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Latest Headlines

• Now That Matt Gaetz Has Resigned After Being Picked For Trump’s AG, Who Will Seek His Seek?
• Here’s The Latest On CSX Closures In Escambia County
• Update: Northwest Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz Resigns From Congress After AG Nomination
• New ‘Wind Phone’ In Cantonment ‘Connects’ Grieving Families With Deceased Loved Ones
• Jay Couple Wins State Agriculture Competition, $45,000 Prize
• Century Paying $500 COVID-19 Stipend To Some Employees
• Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Creating Law Enforcement Memorial Plaza
• New Details Emerge In Fatal DUI Crash That Killed 14-Year-Old Cantonment Boy; Driver Released On Bond
• Cantonment Rotary Donates To Hurricane Relief
• Business Alliance Calls For Escambia County To Deed Part of OLF-8 For Light Industrial Use

Northview Chiefs Go For Historic Playoff Win (With Video)

It’s history in the making tonight for the Northview Chiefs. It’s the first ever football playoff game east of Tallahassee, and the first ever semifinal game for the school. And, as Head Coach Sid Wheatley is quick to point out, it is just four quarters between now and the chance at a state championship trophy.

(This article was originally published prior to Northview’s 49-14 loss December 3 against Trinity Christian.)

The Chiefs will take on top rank Trinity Christian at 6:30 p.m. Century time in Jacksonville in the Region 1-A finals.

Join NorthEscambia.com tonight for live updates from Jacksonville.

“We are four quarters away from a possibility of  a state championship, and that’s what we are shooting for, obviously, right now,” Wheatley said.

It was 1979 when the Eagles of Ernest Ward High School last brought the only modern time Class A football championship back to the area. Ernest Ward would later merge with the Century Blackcats to create Northview. It’s been a long time coming.

“We are excited to have an opportunity to play in the state semifinals,” said Wheatley as his team boarded the bus for Jacksonville. (See video at bottom of page.)

Trinity Christian (10-2) will be first private school Northview (11-1) has faced in the playoffs. As a private school in metro area like Jacksonville, Trinity is able to draw players from among the city’s best. Like the Conquerors’ Andrew Buie.

Buie is ranked as the number four all purpose back in the nation by Rivals.com, and the 103rd best player overall in the country. The running back is being recruited by more than a dozen major colleges, including Auburn, Arkansas, Mississippi and Michigan. He’s rushed for nearly1,500 yards this season with 22 TDs.

There’s no one-man show for the Chiefs. The running back trio of sophomore La’Mikal Kyles, sophomore Roderick Woods and senior Dustin Yuhasz has over 1,700 combined rushing yards this season. At quarterback, junior Brandon Sheets has added over 400 yards rushing.

By the numbers, two-time state champ Trinity has 35 playoff wins, while Northview has three. Fifty plus players dress out for the Conquerors; Northview moved seven JV players up to make a varsity roster of just 38.

But those are just numbers on paper. The real story will be four quarters of action Friday night and a group of young men making history from rural North Escambia.

“I feel like if we can control the ball offensively and continue to play great defense, that we’ve got an excellent opportunity to win the football game,” Wheatley said.

Pictured top: Northview defender Tyler Brooks closes in on the Bulldog’s quarterback last Friday night in Freeport. Pictured top inset: La’Mikal Kyles scored a fourth quarter touchdown for the Chiefs in their 21-12 defeat of Freeport. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.