Niceville's defense smothers Choctaw (PHOTO GALLERY, VIDEO)
This season the Niceville football team’s defense is starting to build a sterling reputation similar to that of last year’s offense.
While the Eagles were efficient moving the ball Friday at Etheredge Stadium — sparked by a huge gain on a botched special teams play — it was the team’s relentless, smothering defense that led to a convincing 28-0 victory over Choctawhatchee.
View a photo gallery from the game »
Niceville (2-0), ranked fourth in Class 4A, has now won six straight games over the Indians (0-2), the last two via shutout. The win extended the Eagles’ regular-season winning streak to 11 games and 18 of 19. Their last loss before the playoffs came two seasons ago at home to Pine Forest, Niceville’s opponent Friday at Eagle Stadium.
Niceville’s defense allowed Choctaw a mere 95 yards on offense, including only 34 through the air and 5 in the third quarter. The defense’s first-half effort, when it allowed a paltry three first downs, helped lift the Eagles to a 21-0 halftime advantage.
Choctaw’s defense made some gutsy stands in the first half, stopping the Eagles cold after the Indians fumbled a kickoff return in their territory. Choctaw then forced Niceville into a fourth-and-14 from its own 24 on the Eagles’ next possession.
That’s when the game changed for good. Punter Hayden Meyer dropped the long snap but scooped up the ball and raced 28 yards down the left sideline to gain the first down.
Oddly enough, Kyle McDorman’s biggest play of the game came when he lined up at receiver and leapt for a 21-yard grab from Andrew Mitchell on a fourth-and-6. Two plays later, McDorman, an All-Area quarterback, faked a pitch and scampered into the end zone from 5 yards out for a 14-0 lead with 4:33 left in the second quarter.
Niceville proved on the next drive that it still has big-play potential, the hallmark of last year’s state runner-up team. McDorman connected with Brandon Burke for 37 yards and immediately found him again for a 17-yard touchdown strike as the Eagles led 21-0 at intermission.
Niceville outgained Choctaw 338-95 for the game. Marquis Pratt led Niceville with 52 yards rushing, Spencer Pullen added 49 and McDorman had 44 to go along with 6-of-16 passing for 73 yards and a touchdown.
McDorman scored his first rushing touchdown on the first play of the second period. His 1-yard keeper capped a 14-play, 63-yard drive.
Meyer capped the scoring early in the fourth quarter, stretching the ball across the goal line for a 9-yard touchdown reception from Mitchell. Kevin Chasteen had an interception for the Eagles.
Niceville 28, Choctaw 0
Niceville 0 21 0 7— 28
Choctaw 0 0 0 0 — 0
Second quarter
N – Kyle McDorman 1 run (Andrew Mitchell kick); 11:57
N – McDorman 5 run (Mitchell kick); 4:33
N – Brandon Burke 17 pass from McDorman (Mitchell kick); 1:10
Fourth quarter
N – Hayden Meyer 9 pass from Mitchell (Alex Alford kick); 10:39
N Choc
First downs 18 5
Rushes-yards 46-235 18-61
Passing yards 103 34
Compl./Atts./Ints. 8-18-0 6-17-1
Fumbles-lost 1-0 2-1
Penalties-yards 6-55 4-40
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING —Niceville: Marquis Pratt 12-52, Spencer Pullen 9-49, Kyle McDorman 12-44, Jon Hudson 5-36, Hayden Meyer 1-28, Andrew Mitchell 3-14, Denzel Applewhite 3-9, Chris Chapman 1-3. Choctaw: Therion Robinson 6-53, Stephen Heidelburg 6-21, Jesse Adams 5-(-4), Luke Clark 1-(-9).
PASSING — Niceville: Kyle McDorman 6-16-0, 73 yards; Andrew Mitchell 2-2-0, 30 yards. Choctaw: Jesse Adams 4-11-1, 26 yards; Luke Clark 2-6-0, 8 yards.
RECEIVING — Niceville: Brandon Burke 3-57, Hayden Meyer 2-15, Kyle McDorman 1-21, LaDon Morris 1-14, Marquis Pratt 1-(-4). Choctaw: Miguel Paulino 2-10, Cody Brannen 2-8, Devin Borders 1-11, Ben Hambleton 1-5.
