CLASS 1A STATE FINAL PREVIEW: A battle of first timers

This year’s Class 1A State Final should be exciting once again that will be bringing in two teams that will be in their first state title game in school history. However, one teams predecessor were known to have state championship caliber teams that eventually were merged into what the school is known today and we will take a look at that plus all the vital information you need to know for the Class 1A State Final on Friday night.

NORTHVIEW CHIEFS
Head Coach: Sid Whitley
Current Overall Record At School: 36-12
Years as Head Coach: 4 years
Assistant Coaches:
Ty Wise – Offensive Coordinator
Derek Marshman – Defensive Line
Mandell Smith – Wide Receivers
John Madison – Defensive Backs
Nakita Myles – Running Backs
Gary Mattes – Kickers

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES: First trip, but predecessor Ernest Ward and Century which combined in 1995 to create Northview, had success in northern Escambia County of boasting state championship caliber teams. Here is how Earnest Ward and Century did in appearances and games prior to the merger.

Ernest Ward – 1 appearance
1979 – CLASS A: d, Benjamin (North Palm Beach), 13-6

Century – 1 appearance
1986 – CLASS A: Lost to Glades Day (Belle Glade), 8-7

FORMATIONS:
Offense: 2 Tight Double Wing & Spread (Multiple)
Defense: Odd front, 50 and Split-4

OVERVIEW OF NORTHVIEW:
Given that all three of Northview’s losses are to teams in higher classifications  explains that Northview has been challenged this season both at their level and higher levels.

However, taking a look at Northview’s offense output this season you would think they ran over teams they played like a Mack truck. The Chiefs have scored nearly 43 points per game this season through last week’s state semifinal against Liberty County, with the most points so far this point being scored in the 3rd quarter.

The Chiefs are a rush first team, as evident by the 3,337 yards so far piled up on the season, but the passing game is effective as well with 1,885 passing yards so far to date as well.

Defensively speaking the Chiefs have held opponents to nearly 18 points a game this season and have sacked opponents quarterbacks 23 times. In the turnover column Northview has done a lot of work to win in this column with 22 interceptions made on the season while having 9 fumble returns.

LEADING PLAYERS:
Scoring:
QB/K Kevin Vaughan – 168 points (19 TDs / 51 PAT’s)
FB LaMikal Kyles – 139 points (22 TDs / 5 PATs)
WR/DB Neino Robinson – 78 points (13 TDs)

Rushing:
RB LaMikal Kyles – 146 attempts – 1,269 yards – 19 TD’s – 8.69 Avg Per Carry – Longest Run: 71 yards
HB Brannon Freeman – 58 attempts – 486 yards – 10 TD’s – 8.40 Avg Per Carry – Longest Run: 51 yards
QB/K Kevin Vaughan – 54 attempts – 479 yards – 4 TD’s – 8.90 Avg Per Carry – Longest Run: 40 yards

Passing:
QB/K Kevin Vaughan – 166 attempts – 103 completions – 7 interceptions – 1,408 yards passing – 15 TD’s – Sacked 3 times
QB Daulton Tullis –  36 attempts – 23 completions – 1 interception – 454 yards – 4 TD’s – Sacked 3 times

Receiving: 
HB Brannon Freeman –  36 catches – 492 yards – 0 TD’s – 13.7 yards per catch – Longest reception: 38 yards
WR/S Neiko Robionson – 34 catches – 374 yards – 7 TD’s – 15.6 yards per catch – Longest reception: 58 yards
RB LaMikal Kyles – 18 catches – 328 yards – 3 TD’s – 18.1 yards per catch – Longest reception: 90 yards

Punting: 
RB/S Brannon Freeman – 21 punts – 717 yards – Average Punting Yards 34.1 – Longest Punt 48 yards – 5 punts inside the 20

Kicking:
QB/K Kevin Vaughan – 60 PAT attempts – 51 PAT’s made – FG Attempts 6 – FG Made 0
RB LaMikal Kyles – 4 PAT attempts – 3 PAT’s made – FG Attempts 0 – FG Made 0

Returns:
WR/DB Neino Robinson – 14 Punt returns – 472 yards – Longest punt return 70 yards – 3 kickoff returns – 131 yards – Longest kickoff return 69 yards – 3 interceptions – Longest INT return 60 yards

Tackles (Combined):
DE/OLB Chad Smith – 102 tackles – 7 tackles for a loss – 3 sacks
LB Cory Baggett – 101 tackles – 18 tackles for a loss – 4 sacks
WR/S Neiko Robinson – 82 tackles – 2 tackles for a loss – 0 sacks
DT Stetson Nash – 81 tackles – 14 tackles for a loss – 2 sacks

STARTING LINEUP:
Information was provided in team data sheets as released by the FHSAA. Starting lineup can be subject to change.

