By Robert Mays, Sports Correspondent

You can call Northview’s Luke Ward “The Closer.”

With the Walton Braves marching down the field in the final seconds Friday night, and Northview on top 35-28, Ward jumped high and pulled down an interception. There were 4 seconds left on the clock, and once again there was joyful drama in Bratt, Fla.

The Class 1A Chiefs were able to hang on for a 35-28 victory over Class 4A Walton, improving their overall record to 6-1.

“I’m so proud of this team,” Northview coach Sid Wheatley said. “They compete as a team and they believe in each other. It was a great game, with two good teams competing.”

Walton jumped out to a quick start with a long touchdown pass, adding the extra point to go ahead 7-0.

Northview answered with a drive led by the hard running of Keondrae Lett and Cameron Newsome, highlighted by a 24-yard run by Lett. Lett eventually scored the touchdown on a 10-yard run, and Chasen Freeman added the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with 7:03 left in the first quarter.

After a Walton fumble was recovered by Zach Payne, Newsome scored again for the Chiefs with a 28-yard run up the middle with 1:54 left in the first quarter. The extra point was no good, giving the Chiefs a 13-7 lead at the end of the first.

Walton moved back in front, 14-13, with 6:48 remaining in the second quarter but the Chiefs again had an answer. Lett scored late in the second half on a 4-yard touchdown run, and Newsome ran for the two-point conversion to put Northview ahead 21-14 at halftime.

The Chiefs started the third quarter with Lett streaking 49 yards to the Braves’ 1-yard-line. Lett scored on the next play, and Freeman added the extra point to put Northview ahead 28-14 with 7:10 left in the third quarter.

However, the Braves battled back with 14 unanswered points, tying the game with 1:17 left in the third quarter.

Northview’s winning points were scored on a bootleg pass from Jacob Dunsford to Nick Lambert, for a 77-yard touchdown reception.
The Chiefs battled in a scoreless fourth quarter to hang on for the win, with Ward, Jacob Weaver and Freeman each making key interceptions late in the game.

Northview will travel to face Baker on Friday night for the district championship. The Gators have won 18 regular season games in a row, and both teams are 2-0 in district play.