By LEXXI BAGGETT
News Sports Writer
I am certainly hoping that this past Friday night is not setting up the norm for the Northview Chiefs football season this year, especially when Northview has so much senior leadership. True Northview fans are staying the course, however, to see those wins. Fortunately, Friday night at Tommy Weaver stadium, the beginning was just a Kick-Off Classic against Vernon.
Vernon trumped both Northview’s junior varsity in the first half with a score of 20-6, when Northview’s Demarian Findley plowed through a heavy Yellow Jacket defensive line and earned the only points scored for the JV team. The extra point was no good.
In the second half, varsity Chiefs earned seven points total when senior Quay Thomas found the end zone after grasping a Seth Killam quarterback pass, making the score 20-6. Killam’s kick earned an additional point, for a final night’s tally of 20-7, Yellow Jackets.
It is true that Vernon does not have junior varsity team and played their varsity the whole time, but even at that, their stamina obviously overcame the varsity Chiefs regardless.
Coach Derek Marshman hopes for improvement each week and aims to perfect certain shortcomings that he noted, such as tackling, rushing, and overall energy levels.
The Tribal Beat Band and the cheerleaders truly kept up the spirit the whole evening.
“Our band really enjoys keeping the beat with the cheers and joining in on the chants,” said Max Odom, Tribal Beat Drum Major. “It helps get the crowd going, and our guys on the field need that.”
The Chiefs’ first official game will be this Friday night in Pensacola at the Brent Athletic Park against Lighthouse Christian. I bet we will see the Chiefs at their best after this week’s adjustments. See you at 7 p.m., and don’t forget that gate tickets are now $7.