JACKSON - After ending their regular season with a disappointing loss to East Lansing last weekend, the Okemos Chiefs traveled to Jackson Friday Oct. 26 and knocked off the undefeated Vikings in the first round of the MHSAA football playoffs.

Derek Sims would set the tone for the Chiefs, and they would lead Jackson 7-0 early in the first quarter. Jackson would trail the chiefs until halfway through the second half then a pick-6 would put the Vikings ahead 15-14 at the half.

With 9:51 in the 3rd quarter Mason Kazmarek to Jacob Richardson would pull the Vikings ahead 20-15, then Dorrion Riley for Jackson would make it a two point game with 4:45 left in the 3rd quarter.

With less than a minute in the 4th quarter, and Okemos still trailing by two points Mason Kazmarek would score on the keeper, and the Chiefs would go for two putting them ahead 28-22 going into the 4th.

Jackson would not see another score the rest of the night after a critical stop by the Okemos Defense. They would get back into field goal range, and Okemos kicker John Luca Migaldi would pull them ahead with a final score of 31-22.

“We really needed to get a stop at the end, and the defense play great. I give a lot of credit to my defensive of coaches, I thought the game plan was sound. Jackson is a skilled team, they've got incredible athletes, and Coach Farley does a great job. I was so proud of the way they responded,” said Okemos Head Football Coach, Mike Krumm.

The Chiefs will advance to the second round of the MHSAA playoffs for the first time since 2011, and will travel to Portage Northern next Friday Nov. 2

“I love this team, I love being around the kids and to say I get another week with these players and to get to be around them, I’m so grateful, I love every one of them,” said Krumm.