2020 Baker, you can pull out the champagne bottles.
For yet another year, no team will supplant the Gators as the most recent area team to go an entire season undefeated. That was settled Friday night, when Walton, the last area team standing at 5-0, fell 21-14 in overtime to South Walton in what is easily the Seahawks’ most impressive victory of the year.
Early on, it appeared neither team could break through the other’s defense. It proved to be the Braves that struck first. Whitton West hit a wide-open Izzy Holmes, and Rodney Clinch then took it in from 10 yards out for a touchdown to make it 7-0.
South Walton answered before halftime. JD Brown led a strong drive that was capped off by a screen pass to Max Madden for a touchdown, tying the game at 7 heading into the break.
Neither team would score again until the fourth quarter, when the Seahawks put together a long drive. A long Madden run set up a Brown strike to Treiy Crenshaw for a touchdown that put South Walton up 14-7.
The Seahawks defense then forced a stop, but Walton’s defense came up with an answer on South Walton’s next drive. Ceaton Ealum recovered a fumble and took it into the end zone for a touchdown, tying the game at 14.
Neither team scored again in regulation, sending the game to overtime.
The Seahawks struck first in the extra period. Connor Rooney took it in from the wildcat for a touchdown, putting South Walton up 21-14.
When it was the Braves’ turn, Clinch was stopped short of the end zone on fourth-and-goal, sealing the Seahawks’ victory and an impressive statement win on the year.
