Makeup week closed out the regular season for several area teams, and the playoff picture is coming into focus. Here’s the recap.
Choctaw 49, Fort Walton Beach 13
Choctaw claimed “The Game” for the sixth year in a row, and head coach Frank Beasley moved to 6-0 all-time against the Vikings. Dante Whidbee, Von’Tavious Keller and Noah Calderon each scored twice, while Baker Giles threw three touchdown passes. For Fort Walton Beach, Cannon Wilbur, starting at quarterback in place of an injured Lavin McDaniel, ran for both of the Vikings’ touchdowns.
Choctaw finishes the regular season 7-2 and currently sits as the No. 4 seed in Class 4A, with either Mosley or Ed White up next. Fort Walton Beach finishes the year 3-7 in the second year of the Josh Pulliam era.
Walton 52, Destin 16
The Braves improved to 7-2 behind a dominant performance against Destin. Elijah Odom turned in a hat trick, catching two touchdown passes and returning an interception for a pick-six.
Walton now appears to be the No. 3 seed and will most likely face Gadsden County next Friday, while Destin appears to be the No. 7 seed and will face Pensacola Catholic in all likelihood.
South Walton 28, West Florida Tech 0
South Walton finished the regular season 7-3 with a shutout victory over West Florida Tech. JD Brown threw two touchdown passes, and Treiy Crenshaw hauled in two touchdowns. Roman Cartee added a receiving touchdown, Max Madden ran one in, and Carter Hawk threw a touchdown pass on a trick play.
The Seahawks will likely be the No. 7 seed heading into the playoffs and will likely face Baker County on the road.
Baker 42, Port St. Joe 7
The Gators finished the regular season 7-3 with a win over the Tiger Sharks. Calvin Wilks III had 120 yards and two touchdowns, while Dawson Mitchem, Chasen Lawrence and Sam Kollar each added a rushing touchdown.
Baker looks to be the No. 6 seed and will most likely face Holmes County in a rematch next Friday.
Pace 31, Niceville 25
Niceville rallied for a 25-24 lead with 20 seconds left when Deagan McCoy found Jakobe Gilyard for a touchdown, then hit Caleb Leonard on the 2-point conversion. Pace answered, returning the ensuing kickoff to the Niceville 10 and scoring a walk-off touchdown to win the district championship.
The loss ends Niceville’s quarter-century playoff streak, but the Eagles are all but assured a berth in the Florida Invitational Tournament (FIT) and could potentially host, meaning postseason football could still be played at Eagle Stadium.