OFFENSE:

DEFENSE:

TRENTON TIGERS
Head Coach: Andrew Thomas
Current Overall Record At School: 24-1
Years as Head Coach: 2 years
Assistant Coaches:
Lyle Wilkerson – Defensive Coordinator / OB
Mike Sauls – Offensive Line
Terry Parish – Running Backs / Defensive Backs
Toney Sullivan – Fullbacks / Linebackers
Randy Fuller – Defensive Line
Steven Welbers
Pat Green
Tommy Malloy
Daniel Cherry
Corbyn Pugh
James Johnson
Greg Turner
Mike Burnett

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES: First trip

FORMATIONS:
Offense: Multiple Wing T – Option Based
Defense: Multiple 4-3 under and some 3-4

OVERVIEW OF TRENTON:
Trenton has been on historic run the last two seasons compiling a 24-1 record so far and 31-4 record if you count the 2010 season from when current Newberry coach Chris Baker was the coach at Trenton. Although, Trenton has not technically played many teams of larger classifications, the teams they played in the regular season against 1A teams has provided some challenges, but not enough to stop these Tigers from making a run.

Offensively, Trenton’s output can be equally compared liked Northview’s, but in a slightly higher sense. The Tigers have averaged 45.8 points per game this season which includes last week’s state semifinal game against Newberry. Trenton tends to score more points in the 2nd quarter of a game than any other quarter.

Trenton is a rush first team like Northview, but utilizes a triple option threat that has been hard for teams for a lot of teams to stop this season, with Jefferson County being the team closest to stopping it altogether. Trenton has rushed 4,853 yards this season while passing, being almost a non-factor in the stats, has been piled up to only 904 yards total.

Defensively, the Tigers have held opponents to just an average of 16 points per game this season while sacking opponents quarterbacks 34 times but only has 5 interceptions and 16 fumble recoveries in the turnover ratio.

LEADING PLAYERS:
Scoring:
RB/S Cedric Stokes  – 204 points (30 TDs / 24 PAT’s)
QB Stephen Smith  – 85 points (14 TDs / 2 PATs)
FB/LB Melvin Adams – 60 points (10 TDs)

Rushing:
RB/S Cedric Stokes – 222 – 1,822 yards – 26 TD’s – 8.21 Avg Per Carry – Longest Run: 89 yards
QB Stephen Smith – 91 attempts – 1,136 yards – 14 TD’s – 12.48 Avg Per Carry – Longest Run: 60 yards
FB/LB Melvin Adams – 90 attempts – 754 yards – 10 TD’s – 8.38 Avg Per Carry – Longest Run: 82 yards

Passing:
QB Stephen Smith – 87 attempts – 47 completions – 7 interceptions – 1,408 yards passing – 15 TD’s – Sacked 3 times

Receiving: 
WR/CB Hamp Cheevers –  11 catches – 398 yards – 5 TD’s – 36.18  yards per catch – Longest reception: N/A
WB/LB Hunter Parrish – 13 catches – 154 yards – 4 TD’s – 11.85  yards per catch – Longest reception: N/A
WB/S Jonathan Smith  – 8 catches – 125 yards – 1TD’s – 15.63 yards per catch – Longest reception: N/A

Punting: 
QB/DB Michael Smith – 14 punts – 484 yards – Average Punting Yards 34.5 – Longest Punt 50 yards – 5 punts inside the N/A

Kicking:
QB/DB Michael Smith – 51 PAT attempts – 39 PAT’s made – FG Attempts 1 – FG Made 1 – Longest Field Goal 34 yards
RB/S Cedric Stokes  – 17 PAT attempts – 14 PAT’s made

Returns:
RB/S Cedric Stokes  – 4 Punt returns – 113 yards – Longest punt return N/A – 12 kickoff returns – 295 yards – Longest kickoff return N/A – 4 interceptions – Longest INT return N/A
WR/CB Hamp Cheevers – 5 kickoff returns – 120 yards – Longest kickoff return N/A – 3 interceptions – Longest INT return N/A

Tackles (Combined):
WB/LB Hunter Parrish – 100 tackles – 14 tackles for a loss – 15 sacks
OG/LB Jacob Gamble – 91 tackles – 8 tackles for a loss – 1 sack
TE/ILB Jacques Powell  – 81 tackles – 6 tackles for a loss – 0 sacks
TE/FB/DT Breon Sims – 76 tackles – 13 tackles for a loss – 3 sacks

STARTING LINEUP:
Information was provided in team data sheets as released by the FHSAA. Starting lineup can be subject to change.

OFFENSE:

DEFENSE:

OUR THOUGHTS: 
Trenton and Northview look evenly matched as shown by the statistics, but if either team allows the other to get going early, things could easily get out of hand. Best thing we hope for is that that each team keeps the other in check for the entire 48 minutes of play and we think that could likely happen. However while Trenton is explosive on offense and Northview holds the line on defense slightly better than Trenton. We feel Trenton is a stronger candidate to win its first state title, but don’t be surprised if Northview has something to say about it either.

OUR PREDICTION:
Trenton 35, Northview 28