHSAA state title during the championship football game at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.

“(The football team) should feel proud. No team from our school has ever gone to states, they made history today,” Erickson said.

The buses of football players, cheerleaders, band members and spectators left the high school early Saturday morning to travel to North Carolina State University’s Carter-Finley Stadium and battle against the three-time reigning 2-A champions.

Erickson says Northside’s football team did well despite being the underdogs, and the team should be excited for next year.

“They played well. We had a great time. I was on the field and looking at all the people I would say everyone was enjoying themselves,” Erickson said.

Upwards of 300 people traveled to see the Jacksonville team play undefeated Shelby.

Despite the loss, the boys can learn from their experience Saturday and possibly unseat the Golden Lions next year, Erickson said.

Erickson also says Coach Kendrick Pollock has done an amazing job as well as the entire football staff and she believes the football team will do even better next year.