“Battle tested” was the phrase Northview Chiefs head coach Sid Wheatley used after his team’s victory over the Freeport Bulldogs Friday night in Bratt, Fla.

The Chiefs (8-3, 3-0) dominated their district rivals for four quarters in the regional final and came away with a 43-13 win and their second consecutive trip to the state semifinals.

The win put the hard work of the Chiefs into perspective, Wheatley said following the game.

“Great, great win,” he said. “I can’t put into words how hard these kids have worked to earn back-to-back region championships. Just an awesome win.”

Throughout the physical match up, the Chiefs showed their power on the offensive and defensive lines as they controlled the line of scrimmage even after putting  in their second-team players late in the fourth quarter.

Northview capped off their huge win in the fourth quarter with a one-yard touchdown run by Sean Knight to go ahead 43-13 after the extra point, but scores came just easily before that.

Northview first got on the board in the first quarter on a four-yard touchdown run as running back La’Mikal Kyles took a handoff and went untouchded to pay dirt to put Northview ahead 7-0.

Following some back-and-forth possessions, the Chiefs got back on their own 48 and drove down to the six-yard line where quarterback

Brandon Sheets found tight end Sim Brown for the touchdown putting Northview up two scores.

Freeport found little success on their next possession a trick play went bad when their running back was hit and his passed tipped and intercepted by Knight who rumbled 46 yards for another touchdown putting the Chiefs up 20-0 where the teams would be at halftime.

Following the break, the Bulldogs would score two third quarter touchdowns, but no other success would come the visitors way.

Their first touchdown came on a 10-yard pass to close the gap to 13 points, but in between that touchdown and their second, the Chiefs would score two touchdowns. The first Chiefs touchdown came on a 10-yard run by Kyles and the second on a seven-yard scramble by Sheets after Northview recovered an onside kick.

Trailing 36-7, the Bulldogs pulled some trickery with a quick shovel pass that led to a 43-yard touchdown making the score 36-13.

Any hopes of a comeback were dashed early in the fourth quarter though as Knight pushed in for his touchdown to put Northview ahead 43-13 where the score would remain until the final whistle.

Following another win over the Bulldogs, Wheatley gave his opponent credit for another hard fought game.

“First of all, I want to give Freeport credit,” he said. “They always play hard. We found some spots against them we would be comfortable with and we did find success. Our defensive font was tenacious and I thought the entire defense played solid.”

The Chiefs now advance to play Chipley next Friday at home in Bratt, Fla. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

Whoever the Chiefs play, they have proven they know what it takes to win, Wheatley said.

“It was a tough game,” he said. “We understand that if we play Chipley, it will be another physical game. We have been through some battles and we are battle tested, so I think we are ready for that.”