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Northview Beats Vernon, Earns Playoff Berth

With a powerful 47-19 win over Vernon, the Northview Chiefs earned a playoff berth Friday night.

The Chiefs (8-1, 7-1), as runner ups in District 1-A, will travel during the first round of the playoffs to face Blountstown (8-1, 5-0) on November 19.  Freeport (7-2, 7-1)  took the district championship despite a 21-6 loss Friday night to Holmes County (5-4, 4-4).

For a photo gallery from the game, click here.

It’s a great feeling,” Northview Head Coach Sid Wheatley said after the win Friday night in Bratt. “They seized the moment.”

“It was like a playoff game where the winner goes on and the loser goes home. It was huge. It meant a lot to this kids, and I am proud of the win,” he said.

Sophomore Roderick Woods had four touchdowns for the Chiefs Friday night, rushed 107 yards on 16 carries and completed two passes for 29 yards.  The Chiefs racked up  a total of 327 yards on 49 carries, and had 99 yards in the air from quarterback Brandon Sheets who completed 4 of 12 passes.

After a scoreless first quarter, Woods’ first TD came with 11:54 on the clock in the second on a one yard run. A good kick from Lance Bushaw, and the Chiefs were up 7-0.

La’Mikal Kyles added an 11-yard touchdown run with 5:51 to go in the half. Another good Bushaw kick, and the Chiefs expanded their lead to 14-0.

With 2:47 remaining in the half, the Yellow Jackets had a 21-yard touchdown pass and a good point after to narrow the score to 14-7 headed to the lockers.

Ahead by just seven at the half, Wheatley said he told the Chiefs in the locker room that they had to focus on the win, not the fact that the were up on the scoreboard.

“I told them we had to treat it like it was zero to zero,” he said. “We knew everything hinged on this ballgame. It was cut and dry.

In the third quarter, the Chiefs scored on a 28-yard quarterback keeper from junior Brandon Sheets and a two yard run from Woods. The Yellow Jackets also scored in the third, with a 73-yard kick off return. Headed into the fourth, it was 27-13 Chiefs.

Northview scored three consecutive touchdowns — a 13-yard pass to Woods from Sheets, a 12-yard run from Montaio Mitchell and a 24-yard run from Woods. Vernon, trailing 47-13, scored the final TD of the game with 4:06 to go on a 24-yard pass. Vernon’s two point conversion failed with stop by senior Tyler Brooks.

Northview will host West Florida High School next Friday night at 7:00 in a non-district game.

For a photo gallery from the game, click here.

Pictured top: Roderick Woods (#25) had four touchdowns Friday night at the Northview Chiefs beat Vernon. Pictured bottom: La’Mikal Kyles (#17) gains yardage for the Chiefs. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.