Baker Downs Northview For District Championship; Chiefs Still Get Playoff Ticket

November 2, 2013

The Baker Gators won the District 1-1A championship Friday night by beating  Northview 24-20, but the defending state champion Chiefs are still headed into the playoffs.

The Gators held the lead throughout most the night, up 17-6 at the half and 24-6 in the third.

“Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes. We dug ourselves a hole,” head coach Sid Wheatley said. “It was 24-6. I thought our kids were resilient they way they come back. The defense came back and got important stops.”

But a comeback to 24-20 just wasn’t enough for the Chiefs as the final seconds ticked away in Bratt.

“Ultimately, it turned out to be the turnovers,” he said. “We moved the ball well…it sounds like last week when we moved the ball between the 20’s but we did not punch it in.”

For a photo gallery, click here. Cheerleader, band and Senior Night photos will be published Sunday and/or Monday.

The Gators were up first on the board with a 25-yard field goal early in the first. Northview then scored on a 21-yard run from Ladarius Thomas with about six minutes into the game, giving the Chiefs their first, and last, lead for the night.

Northview’s Neino Robinson caught a Daulton Tullis pass in the end zone with no time on the clock in the second. It was first ruled a touchdown, but called back to the 23 on a flag. The Chiefs and the Gators headed to the lockers at 17-6, Baker.

Baker made it 24-6 with 10:10 on the clock in the third. At the 5:06 mark, Brannon Freeman scored for the Chiefs on a 17-yard pass from Tullis. A failed two-point attempt, and Baker was up 24-12.

With 7:01 to go in the game, Keondrae Lett scored on a 3-yard run for the Chiefs. With a good pass from Tullis to Freeman, the Chiefs closed in at 24-20.

“Ours kids fought. I know they are hurting right now. I’m hurting for them,” he said. “Baker has got a good football team. But we are going to bounce back, play Blountstown next week and get going in the playoffs.”

Northview (3-5, 2-1) will be on the road next Friday in a non-district game against Blountstown (9-0, 4-0).

The playoffs get underway on November 15.  The Northview Chiefs will  travel to play Vernon, while Baker will host Sneeds. That sets up a potential rematch between the Chiefs and Baker in the round two of the playoffs.

Wheatley is looking forward to starting on the road back to Orlando. “Our kids still have a lot of fight in them; we are still excited about the future.”

For a photo gallery, click here. Cheerleader, band and Senior Night photos will be published Sunday and/or Monday.

Pictured top: The Baker Gators downed the Northview Chiefs 24-20 Friday night in Bratt. Pictured top inset: Northview’s Neino Robinson catches  a Daulton Tullis pass in the end zone for a touchdown called back on a flag. Pictured bottom inset: Northview assistant Coach Derek Marshman reacts to a play. Pictured below: An official goes down. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

One Response to “Baker Downs Northview For District Championship; Chiefs Still Get Playoff Ticket”

  1. Kay Campbell on November 2nd, 2013 8:13 am

    Go Chiefs!! We are so proud of all of you , lets do this!!!!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports