Diaris Morales bobbled the snap. The Lady Indians were 40 yards from the end zone with the game tied at 12. 

None of that mattered.

Morales dropped back and fired a long bomb to KK Hardy, who created separation and hauled it in for the go-ahead touchdown that gave Choctaw an 18-12 win over Niceville on Thursday night — avenging an earlier loss to the Lady Eagles this season.

But everything leading up to that play was just as intense.

Niceville looked like it would have its way early. Quarterback Peyton Carter sliced through Choctaw’s defense on the opening drive, moving all the way to the goal line, but three straight incompletions gave the Lady Indians a turnover on downs.

Choctaw’s offense struggled to get going in its first possession. Morales found Peyton DiBennedetto, but the pass was dropped. A short completion to Tishelle Bowles wasn’t enough, and another DiBennedetto drop forced a punt.

• The Lady Indians’ defense responded when Grey Smith sacked Carter as the first quarter expired, ending Niceville’s next drive before it started.

Choctaw’s offense found its rhythm from there. Morales connected with Silvy Ewert for a completion, then hit DiBennedetto for a field-flipping play. After a near interception — Adri Robinson dropped what would have been a pick — Morales found Ewert in the end zone for the game’s first touchdown. The extra point was no good, making it 6-0.

Both teams traded scoreless drives before Niceville put together a strong possession just before the half. Carter found Eden Shaw, who made a terrific catch in coverage to flip the field. Jori Blechler ripped off a big run, Carter hit Kate Robertson for two straight catches, and a few plays later, Carter connected with Shaw again for the tying touchdown. The extra point attempt was no good, sending the teams into the break knotted at 6.

Choctaw came up short on its first drive of the second half, and the Lady Eagles answered. After an incompletion, Carter hit Blechler for a first down, then found Cowles for a first down before connecting with her twice more. Carter hit Robertson, then found Blechler for the touchdown that put Niceville ahead 12-6.

On Choctaw’s ensuing drive, Jayda Gilyard sacked Morales to open the possession. Morales fired two completions to move into Niceville territory, but her next pass was picked off by Carly King. The Lady Eagles couldn’t capitalize, though, coming up short on the next drive.

Morales opened Choctaw’s next possession with a scramble, then found Bowles. A would-be touchdown was dropped by Hardy, and Kady Folsom had a drop of her own before Morales connected with Hardy for a short gain. Morales then hit Ewert for a first down, and a roughing penalty on Blechler set up a Morales scramble into the end zone. 

• The extra point was no good, tying the game at 12.

After a Niceville punt, Choctaw’s offense went back to work. Morales hit Hardy and DiBennedetto to move the chains before a botched snap. A roughing penalty on Niceville and another bobbled snap set up the play of the game — Morales dropping back and finding Hardy for the go-ahead score that put Choctaw up 18-12.

“We needed this game tonight. We needed to show energy and make plays,” Choctaw Head Coach Jim Bay said. “We’ve still got to clean up some stuff. We had some bad snaps — we’ve been solid all year long — and we’re still dropping some balls that we just can’t drop. We’ve got a tough game tomorrow night against Chiles, top 10 in the state. So we’ll get through that game, play another one Saturday, and then have our senior night against Crestview.”

Choctaw (9-3) will play on the road against Chiles on Friday.
Niceville (12-2) will host Pine Forest in its season finale.