Northview falls to Hawthorne in Rural state title game
As fireworks ascended into the Tallahassee night sky following the conclusion of the Rural class state championship game, the Chiefs huddled under the low-lying smoke for one final talk with head coach Wesley Summerford.
Players were visibly exhausted and upset as they were on the losing end of a 13-2 final against Hawthorne, snapping Northview's undefeated season and state title dreams. However, the Chiefs were announced as the state runner-up, the crowd roared, only echoing Summerford's message that his team was nothing to be disappointed in.
"I'm just proud of these guys," Summerford said. "The stuff that goes on behind the scenes, what they've been, and how they've battled back from that. I just told them we played a good team tonight and it wasn't our night. Hawthorne is a good team, been here three times, and we just didn't do the stuff we needed to do to win a football game tonight."
Hawthorne quickly took over the game, seeing Hawthorne senior running back Brian James rush for a 5-yard score to go up 6-0. However, it was the Northview defense that got the Chiefs on the board, seeing senior linebacker Carson Burkett take down the ball carrier for safety, and give Northview a fighting chance throughout.
Senior quarterback Kaden Odom carried the offense passing for 132 yards, rushing for 40 yards, and only getting taken down once. Senior Jemarkus Jefferson also played a critical role in the offensive push, rushing for 36 yards and receiving for 49.
"I think we were in a spot where we had to pick and choose when to run the football, 'cause we beat them through the air a lot of the time," Summerford said. "I thought there were some first downs we could've picked up, but we didn't make the play on those."
Hawthorne's offensive push eventually became too much as Odom was picked off by Hawthorne sophomore Zion Johnson, taking it 44 yards to the Northview 1. The following play resulted in a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Hawthrone senior quarterback CJ Ingram to put the game out of reach, 13-2.
Despite the result, Summerford said his team should be proud of the way they fought and to remember this experience for a long time. Northview was one of the few teams in the state that went undefeated in the regular season and played in the championship game for the first time since 2012.
"No. 2 in the state ain't bad. Florida is one of the top four or five states in football," Summerford said. "They have a lot to be proud of. It's amazing that they get to come to do this. This is an awesome atmosphere and had a great, great trip. They'll remember this trip for the rest of their lives."
Northview graduates 12 seniors, 10 from its starting lineup. As the Chiefs make the trek back down I-10 to Bratt, the team is thankful for the experience and the community that supports them.
"It's everything to our community," Summerford said. "The community has just been grateful for us. There are signs everywhere and people everywhere. It just shows you what Northview is all about. Proud of our community, proud of our kids, and proud to be a Northview Chief."
Jack Williams covers prep sports for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @jackgwilliams.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Northview falls to Hawthorne, 13-2, in Rural state championship game
