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The Northridge Vikings are playing football for a postseason spot

The Northridge Vikings are playing football for a postseason spot

JOHNSTOWN — Losses to rivals Johnstown and Utica over the last two weeks hurt the Northridge football team but didn’t break the spirit of the Vikings.

Northridge (4-4, 1-2) hosts Heath (3-5, 2-1) in the home finale of the Licking County League-Cardinal Division game on Friday, and there’s still a lot on the line. Wins against the Bulldogs and Lakewood in Week 10 would seal the program’s first winning season since 2017 and potentially mean a trip to the Division V, Region 18 playoffs.

“We know these next two games are important for us because they determine whether we make the playoffs or not,” senior tight end Jake Davis said. “We have to use the pain from the two games we narrowly lost to push ourselves in training. We learned that in the games we are exactly where we weren’t before. We just trust the process and we will get there.”

Northridge has had a season full of close, low-scoring games, and last Friday was no exception. The Vikings were kept out of the end zone in the fourth quarter in a 7-3 loss to Utica.

The defense held Utica scoreless in the second half and totaled 172 yards for the game. The Vikings, who previously fell in overtime to undefeated Grandview Heights, are now 3-2 in games decided by one point or fewer.

“We had this exact conversation when we met with them (Monday),” coach Dustin Calhoun said. “In the past we might have gotten to a point during the year where things no longer mattered. We have earned the right to make the end of the year count. We suffered two narrow defeats that could have been wins with a record of 8-2, but we are still playing for a record of 6-4.”

Junior Charlie Kinkead kicked a 39-yard field goal for Northridge’s only points against Utica and had a long punt that went 41 yards. He also matched Davis with three catches from junior quarterback Ty Koehler.

Senior Cameron Brannigan has been used primarily on defense in recent weeks, but he was back in the offensive backfield against Utica. Brannigan threw 16 carries for 53 yards, 17 of which were long.

“It was fun to get back to my defensive roots and it’s fun to get back on offense,” Brannigan said. “I travel a lot. It’s my last year so I want to make the most of it.”

Junior Jamie Odrumsky managed three solo tackles from a secondary that will be tested by Heath on Friday. The Bulldogs have hauled in four TD passes of 34 yards or more in the last three weeks and added another 47-yard strike last week in a 51-0 win over Newark Catholic.

Northridge’s defense has been up to the challenge so far, holding six opponents to 20 points or fewer. The Vikings have also had some of their best performances in their new stadium, where they are 3-1.

“When (Calhoun) first came in (before the 2023 season), he always said, ‘I’m trying to build something,’ and as seniors we’re just another step,” Brannigan said. “We are part of something bigger than ourselves, and that is truly special.”

Several Northridge seniors were part of the Vikings’ 5-5 regular season as freshmen and a trip to the Division VI playoffs in 2021. After blips in the following two seasons, Northridge is back on the rise.

The Vikings will play their 11th game and beyond in the next two weeks. They also try to change expectations and set new standards.

“It’s a great thing to strive for, and once you start taking ownership of that goal and that success, everyone will know what it’s like and want more of it,” Brannigan said.

“It felt great to give ourselves a chance that we haven’t had the last two years,” Davis added. “It was great.”

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