By By Matthew Nascone
The battle for top spot in District 1 of FHSAA Class 2B will be determined Friday night when the Northview Chiefs travel to Baker High School. Northview and Baker are tied atop the standings and will duke it out to see who enters the playoffs as the No. 1 seed.
"They are a good football team and they are very impressive out there," NHS head coach Cody Keene said.
The 8-0 Chiefs will face their toughest test against a 6-2 Baker team. Keene said he has to make sure his team is ready to go come game time.
"We have to play mistake-free football and keep them from getting the big play," Keene said. "We have to get ready for them mentally as well as physically. And we need to play more physical than we have in the past couple games."
The Chiefs had an extra week to prepare for Baker, with an off week last Friday. Keene has not let the Chiefs record get to their heads all season.
"We said in the beginning that we would take each week in itself and worry about nothing else," Keene said. "And we have done that so far this year, and we will do that this week. We set a goal of nine wins and a district championship before the season started and this is our ninth game."
There is another incentive to beat Baker besides an undefeated regular season.
"We want to win this one so we can play at home in the playoffs," Keene said. "Because if we lose we have to go on the road. So we will keep doing what we have been doing and hopefully we can come out with a win. These guys know what is riding on this game."
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in Baker.