South Walton built a 20-8 lead behind three touchdowns from Connor Rooney, but Bay rallied with two fourth-quarter scores to beat the Seahawks 23-20 in a thriller Thursday night at Tommy Oliver Stadium.
- The result took the district championship out of South Walton’s reach and put a major dent in its playoff hopes.
After a scoreless start for much of the first quarter, South Walton struck first. The drive was highlighted by a long Max Madden run into Tornado territory and a solid scramble from quarterback JD Brown, and Rooney capped it by taking a direct snap in for a touchdown.
The Tornadoes responded in the second quarter on a drive in which quarterback Mace Grant made play after play. Grant finished it with a 25-yard touchdown strike to De’Jay Davenport, and Jon Devos converted the two-point play to put Bay ahead 8-7.
The Seahawks answered before halftime, with Rooney taking in another touchdown to send South Walton into the break with a 14-8 lead.
On South Walton’s first drive of the second half, Brown hit Madden on a big play that Madden took inside the 5-yard line. Rooney then took the direct snap in again for his third touchdown, completing the hat trick and giving the Seahawks a 20-8 lead.
Bay’s next drive was highlighted by Grant hitting Darrell Andrews deep in Seahawk territory, followed by a Grant keeper. The Tornadoes made it to the 1-yard line, but the South Walton defense came up with a goal-line stand. Shortly after, Brown hit Madden again, and Madden took it to around the 35-yard line.
- At that point, it seemed momentum was squarely with South Walton and the Seahawks were on their way to a district title and a home playoff game in the Hawks’ Nest, but Bay had other plans.
As the fourth quarter began, the Tornado defense came up with a stop, and Bay’s offense went to work. Grant hit Kellen Flint, who took it into South Walton territory, then found Kaden Brown, who carried it even closer to the end zone. Grant and Kaden Brown connected again for a touchdown that cut South Walton’s lead to 20-15 with under seven minutes left.
Carter Hawk picked up a first down on the Seahawks’ ensuing drive, and JD Brown hit Madden for another, but the Bay defense held and forced a punt. Davenport ripped off a solid return into South Walton territory, and Grant and company chipped away at the Seahawk defense before Jamarlin Huntley took it in for the go-ahead touchdown. The Tornadoes added the two-point conversion for a 23-20 lead.
South Walton moved the ball into Bay territory on its final drive, but Hayden Garrette sacked JD Brown with 12 seconds left. Brown then hit Hawk for a solid gain, but his next two passes, both intended for Treiy Crenshaw, fell incomplete, sealing the win for Bay.
