By Staff
Arthur McLean
The Northview Chiefs and the Holmes County Blue Devils faced off in a battle of the quarterbacks Friday night, but six turnovers sank the Chiefs in a 41-18 loss.
Both teams threw the ball often and deep, but Northview quarterback Jeremy Greenwell was picked off three times in the endzone, killing scoring opportunities.
On their first possession of the game, the Chiefs fumbled over to the Blue Devils and quarterback Michael Stevens wasted no time in airing the ball out.
Stevens connected on a fourth and fifteen play from the Chief 30 to take the first score of the game.
But the Chiefs came roaring back with an electric kick return by Nakita Myles, setting the Chiefs up just in Blue Devil territory. With a couple of fine throws by Greenwell, and a couple of Blue Devil penalties, the Chiefs were able to knot up the score 6-6 after a blocked PAT.
Short kickoffs were the norm Friday night, and Holmes County drove 56 yards with a touchdown pass from Stevens as the quarter expired. The two-point conversion was good; giving the Blue Devils a 14-6 lead.
The Chiefs again fumbled to start the second quarter and the Blue Devils made them pay with another touchdown pass, this one of 36 yards. The PAT was no good, and the score was 20-6 Holmes County.
Greenwell found the endzone on the Chiefs' next possession, but the two-point try failed, putting the score at 20-12.
The Chief's failed to capitalize on a Blue Devil fumble with the first of Greenwell's interceptions in the endzone. The ensuing Blue Devil drive was cut short when a Stevens' pass was tipped at the line and intercepted by Clint Parker. After a nice run by Myles, the Chiefs turned the ball over on downs with a fake punt play where a nice spiral by Sean Little sailed a little too far.
Another Blue Devil pass was intercepted but the Chiefs couldn't capitalize before the end of the half.
Leading 20-12 to start the second half, the Blue Devils dropped the passing game and moved the ball on the ground with a series of big runs from their backs, driving to a touchdown and a good PAT making the score 27-12.
The defenses started to step up in the third and quarter, each team forced to a three and out.
On its next possession, Northview somehow got out of a 1st and 45 situation only to have another long Greenwell pass interception.
The Chief defense forced a punt but the kick reception was fumbled back to the Blue Devils on the Blue Devil 48. On the next play Stevens connected on a 52-yard touchdown pass. After the PAT the score was 34-12 Holmes County.
The Blue Devil defense had harassed Greenwell much of the night, but with a comfortable lead, the Devil defender pinned their ears back forcing Greenwell to throw on the run most of the second half.
Throwing on the run led to another interception of a Chiefs pass in the endzone. Greenwell had a few more bullets left, through, completing a 46-yard pass to the eight and an eight-yarder to make the score 34-18. The point-after try was no good.
Holmes County scored the final points of the night with another touchdown run, taking the victory 41-18.