PINETOWN — Nov. 4 was an emotional night for Northside quarterback Jackson Midgette and his cohort that took the Panthers from a struggling team to a postseason contender. Midgette and the Panthers walloped Lejeune, 50-0, that evening on their senior night.

The final home regular-season game is always foreboding of the end of most football careers. For Midgette, though, it was only the end of a chapter. He had been in contact with N.C. Wesleyan since the beginning of his senior campaign. That night, the Battling Bishops’ coaching staff reached out to wish him good luck and tell him that he has a spot on their football team.

“It was very emotional because, on senior night, I’m with all my boys I’ve been with since sixth grade,” Midgette said. “We all came up together. It was overwhelming. I’m glad because I love football. I love the sport. I love everything about it.”

Midgette will continue his football career at Wesleyan after signing his letter of intent on Friday afternoon. He became the third player from his class to earn the opportunity to continue playing.

“It’s a tribute to all the hard work Jackson has put in,” coach Keith Boyd said. “He didn’t miss any summer workouts. He’s there every day. He’s dependable. I think Wesleyan is getting a good kid that they can depend on and be coachable. I think he’ll do well.”

Those intangibles will carry over to the college level. The Panther quarterback was one of the leaders on the team, but he had a quieter, lead-by-example style.

On the field, Midgette’s athleticism allows him to be an impact player wherever he is needed. His 567 rushing yards and eight touchdowns were both second on the team. As a defensive back, he had a pair of interceptions.

“I feel like Jackson can go to Wesleyan, and because of his athleticism, be versatile,” Boyd said. “They can try him at different spots and find the one that fits for him and what they need.

“… I’m expecting him to be a good student, be there athletically and do whatever the coaches ask of him. I have a feeling that, when it comes down to it, they’re going to look back and say Northside is a good school. He’s going to be a reflection of us at Wesleyan.”

Midgette said that the tight-knit family feeling that he valued so much at Northside was present at Wesleyan, too. It was one of the characteristics of the program that made his decision easier.

In the classroom, Midgette plans to study criminal justice.