Crestview overpowers Gulf Breeze in Kickoff Classic

By TRAVIS DOWNEY

travisd@nwfdailynews.com

GULF BREEZE - As his players jogged off the field in front of him, Crestview coach Matt Brunson walked away from Thursday's Kickoff Classic against Gulf Breeze a satisfied man.

And for good reason.

After watching as his ninth grade and junior varsity teams combine to outscore their Gulf Breeze counterparts 27-0 through the first two quarters, the Bulldogs' varsity turned in an equally impressive performance, overpowering the Dolphins for a 15-9 win.

Not a bad way to enter the new season.

"Overall our teams gave good effort," Brunson said. "Anytime you go into a Kickoff Classic and do a few things and you come out ahead you feel fortunate."

Crestview opened the second half with an offensive series that balanced physical runs and crisp passing.

Junior running back D.D. Johnson powered the drive with four runs for 32 yards, while senior quarterback Jason Parker completed a pair of passes for 16 and 17 yards, respectively.

Johnson capped the drive with a 4-yard scoring run off left tackle, bringing the six-play, 76-yard march to its desired end.

"(The opening drive) was real good," Brunson said.

Gulf Breeze answered with a 36-yard field goal off the foot of Thomas Farmer and later took a brief lead when Crestview fumbled a punt attempt deep in its own territory to give the Dolphins a first-and-goal situation at the Bulldogs' 10-yard line.

Three plays later, Gulf Breeze quarterback Kyle Schnackenberg found receiver Cody Warford on a slant route for an 8-yard scoring strike to put the Dolphins ahead, 9-7.

Crestview would answer with another balanced drive, marching 66 yards in five plays, the biggest coming on a 30-yard pitch and catch between Parker and junior receiver Chris Pickett that gave the Bulldogs a first-and-goal.

Johnson crashed through on a fourth-and-goal to put Crestview ahead, 13-9, before Parker ran around the right end for the two-point conversion and cap what Brunson called a successful night.

Johnson finished with eight carries for 47 yards while Parker ended the night 5-of-7 for 84 yards.

"We tried to 50/50 and run the football tough inside," Brunson said. "When it works on first down it makes that series easy."

Crestview's first points came early in the first where after a quick score on the opening series, quarterback Steven Grant connected with Andrew Thomas on a 28-yard scoring pass that gave the ninth graders a 13-0 win. In the second quarter, Nick Mason ran for a 59-yard touchdown run before quarterback Garret Teal found George Stakley on a 35-yard touchdown pass.

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