Northview rally falls short

After coming back from 17 down in the first half, Northview's high school football team couldn't come back from 17 down again in the second half as the Knights fell 38-31 at Indianapolis Chatard in a Class 4A sectional semifinal game Friday night.

Chatard went up 17-0 in the first quarter thanks to Harrison Odom throwing a 12-yard pass to Julio Graves to get the offense started before Brody Langlois kicked a field goal and Danny Adams added a touchdown.

Northview coach Mark Raetz said when the Knights got down 17 in the first quarter, they could've folded, and the same thing in the second half.

"But they fought back every time in spite of some stuff not going our way," Raetz said. "I'm just proud of the way they competed."

Raetz said the Knights were able to capitalize on some opportunities and gave his coaching staff props as well putting in some new wrinkles to the offense. He said Mike Bath, who coaches Northview's girls flag football team, gave the coaching staff some new ideas and that the players executed them pretty well.

The Knights answered with 21 unanswered points in the second quarter. The scoring spree was started by Jake Raetz rushing for four yards before he had another two-yard touchdown run. Then came an explosive 67-yard run from Cooper Schimmel as he found holes in the Chatard defense and hauled into the end zone.

Unfortunately for Northview, the Trojans took the lead back going into the locker room with a Hail Mary play, Odom launching a 41-yard pass to Cam Harden. That left the score 24-21 Chatard at the half.

Then the Trojans did in the second half what they did in the first half, 14 points in the third quarter much to the dismay of the many Northview fans who traveled. But the Knights put 10 points on the board in the fourth, starting with a trick play from Bryer McCluskey to Cooper Schimmel for 16 yards and a touchdown. After that, Lucas Whitman knocked in a 43-yard field goal to pull the Knights within seven with 6:41 left in the game.

Northview got the ball back, but the Chatard defense kept the Knights from tying or taking the lead.

Raetz said he thought his team competed hard and just had some breaks go against the Knights, especially at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half.

"Our kids compete hard, they care," Raetz said. "It stinks."

Raetz gave props to the Trojans saying how they're a good team that leaves a small margin for error.

"We gave up a few touchdowns on jump balls. We knew their receivers were good, but at the same time you have to be able to hold up in the run game," Raetz said. "At times we got isolated man coverage and they made us pay a couple times."

BC — Julio Graves 12 pass from Harrison Odom (Brody Langlois kick), 8:48 1st

BC — Danny Adams 16 run (Langlois kick), 0:42 1st

Nv — Jake Raetz 4 run (Whitman kick), 10:30 2nd

Nv — Raetz 2 run (Whitman kick), 6:40 2nd

Nv — Cooper Schimmel 67 run (Whitman kick), 2:41 2nd

BC — Cam Harden 41 pass from Odom (Langlois kick), 0:00 2nd

BC — Adams 8 run (Langlois kick), 9:18 3rd

BC — Graves 31 pass from Odom (Langlois kick), 3:37 3rd

Nv — C.Schimmel 16 pass from Bryer McCluskey (Whitman kick)

Rushing — Nv: DaMarius McLawyer 7-51, C.Schimmel 14-153, Gibson Schimmel 1-19, McCluskey 2-8, Raetz 8-25, Brewer 1-23. BC: Adams 21-89, Odom 2-(-3).

Passing — Nv: C.Schimmel 11-27-1, 96 yards. McCluskey 1-1-0, 16 yards. BC: Odom 16-22-1, 197 yards.

Receiving — NV: Raetz 2-12, G.Schimmel 3-40, Brewer 1-7, Keegan Bell 2-11, Will Woodruff 2-20, C.Schimmel 1-16, McCluskey 1-6. BC: Harden 2-48, Graves 4-80, Adams 2-24, Drew Swickheimer 2-14, Brooks Haines 6-31.

Next — Chatard (9-2) plays at Danville next Friday. Northview finished 9-2.