Niceville Rolls Over Escambia, Other Local Teams March To Victory

In a Friday night showdown, the Niceville Eagles showcased their dominance on the gridiron, overpowering the Escambia Gators with a decisive 42-21 victory.

The game started with Escambia’s first drive stalling quickly as the Niceville defense applied relentless pressure, forcing a three-and-out. A mishandled punt return by Niceville gave Escambia a brief opportunity, but the Gators’ field goal attempt went wide, allowing the Eagles to escape unscathed.

Niceville’s first possession was methodical, resulting in a long drive capped by a touchdown from just five yards out, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Escambia’s subsequent drive was plagued by two dropped passes, leading to another punt.

Niceville had a chance to extend their lead, but their own field goal attempt missed the mark. However, they didn’t have to wait long to regain control. Escambia’s former Niceville quarterback, Nino Freeman, showed some promise on the Gators’ next drive, connecting on several passes, but ultimately, the drive ended with a turnover after a fumble.

The Eagles capitalized on the turnover, with fans chanting “Conner” as Conner Mathews scored another touchdown for Niceville. With five minutes remaining in the first half, quarterback Kane LaFortune efficiently moved the ball downfield, setting up another scoring opportunity.

Visibly frustrated, Former Niceville and current Escambia quarterback Nino Freeman struggled with multiple dropped passes, leading to jeers from the Niceville crowd, calling him “overrated.” Escambia wouldn’t score until Escambia pulled Freeman in favor of backup quarterback Billy Dunn. Dunn would place a precise pass for what would end up a 70-ish yard run to the end zone to get the Gators on the board.

Niceville continued to dominate. Quarterback Johnny Lewis, Junior consistently gained yards on the ground.

Both teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter, bringing the score to 35-14. With the outcome all but decided, Niceville put their second-string players in for the final quarter, eventually sealing the 42-21 victory.

Niceville High School Principal Charlie Marello praised the team’s effort, stating, “We jumped on them early, stayed on them, played hard. So this was an impressive win,” Marello said.

Assistant coach Adron Robinson echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the team’s focus. “We saw some really good tailback action, but we’ve got to do a lot better at running back in pass protection.”

The victory solidifies Niceville’s standing as a powerhouse in the region. As Marello noted, “Our schedule is as tough as anybody in the state, and I don’t think we saw this coming tonight.” With their next game at home against Pine Forest, Niceville looks poised to continue their strong season.

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Other Local Results

FWBHS 9️⃣ – So. Walton 7️⃣ | Fort Walton Beach was able to stave off a tough South Walton Seahawk team in a low scoring 9-7 affair. The Seahawks play several classifications below Fort Walton Beach, which has struggled on the football field for the greater part of the millenium. It may feel like the Vikings haven’t been a contender in a thousand years, but this game is the first step in the right direction.

Choctaw 3️⃣5️⃣ – Navarre 0️⃣ | Choctaw will cement themselves as at least the second-best team in Okaloosa County should they win against Crestview at home next week. Their dominant performance over Navarre shows them to be a contender to be the best team in Okaloosa County.

Destin 2️⃣1️⃣ – Baker 2️⃣6️⃣ | The Baker Gators escaped with a win against Destin on friday night. They will take on another relatively young team from Central this coming week.