🏈 Gilyard, Nunes, Harris, and Miles lead top performances
🔥 South Walton and Baker shine with offense and improvement
🛡️ Choctaw dominates on defense, punting, and coaching
NICEVILLE – As Week 6 came and went, we here at Mid Bay News thought it would be a good idea to recap the 2025 high school football season in the best way possible….by giving out mid-season awards.
Through the first six weeks, we have seen surprises, upsets, and breakout seasons that have put players from our area near the top of the statistical charts across the state.
While the 2025 Niceville Eagles season hasn’t lived up to the expectations of many locals (we see you anonymous posters on Facebook), a young team with a new coach can lead to some growing pains.
But I am an optimist, and by using my crystal ball to predict the future, I believe that RB Jakobe Gilyard may be a name people talk about long after his high school days.
While not getting off to a hot start this year, he first began to impress a lot of people when Niceville visited Pine Forest. Coming away with a 35-14 win, Gilyard took control on Niceville’s final drive, carrying the ball for each play to put the final dagger in the game.
This past week, I was at Gulf Breeze covering the game. At one point, it took multiple Dolphins players to take him down to the ground. I said something along the lines of “man, this kid will be really good in two years.”
Little did I know, Gilyard’s father was standing right next to me, and agreed with that sentiment, saying that with time, his son might be one of the next great Niceville High alumni.
To date, Gilyard leads the Eagles in rushing with 517 yards on 87 carries. He is also capable of catching passes from the backfield, having 102 yards on 10 catches.
Ever since reading his stat sheet following a week one win over North Bay Haven, Freeport QB Carter Nunes has been on the shortlist for best quarterback in Northwest Florida, and for good reason.
Following an up-and-down sophomore year, where Nunes led his team to a 5-5 record, going 123-for-236 with 1,796 passing yards and a TD/INT ratio of 3.2, Nunes improved in every statistical value.
This year, he has completed 61.6% of his passes on 99 attempts, gaining 1,238 yards through the air, along with 16 touchdowns and only one interception.
What’s more impressive is that he is averaging almost 248 yards through the air per game, and still has five games remaining in 2025. If his pace continues, he will finish the year with 32 touchdowns and 2,476 passing yards.
What’s even crazier is that he will most likely be even better in 2026, as Nunes looks to end his time at Freeport as a District 1-2A champion.
Other candidates include:
While most sports writers in Northwest Florida focus on Pace RB Makael Williams as one of the state’s best running backs, Destin RB Junior Harris has impressed everyone in the Mid Bay News office as one of the brightest players on the Sharks’ roster.
To date in 2025, Harris has had 847 yards on 79 carries, with an average of 10.7 yards per carry. This puts him as Okaloosa County’s leading rusher and the 14th-ranked player in the state’s rushing yards rankings.
This season, Harris has yet to be slowed down, either reaching or going over the century mark in each game. The lowest rushing total was 100, which came on Sept. 19 against Taylor County High School.
Harris is also coming off one of his best games of the season this past Friday against Opp, where he accrued 262 yards on 19 carries, with two rushing scores. We say “one of” due to his performance against Baker in August. 29.
In that game, Harris averaged 18 yards per carry on 12 attempts, rushing for 216 yards and three scores.
Other candidates include:
A three-year starter on varsity and a player who will eventually cause headaches for defenses across the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2026, Freeport TE Julius Miles is looking to end his high school career on a high note with the hopes of a playoff run.
This award is probably the hardest one to give out, considering the other candidates who could have received it.
In Baker, WR Riley Renfro has been unstoppable, averaging 106.5 yards per game and having eight touchdowns. South Walton’s Grant Gilmore is on pace for his best year, especially with increased production, already having 40 catches on the year, and averaging 108.6 yards per game.
Then you have the dynamic duo of Niceville TE Max Roche and WR Robert Oliver, with Oliver serving as the team’s receiving leader, yards leader, and scoring leader, and Roche as the dependable safety valve tight end for young QB Deegan McCoy.
But Miles, along with the Freeport offense led by QB Carter Nunes, has been lighting up stat sheets all season. Miles had 38 catches for 793 yards and 10 touchdowns, an average of 158.6 yards per game.
