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Third Time’s The Charm: Northview Heads To First State Championship
December 1, 2012
The Northview Chiefs beat the Liberty County Bulldogs Friday night 48-14 to earn a trip to the Class 1A state championship game next week in Orlando.
For the Chiefs, Friday night marked the third consecutive trip to a state semifinal games; the last two years ending with a loss.
The boys from Bratt will face undefeated and No. 1 ranked Trenton next Friday night at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando — the first time in school history that Northview has ever made the Class 1A championship game.
“It’s kind of surreal right now,” Northview Coach Sid Wheatley said after the win on the road in Bristol. “We’ve (came) so close last year, and for these guys to persevere and be so close and fight through it to get back to that same point … You know, I really sensed before the game that they were ready, and they really delivered tonight. There was no denying them.”
For an action photo gallery, click here. (For cheerleader, band and fan photos, click here.)
It was, simply, near-perfect execution and style for the Chiefs. The Chiefs played an entire game with no errors. No fumbles, no interceptions, nothing. Liberty County was almost unable to gain ground; the Chiefs held them to just under 100 yards for the entire game.
Liberty County was effectively shut down by Northview as the Chiefs took a commanding 41-0 lead. Liberty County was only able to gain ground and get on the board as Wheatley began to put in backup and reserves.
The Bulldogs were stopped in the tracks on the opening kickoff, with Northview’s Jeffery Taylor recovering a Liberty County fumble. That set up a 38-yard drive ending with a 2-yard touchdown dash from Brannon Freeman, 7-0 NHS.
“It was huge,” Wheatley said Taylor’s opening play fumble recovery. “It was huge to grab momentum right now and go down and score.”
And Liberty County was just getting taste of how Northview football is played.
La’Mikal Kyles scored with 5:20 to go in the first on a 1-yard run. A good kick from Kevin Vaughan, and the Chiefs were up 14-0. In the second, Northview scored on a 12-yard run from Freeman and a 32-yard run from Kyles for a 28-0 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Northview added a 13-yard touchdown run from La’Darius Thomas and a 51-yard run across midfield from Freeman, 41-0.
By now, fans on the Liberty County side were beginning to sneak quietly out of the stands and head for home. And the PA announcer was beginning to congratulate Liberty County for a “great” season, winning nine in a row and not losing a game at home this year. Or at least until they were whipped by the Chiefs.
As Wheatley began to substitute backup players, the Bulldogs added a couple of touchdowns.
The Chiefs racked up 367 rushing yards on 44 attempts. Freeman added 138 yards, while Kyles had 11. At QB, Vaughan was 5-8 for 73 yards, plus 23 rushing. Thomas contributed 33 yards for the Chiefs, and Neiko Robinson, who scored the final Chiefs TD of the night, had 45 yards.
“Man, we are so excited; these kids deserve it,” Wheatley said after the win. They put in the effort; they put in the time. And they’re deserving of this moment.”
For an action photo gallery, click here. (For cheerleader, band and fan photos, click here.)
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
29 Responses to “Third Time’s The Charm: Northview Heads To First State Championship”
I’M SO PROUD OF LAMIKAL KYLES #2
REPRESENT
Good job Chiefs! Making Escambia County proud!
So proud! Y’all played incredible and made history. Go Chiefs!
Great job chiefs!!!!!(:
Ya’ll did amazing.
The 1A championship game will be on Friday night at 7:00pm. See the following website for more info:
http://www.roadtoorlando.org/
They still don’t have who will be home versus visitor for ticketing purposes.
Way to Chiefs!! See you in Orlando!!!
Thanks William.
>>The FHSAA website says the game will be Televised on BHSN (Bright House Sports Network). Does anyone know what channel that is locally?
I’m pretty sure it’s exclusive to Bright House cable company subscribers. Bright House has service in Cantonment.
The FHSAA website says the game will be Televised on BHSN (Bright House Sports Network). Does anyone know what channel that is locally?
Im so happy to finally see this happen, brings tears to my eyes. Blake, Ladarius, Kevin, and the rest of yall better do it right this year. I only wish that i could be apart of it still, everyday. I love all you guys and know that yall have what it takes. Go go do this not only yourselves but for everyone in this town.
signed #54 2012
Congrats from a Trenton Fan, Both teams seam to be a lot alike in that they play good defense and on offense are a danger to score anytime they snap the ball. Looking forward to a great game in Orlando by two small public schools. The first time for both schools to get to there, What could be better
Congratulations on the accomplishments
WOOO HOO!!!!!! So proud to call myself a CHIEF! I am very pround of yall boys yall did AWESOME! Thank yall!
Congrads chiefs .. last night when we was standing there after the the game i was really impress with the band the fans the students ,,the fans went on the field. and the band kept playing the whole time after the game ,,, its was just a amazing feeling to witness all that im soo happy for yall =) and by the way good job on the crowd everybody was standing and making some noise in the bleachers and the band done really good also
Way to go Chiefs
you did it, so proud of you, go chiefs go
Congratulations!!
Awesome Win!!! Congratulations Chiefs!!!
Way to go Chiefs! We are all so proud of you and the great game you played tonight! It was absolutely wonderful!
CONGRATULATIONS CHIEF’S on your WIN tonight!!! 48-14 ya’ll showed your true colors !!!!
GO CHIEFS! So very proud of you!!
Congrats Chiefs!!! Papa Weave watching from above and so proud of you all!!!
You guys went, you played hard, you conquered but most of all; you presented yourselves as TRUE CHAMPIONS!!!!! You certainly showed how its done “CHIEF STYLE” and MADE HISTORY tonight!!!!!
How exciting and what a wonderful opportunity for Northview!!!! Boys, know that your community is PROUD OF YOU ALL!!!!
I know that I will be heading to Orlando next week to support MY CHIEFS and be a part of history!!!
way to go CHIEFS……HUGE WIN….WEARING MY GARNET AND GOLD SO PROUDLY.
Way to go Cheifs! Orlando bound, show them how we play football in the panhandle!
Way to go CHIEFS!!! Way to make us proud!!! =)
I am so proud of all of you !!!! Congratulations !!! Go Chiefs !!!!!
CONGRATULATONS 2 my nephew, Kahlil Grice, & the Northview Chiefs!!!!!! U guys deserve this. enjoy this experience. You’re going 2 the SHIP…….. CHAMPIONSHIP THAT IS. GO CHIEFS
YOU ALL DID IT ! CONGRATULATIONS CHIEFS !