Niceville Eagles edged out South Sumter Raiders 35-28 in a thrilling high school football game, with strong support from the Eagle Pride band and student section.
Connor Matthews played a pivotal role in the fourth quarter, scoring the game-tying touchdown and leading the Eagles to a final touchdown for the win.
Niceville’s defense made two crucial stands in the fourth quarter, sealing the victory despite South Sumter’s late-game push.

The Niceville Eagles pulled off a dramatic victory against the South Sumter Raiders in a tense, action-packed high school football game under the lights on Friday night thanks to two solid stands in the fourth quarter from the Eagles defense and a wall of sound from the Eagle Pride band and the Neon-clad student section. The game, which saw moments of brilliance and near heartbreaks, ended with Niceville holding on to a narrow lead after a final defensive stand in the closing seconds.

Niceville took an early lead on their opening drive, with a 20-yard quarterback run capping off a long march down the field for the first touchdown. South Sumter’s first two possessions ended in punts, with the Eagles nearly blocking both attempts.

Niceville’s second possession resulted in a big run that set up another touchdown pass to Mo Seck, pushing the score to 14-0. South Sumter, however, began to find their rhythm. Late in the first quarter, they managed their first first down of the evening, and in the second quarter, Stanley Young broke free for a 20-yard touchdown run, cutting Niceville’s lead to 14-7.

After exchanging punts, Niceville capitalized on a crucial penalty against South Sumter on 4th and 2, extending their drive and scoring with a pass down the middle to make it 21-7. South Sumter’s offense continued to struggle, failing to convert on a 4th and 13 situation, leading to another punt.

As the second half began, the game grew more intense. Niceville’s defense started breaking down, with South Sumter’s Semaj Shines intercepting a pass from Niceville’s QB, Kane LaFortune. The Eagles’ injury timeout did little to calm the storm, and South Sumter capitalized with another touchdown, bringing them closer at 21-14.

Niceville’s offense then faced another difficultsituation but responded with a massive reception by Robert Stith, combined with a pass interference penalty against South Sumter. The Raiders’ defense struck again, picking off another pass, this time from a tip, putting the Eagles on the back foot.

The Raiders capitalized on the mistake to keep the pressure on, using a flea flicker to draw a penalty on Niceville and then sweeping left for a touchdown that tied the game at 21-21. The Eagles’ student section and band, undeterred by the mounting pressure, rallied behind their team, and Niceville began to find their rhythm again with a series of short passes that moved them downfield.

As the third quarter came to a close, Niceville faced a critical 4th and 6 but threw their third interception of the night. South Sumter capitalized immediately in the fourth quarter with a long pass for a touchdown, giving them their game-first lead of 28-21.

But Niceville was not done. Connor Matthews stepped into the games spotlight at the climax of the action to break loose for a long run, and on the next play, scored a touchdown to tie the game once more. The run breathed life back into the Eagles, whose fans had dropped the decibel level in the third quarter.

South Sumter’s next drive faltered after a series of penalties and a huge sack by the Eagles’ defense, forcing a punt.

With the ball back, Niceville pushed deep into South Sumter territory, with Connor Matthews leading the charge on the ground. The drive culminated in another touchdown, putting the Eagles ahead 35-28.

South Sumter made one final push, with their quarterback finding Bubba Boone on a critical third-down conversion. But Niceville’s defense held firm, forcing a turnover on downs as time expired, sealing their hard-fought victory.