His best game statistically came in a 48-43 victory over Northview, where Miles had 13 catches on the night for 186 yards and two scores.
Miles is also the recipient of the mid-season Mid Bay News Most Valuable Player award.
Other candidates include:
After going 2-8 in 2024 and playing every game on the road, the Seahawks looked to rebound in 2025 — and boy, did they.
Currently sitting at 4-1, tied for first place in District 1-2A with Pensacola Catholic, HC Phil Tisa’s team started strong with three straight wins over higher classification teams (Gulf Breeze, Fort Walton Beach, Arnold).
However, in their first of only three road games this year, South Walton fell to FSU High School before rebounding in a rivalry game against the Walton Braves.
Along with their high-powered offense, which has been on fire for almost every game this season, the Seahawks’ defense is where the most improvement has been made.
At this point in 2024, they allowed teams to outscore them 157-95. This year, that margin has reversed, only allowing 62 points.
Look for the Seahawks to either contend for a district title this year, as two promising matchups await them in October, with them hosting Freeport on Oct. 10 and a trip to Pensacola Catholic on Oct. 24.
I drew some flak from Mid Bay News Publisher Christopher Saul for this pick, as he looks down on the rural teams. But don’t blame him; many people share this opinion, but I don’t.
I have kept a close eye on Baker this season, and many other people should, as they are one of two teams that remain undefeated at this point in the 2025 season.
Baker is currently outscoring opponents 222-73, with the Gators’ offense eclipsing the 40-point mark three times this season (Vernon, Central, and Houston County).
QB Justice Baldwin, who was Mid Bay News’ Player of the Week for week one, has been stellar during his senior campaign, having a 64.7% completion rate, 1,165 passing yards, and 16 passing touchdowns.
On the ground, RBs Wyatt Straight and Calvin Wilks III each have over 40 touches this year and over 300 yards rushing. Each player also has over six yards per carry.
And last, but certainly not least, is WR Riley Renfro, who was on the short list for best pass catcher, with 20 catches this year and 639 yards. Adding to the Gators’ receiving corps is WR Austin Stanley, who has 252 yards on 10 catches.
Other candidates include:
Through six games, the Choctawhatchee Indians have only allowed 28 points.
That’s it…..that’s the stat.
After giving up 14 points to Gulf Shores in week one, Big Green played 15 straight quarters without allowing a score; that streak broke with Niceville scoring a touchdown in the final moments of a 42-7 win at the Eagles Nest.
In their week six matchup against Arnold, they only allowed seven points to the Marlins, and looking at their upcoming schedule, the only team on paper with any threat to them is South Walton.
Adding to this impressive performance, Choctaw has, on average, allowed only 95 yards per game to opposing teams this year.
Choctaw also won the “Best Special Teams” award, as punter Jordan Figueroa has pinned teams deep. In Choctaw’s game against Niceville, the Eagles started multiple drives inside their own 20-yard line, adding to the long night for the Eagles’ offense.
Other candidates include:
It’s hard to argue against a man who leads the best defense in the area and also has a 6-0 record. So we are not.
Since Beasley took over the Indians in 2021, the Indians have a combined record of 40-16, with four trips to the playoffs, including a trip to the regional finals in 2024, where they lost to St. Augustine 13-6.
In 2025, the Indians had their best start ever to a football season, and Beasley recorded his 100th head coaching victory against Pine Forest.
Look for the Indians to remain undefeated with the hopes of getting two games better as they enter the playoffs.
Other candidates include:
Sometimes a good old-fashioned grudge match brings out the very best—and worst—in a team.
This year, Crestview did the unexpected, clawing back from what looked like a runaway loss to pull off one of the most improbable victories in Panhandle football we have seen in years.
Niceville dominated the first half, racing to a 28-10 lead behind Senior TE Max Roche, who hauled in two touchdowns and nearly 150 yards. It seemed like the game was all but over.
But Crestview wasn’t ready to fold. Backed by multiple successful onside kick attempts and a stingy defense, Crestview was able to dominate the ground game, racking up 303 yards on the ground, and scoring 22 unanswered points, giving Crestview its only win so far during the 2025 season.
Other candidates include:
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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