With Hurricane Isaias finally in the rearview mirror, life is starting to return to normal across the area. And with that comes the return of high school football, with Week 9 now on the docket.
- Isaias forced all Week 8 action except Freeport’s game against Pensacola Catholic, which the Crusaders won 49-7, to the FHSAA’s designated makeup week, Nov. 3-4. The storm’s impact, specifically the “sting jet” that devastated Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, is being felt into this week as well.
The decisions in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to cancel games until Monday have caused some changes to our schedule.
Walton’s game at Jay, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been canceled and will not be rescheduled.
Choctaw’s game against Booker T. Washington, originally scheduled for Friday at Joe Etheredge Stadium, has also been postponed. Because Choctaw and Booker T. Washington are district opponents, FHSAA policy requires that the game be made up at some point in the season. If the teams are unable to play Monday or Tuesday, Friday, Oct. 30, is the logical choice, as Choctaw is scheduled to travel to Thompson (Alabama) that night and the Wildcats are set to play Tate, both of which are non-district opponents.
Lastly, Fort Walton Beach’s game against Escambia, also scheduled for Friday at Steve Riggs Stadium, has been moved to Monday.
So, without further ado, here is the Week 9 schedule.
Week 9 schedule
All games at 7 p.m. CT unless noted.
Thursday, Oct. 15
- Freeport at Marianna
Friday, Oct. 16
- Niceville at Crestview (district)
- Graceville at Destin
- Rocky Bayou at Wewahitchka
Monday, Oct. 19
- Escambia at Fort Walton Beach (district)
Bye week: South Walton, Walton, Baker
TBA: Choctaw
Predictions
Last week: 4-5 in Week 7. Season: 39-21.
Freeport 24, Marianna 21
This truly feels like a game that could go either way, but I like Freeport’s roster to get redemption and try to salvage Bobby Johns’ first year.
Niceville 42, Crestview 28
Crestview is going to come to play in this one. While it may be out of the playoff hunt, it’s clear the Bulldogs would love to put a major dent in their archrival’s playoff hopes.
Regardless, this is a must-win for the Eagles, and all offseason, Adron Robinson has made winning rivalry games like these a priority. Niceville comes out, earns revenge for last year’s game, in which Crestview rallied from a 28-13 halftime deficit, and gets back to .500.
Destin 56, Graceville 0
Graceville has been outscored 294-88 on the year. The Tigers also lost to Northview 50-6, and Destin defeated Northview 35-21. Simple as that.
Wewahitchka 21, Rocky Bayou 17
This feels like another game that could go either way, but with it being at Wewahitchka, give me the Gators here.
Fort Walton Beach 24, Escambia 14
Escambia lost to the same Pensacola team the Vikings beat by running clock in the season opener. Combined with the game being at Steve Riggs, the Vikings unquestionably have the advantage here, but the Gators won’t allow this to be a running clock.
Either way, this is a must-win for Fort Walton Beach to stay afloat in the District 1-4A race.
Playoff picture
Open Division
- St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale)
- Columbus (Miami)
- West Boca Raton
- Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood)
- Central (Miami)
- Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach)
- Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota)
- The First Academy (Orlando)
Team most likely to be impacted: Choctaw
Class 5A, Region 1
- No. 1 Mandarin vs. No. 8 Bartram Trail
- No. 2 Buchholz vs. No. 7 Fletcher
- No. 3 Nease vs. No. 6 Pace
- No. 4 Oakleaf vs. No. 5 Evans
Niceville sits at No. 10 in the region, 7.73 points out of the final playoff spot. Crestview sits at No. 13 and has been eliminated.
Class 4A, Region 1
- No. 1 Columbia vs. No. 8 Clay
- No. 2 Mosley vs. No. 7 Rickards
- No. 3 Choctaw vs. No. 6 Lincoln
- No. 4 St. Augustine vs. No. 5 Ed White
Fort Walton Beach sits at No. 19 in the region and must win the district championship to qualify.
Class 3A, Region 1
- No. 1 Raines vs. No. 8 Menendez
- No. 2 Godby vs. No. 7 Wakulla
- No. 3 Bishop Kenny vs. No. 6 Bay
- No. 4 Pine Forest vs. No. 5 South Walton
Class 2A, Region 1
- No. 1 Bolles vs. No. 8 Rutherford
- No. 2 Pensacola Catholic vs. No. 7 Destin
- No. 3 Florida High vs. No. 6 Gadsden County
- No. 4 Walton vs. No. 5 Andrew Jackson
Freeport sits at No. 9 in the region, 2.4 points out of the final playoff spot.
Class 1A, Region 1
- No. 1 Madison County vs. No. 8 Marianna
- No. 2 Blountstown vs. No. 7 Taylor County
- No. 3 Maclay vs. No. 6 Baker
- No. 4 Holmes County vs. No. 5 Fort White
