Fort Walton Beach needed this one.

Sitting at 1-2 with district play beginning, a loss would have dropped the Vikings to 1-3 and 0-1 in district, all but ending their Class 4A playoff hopes. Instead, Fort Walton Beach came out and earned a dominant 28-0 shutout over Milton that has the program very much alive in the playoff race.

The Vikings’ offense opened the game with a three-and-out, but the defense answered immediately, stopping Milton on fourth down and giving Fort Walton Beach the ball near midfield. Elijah Donson overcame an early holding penalty and ripped off a 52-yard rushing touchdown to put the Vikings up 7-0.

From there, both defenses took over. The score held at 7-0 through halftime as neither team could crack the other side.

Fort Walton Beach’s defense forced another stop to open the third quarter, giving the Vikings the ball around their own 40-yard line. Donson carried it into Panthers territory, and TyShaun Montgomery took it all the way down to the Milton two-yard line, but a holding penalty wiped out the run. Fort Walton Beach was eventually forced to punt.

The defense bailed the offense out once again. After another Milton stop, the Vikings got the ball back and Donson drove to the 22-yard line. Lavin McDaniel then connected with Cannon Wilbur for a 22-yard touchdown just before the third quarter ended, pushing the lead to 14-0.

On Milton’s next drive, a failed lateral from Damylan Woodberry to Onyx Anderson was scooped up by Jrue Lee, who took it deep into Panther territory. A few plays later, Donson punched in his second touchdown of the night to make it 21-0.

Fort Walton Beach had one more left. Just before the game ended, a fumble by Graham Williams was recovered by Bryson Gay for a touchdown to cap the scoring at 28-0.

The Vikings improved to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in district play with a much-needed win. Up next is a home matchup against Walton and its seemingly unstoppable momentum.