By By Matthew Nascone
After completing a perfect regular season, the Northview Chiefs have four games left before they can claim a perfect season and a state title. Those four games are like a new season, head coach Cody Keene said.
And the 9-0 Chiefs drew 6-4 Chipley, who only allowed an average of 11.5 points per game and scored 19 points on average. Chipley allowed more than 15 points only once this season and will provide a large speed bump on NHS's road to the title.
"Chipley has a lot of speed," he said. "They are quick on defense and they don't give up a lot of points. And that will challenge our offense. The game will boil down to who can make the most big plays."
Keene has stressed physicality as a key point to victory for the Chiefs and this week is no exception.
"We have to be very, very physical out there and win the physical battle," he said. "We have to get after them defensively and cause turnovers. And on offense we will have to do what we have been doing."
Chipley's tailback, Josh Potter, might cause problems for the Chiefs.
"He is an elusive back , so we will have hit him before he can get started," Keene said. "But I think our defense will be ready for him."
The pressures of the playoffs can weigh a team down, but Keene said this team is ready for the challenge that is the playoffs.
"We have had some experience with how to deal with a playoff game," he said. "And we have made sure these guys know it is only the next game for us. We had the playoff experience last year and now we want to go into the playoffs and win. They know what to do and we have to tools to get the job done."
The effort off the field in the weight room by the players is what Keene said has him confident about this year.
"They have worked hard in there all year and I know they know what they have to do now," Keene said. "If we work hard we should have a great chance to win. But we also need our fans to come out and support the team like they have done all year long."
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in Bratt.