Crestview stormed back from a 32-7 deficit with 22 unanswered points in the fourth quarter Thursday night, but Pine Forest recovered an onside kick and returned it for a touchdown to escape Jack Foster Stadium with a 38-29 win over the Bulldogs, who fell to 0-3.
The result was a reversal of last year’s 33-8 Crestview victory.
Pine Forest set the tone from the start. The Eagles received the opening kickoff and drove the length of the field, with Zakavius Andrews capping it with a 30-yard touchdown run. Crestview blocked the extra-point attempt, but a Bulldogs penalty gave Pine Forest another chance, and Kemarion Jordan took a direct snap into the end zone for the two-point conversion to make it 8-0.
Crestview responded immediately, driving right back down the field. Trevin Ford finished the drive with a five-yard touchdown run to cut it to 8-7.
But Pine Forest answered again.
The Eagles put together another drive that featured a fourth-down conversion — a pass from Jacorie Thomas to Korden Randle to move the chains. A few plays later, Thomas found Andrews on a screen, and Andrews evaded several Bulldogs to take it to the end zone. The two-point conversion was no good, and the score held at 14-7.
Crestview’s offense came up short on its next possession, and Pine Forest forced a punt. The Eagles then pulled out a trick play — Thomas tossed it to Andrews, who hit Randle, and Randle took it all the way to the Crestview 20 as the first quarter ended.
Pine Forest kept pushing early in the second quarter, converting another fourth down on a Thomas pass to Javion Casanova to set up a goal-to-go situation. But Crestview’s defense stiffened. Jordan gained a yard, Cordae Whatley was stuffed behind the line, Thomas’s pass to Randle fell incomplete, and then Thomas overthrew on fourth down, giving the Bulldogs a much-needed stop.
Crestview’s offense appeared headed for a three-and-out, but the Bulldogs pulled off a fake punt with Matthew McKeon taking it 45 yards all the way to midfield. The play seemed to spark the offense.
Brock Spears hit Rayshaun Cargle for a first down and Jalen Robinson ran for another, but the drive stalled out. Spears threw an incompletion, Robinson was stopped after two short gains, and a false start penalty forced a Crestview punt.
Pine Forest made the most of it.
Thomas connected with Deonta Stall on a deep pass that flipped the field into Bulldogs territory, and on the final play of the half, Thomas found Randle for a touchdown to put the Eagles up 20-7.
The second half opened the same way. Crestview was forced to punt on its first possession, and Pine Forest capitalized immediately — Thomas found Randle on a screen, and Randle broke several tackles for a touchdown to extend the lead to 26-7.
The Bulldogs managed a stop on Pine Forest’s next drive, but the momentum was short-lived. On Crestview’s ensuing possession, Spears’s pass was intercepted by Jamari Johnson, who returned it to the end zone to put Pine Forest up 32-7.
Then, in the fourth quarter, Crestview’s offense came to life.
The Bulldogs drove the length of the field, with Jaden Goldsmith breaking off a long run for a touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, but Crestview had trimmed it to 32-13.
After forcing a Pine Forest punt, Jalen Robinson broke free for a 74-yard touchdown run. Spears connected with Zach McKinnon for the two-point conversion, and just like that it was 32-21 with four minutes to play.
Crestview’s defense forced another stop.
Spears scrambled for a big gain to flip the field, and a Pine Forest personal foul pushed the Bulldogs deeper into Eagles territory. Spears then found Naz James for a touchdown, and Robinson punched in the two-point conversion to make it 32-29.
But Pine Forest had one more answer. Jamarion Johnson recovered the ensuing onside kick and took it all the way for a touchdown, putting the Eagles back ahead 38-29. Crestview fumbled on its final drive as time expired, and Pine Forest held on for the win.
