By By Chandler Myers
The Northview Chiefs gave first-year head coach Sid Wheatley a nice gift in his first homecoming as the Chiefs defeated their rivals, the Baker Gators 34-14 Friday night.
Almost everything went right for the Chiefs (3-1, 1-1) as they racked up a total of 244 yards in the win with 209 of those yards being picked up on the ground.
Chiefs head coach Sid Wheatley said it was a huge win for his team that had both sides of the ball contributing.
In a game where the ground game controlled the action, it was only right that all five Chiefs touchdowns came from running backs with Northview scoring on runs of 33, 5, 4, 2 and one yards.
Chiefs running back Shakel Holmes got the scoring started for the Chiefs in the first quarter as he scored from one-yard out to put Northview ahead 7-0 with the extra point.
Two series after Holmes scored and the Gators scored to make it 7-6, Northview running back Dustin Yuhasz took a handoff around end and burned the Gators defense for a 33-yard touchdown that put the Chiefs ahead 14-6 at halftime.
After halftime, both teams played a back-and-forth defensive battle before the Yuhasz scored his second touchdown of the game when he muscled his way into the end zone from five-yards out carrying three Gator defenders in with him. With the extra point, the Chiefs pulled ahead 21-6.
The final two Chiefs scores came in the fourth quarter with Jeremy Jackson scoring from two yards out and freshman La’Mikal Kyles scrambled into the end zone from four yards out to go up 34-6.
Baker scored one final time in the fourth quarter to make the final 34-14.
Wheatley said his team’s running game was fueled by the effort of the Chiefs’ offensive line.
Defensively, the Chiefs pushed their way through the Gators offensive line and stopped the running game as well as the passing game.
Three huge plays that swung the momentum in favor of the Chiefs came through Gator turnovers with a fumble and two interceptions that put Northview in good field position each time.
Wheatley said the defense stuck to their assignments and gave it their all each and every play.
Next week, the Chiefs go on the road to take on district opponent Holmes County.
Wheatley said this week of practice will be important for the Chiefs if they want to continue to be successful.
The Chiefs and Holmes County play next Friday at 7 p.m.