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Northview Fans Rally Behind The Chiefs, Coach Reacts To QB Suspension (With Pep Rally Photos)

Northview will be without starting quarterback Brandon Sheets tonight in a state semifinal game against Chipley, but the Chiefs are ready to earn the school’s first ever trip to a state championship game in Orlando with the help of backup quarterback Kevin Vaughan.

NorthEscambia.com will post live updates from tonight’s Chipley at Northview state semifinal game on two Facebook pages:

http://www.Facebook.com/NorthEscambia (“Like” the page for updates)

http://www.Facebook.com/NorthEscambiaWilliam (Send a Friend request)

The Florida High School Athletic Association ruled against a Northview appeal on Thursday, deciding that Sheets’ actions last Friday night were “perceived as taunting”, resulting into a one-game suspension. [Read more details on the alleged actions, see video by clicking here for an earlier story.]

“We knew it (the appeal) could go either way, and we were ready to move on if it didn’t go in our favor,” Northview coach Sid Wheatly said Thursday night. “We were disappointed obviously; I am disappointed for Brandon.”

For a photo gallery from a Thursday night Chiefs pep rally, click here.

The Chiefs are moving forward with plans to “do it with Dewey”, as backup junior QB Kevin Vaughan (#12) is known to his friends and teammates.

“Our plan has been all week to work with Kevin and he’s going to be able to do the job. We’ve got a lot of confidence in him, and we are moving forward,” Wheatley said. “The kids have a lot of confidence in him.”

In tonight’s final four state semifinal game, the Chiefs (9-3) will host Chipley (10-2), a team that beat the Chiefs in game of turnovers back on September 16. But now a more experienced Northview teams is looking for revenge.

“We are going to get out there an complete really hard,” Wheatley said, “and bring home a big win.”

Wheatley admitted that Sheets’ suspension and a Vaughan in the QB slot does give the Chiefs a rather unique advantage over Chipley….the Tigers have likely watched hours of Northview game film — mostly with Sheets at quarterback — so they have no idea how the team performs with Vaughan and what surprise plays they might pull.

While 110 percent ready to perform with Vaughan as quarterback, members of the the varsity Chiefs are standing in support of Sheets, who has thrown for over 1,100 yard and a dozen touchdowns while picking up 16 touchdowns on over 900 yards rushing this year. Their goal? To make sure Sheets has one more shot to play a high school football game. With a win tonight, the Chiefs will head to Orlando December 2 for the state championship game. And Sheets will be eligible to play.

“We are going to do everything we can to make sure that you get to see Brandon Sheets take the field on more time,” junior Chad Smith told Northview fans Thursday night.

“We are going to win and give Brandon one more game to play,” Roderick Woods, also a junior, agreed.

At a Thursday night pep rally, Wheatley and the rest of the Chiefs encouraged Northview fans to pack the Northview stadium in Bratt tonight, and, above all, make a lot of noise in support of their Chiefs.

Wheatley said three playoff games on their home field has been a tremendous advantage for Northview. But he’s ready to pile the team on a bus and get out of Bratt.

“They do want one long road trip to Orlando next week,” he joked.

Tonight semifinal game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. in Bratt. [Click here for game details you need to know.] It’s the second ever semifinal game for the Northview Chiefs, and they have big plans for a big win.

“We are going to make history,” Chief Laderious Franklin said.

For a photo gallery from a Thursday night Chiefs pep rally, click here.

Pictured above:  Northview High held a community pep rally for the region champ Chiefs Thursday night. Pictured below: Team members autographed almost 100 spirit shirts. NorthEscambia.com photos, click here.