The Indians’ senior class has done something extraordinary: it has won a district championship in each of its four seasons at Choctaw. The latest came in a 49-7 rout of Booker T. Washington on Thursday night at Joe Etheredge Stadium.
“I’m so proud of the program that we’ve built here, our coaches, our players, our administration, everything that we’re about, what we do. It starts at the top with [Choctaw Principal] Mrs. Heck and [Okaloosa Superintendent] Mr. Chambers, and the success we have and continue to have, we have all these things that they allow us to get done. Just awesome,” Head Coach Frank Beasley said.
Carter Marracco scored on a 70-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage.
Choctaw wasted little time getting the ball back. An Amir Reese punt return for a touchdown was called back on an illegal block in the back, but Baker Giles then hit Marracco for his second touchdown of the night. In the blink of an eye, it was 13-0 Indians.
“Carter’s Carter, does Carter things all the time. Worst thing about him is that he’s about to graduate,” Beasley said.
Marracco gave the credit to the guys up front.
- “Our O-line did amazing tonight in opening up holes,” Marracco said.
The Wildcats finally got a stop, but they gave the ball right back when Ryne Burks forced a fumble. The Choctaw drive that followed ended with a missed field goal attempt, but the Indians didn’t flinch.
The defense forced another stop, and Dante Whidbee ran 55 yards for a touchdown to make it 20-0 Choctaw.
The Big Green defense came through again when Zeke Burgess intercepted Wildcats quarterback Caden Osborn at the 25-yard line and returned it for six. Marracco converted the two-point try to make it 28-0.
The next Booker T. Washington drive also came up short, ending in a failed fake punt that gave Choctaw the ball deep in Wildcats territory. Giles wasted no time, hitting DJ Spence for a touchdown to make it 35-0 Indians.
“Guys are really starting to figure it out, throwing and catching the ball at a high level,” Beasley said.
“We knew what we were coming out to, and we just executed at a high level,” Giles said.
The Wildcats then put together their best drive of the half. It started on third-and-long deep in their own territory, when Osborn hit Gionni Lewis for a long gain. Two Choctaw penalties helped keep the drive going: a late hit on Osborn and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Choctaw sideline, which put the Wildcats in the red zone.
Reese ended the threat by intercepting Osborn. Choctaw looked to make the most of its final chance before halftime, and Giles made two key plays to move the Indians into scoring position. His pass was intercepted on the final play of the half, however, and the score stayed 35-0, which triggered a running clock.
The Indians scored twice in the second half, first on a touchdown keeper by Isaiah Collins and then on a pick-six by Jabaron Ruffin.
“They’re unbelievable. Coach Brooks does a great job of getting them ready. They have really high standards,” Beasley said of the defense and defensive coordinator Terrence Brooks.
Booker T. Washington got on the board with a touchdown reception by Trae Townshend, but Choctaw won 49-7.
Next, Choctaw will host Fort Walton Beach on Wednesday for “The Game.”
“We’re excited, we can’t wait,” Beasley said.
