Fans of the state championship Northview High School Chiefs football team turned out in droves Saturday night for a program celebrating the school’s first gridiron state title.

Fans toured the school’s hallways, where the walls boasted a seemingly endless number of posters and pictures created by students in order to mark the Chiefs momentous victory over the Trenton Tigers in Orlando’s Citrus Bowl.

Following the tours, the crowd convened in the school’s gymnasium, where principal Gayle Weaver welcomed the fans, players and coaching staff before taking a moment to recognize local businesses and organizations that supported the team with certificates of appreciation.

Prior to a screening of the state championship game footage, courtesy of Bright House, head football coach Sid Wheatley spoke about his team’s first championship season.

“This team will always be remembered for this,” Wheatley said. “No matter how many more championships we win, and hopefully there will be many, these guys will always be remembered as the first.”

For the complete story on Saturday night’s event, see the Wednesday, Dec. 19 edition of The Atmore Advance.