Northview falls to Baker in semis, ends season
Published 12:56 am Saturday, November 17, 2018
BAKER, Fla. — With the game out of reach late in the fourth quarter, Northview made sure it left everything on the field as the Chiefs fell 38-14 to rival Baker, Fla. in a Florida High School Athletic Association Class 1A Regional Semifinal game Friday night.
Late in the second quarter, BHS led 12-7, but the Gators punched a score in to take a 18-7 advantage at halftime. During the first half, NHS led 7-6.
In the third quarter, Baker’s Shawn McLeod took a pick-six 60 yards for a score with 9:33 ticks. With the point after try, the Gators led 25-7.
NHS answered on its next offensive series when Trent Peebles punched the rock in from the 1-yard line with 7:51 left in the third to gain some momentum.
Baker, then would go on to score two touchdowns to close out the game on a 13-yard touchdown rush from Junior McLaughlin, and a 3-yard scoring rush from John Mateleska.
At the end, the Chiefs made a strong drive offensively to close out the game, but an interception sealed the win for the Gators.
“I’m proud of our kids,” NHS head football coach Derek Marshman said. “We fought through a lot of adversity all year long. We were told all year long that we weren’t going to accomplish anything. That’s not just coach speak. I’ve heard from multiple people in the community, other communities, people in the media saying that we’re not toing to accomplish anything.
“These kids came out and proved everybody wrong all year long,” he added. “We didn’t finish anywhere where we wanted to finish, but I couldn’t be prouder for a bunch of kids.”
Marshman added that he wouldn’t trade anything in the world with these kids.
The Chiefs ended their season 8-5.