The Northview Chiefs moved into the third round of the FHSAA playoffs after defeating the Freeport Bulldogs 21-12 in Freeport on Friday night.

The Chiefs got revenge on the district champions who defeated them 28-13 in their district game also in Freeport.

Northview continued to focus on using the strength of their defense as well as the running game on offense to dominate the game and the time of possession.

Chiefs head coach Sid Wheatley said it was an important win for his program.

“It’s a great win for us,” Wheatley said. “We knew they were a good team that is well-coached. They beat us in the regular season and won the district, so we had a good gauge of how we would need to play in order to come away with a win.”

Northview’s defense showed its dominance early in the game as Chiefs linebacker Taylor Martin picked off a Freeport pass and rumbled 30-yards to give Northview a 7-0 lead with Lance Bushaw’s successful extra point.

Later in the first quarter, the Bulldogs put their first points of the game on the board as they scored on a 10-yard touchdown run, but missed the extra point to keep the Chiefs ahead 7-6.

Northview found the end zone again in the second quarter this time on offense with fullback Roderick Woods plowing in from three yards out. With Bushaw’s extra point, the Chiefs led 14-6, which is what the score would be at halftime.

After halftime, the teams would fight up and down the field for the entire third quarter with neither scoring, but the Chiefs found pay dirt with 10:40 left in the fourth quarter as running back La’Mikal Kyles bounced outside and ran 46-yards to the end zone to put Northview ahead 21-6 after the extra point.

Freeport would score one final time as a long kick off return set them up with good field position.

Another touchdown run this time from three-yards out would pull the Bulldogs within nine as they failed to convert the two-point conversion.

With the lead 21-12, the Chiefs would play smart football and come away with the win.

Wheatley said his defense and offense did a good job to get the win.

“Our defense continues to play great,” he said. “We gave up two scores, but one of them was set up by a long return. Our offense played a great game and our line and backs were able to eat up a lot of clock.”

The Chiefs now move forward to take on Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Fla. in the semifinals of the playoffs.