Vikings, Indians clash (VIDEO)

 FORT WALTON BEACH – Fort Walton Beach and Choctawhatchee will faceoff for the 41st consecutive time tonight at Etheredge Stadium, and as if year-long bragging rights weren’t enough for these two bitter rivals to play for, competing in the same district certainly raises the stakes that much higher.

The Vikings (4-4, 0-4 District 2-6A) have won four of the past five meetings for the City Championship Trophy, including last year’s 20-17 upset win over a playoff-bound Indians team. But the overall series has been remarkably close, as it currently sits at a 20-20 split.

Choctaw (6-2, 3-1) enters the contest on a four-game winning streak with a stout, opportunistic defense led by Max Keefe and Cedric Bridgewater, and an offense that has been red-hot as of late. Though Choctaw has been firing on all cylinders in recent weeks, Indians’ coach Greg Thomas knows first-hand that you can throw the records out in an emotional rivalry game like the one they will play tonight.

“I think the big thing is defensively they’re very physical,” Thomas said, “and that’s one thing that going back the three years evaluating the game, they’ve just been more physical than we have. They hit us in the mouth and we had a tough time responding.”

The Indians can expect more of the same from a Fort Walton Beach defense that has been tough on opposing offenses much of this season. The Vikings’ defensive front, led by Yoshoub Timms, is a big physical group that can give teams fits. As a unit, they gave up just 53 points in their first six games, but have allowed 58 points in the last two games, including a season-high 35 points in a loss to Navarre.

“Whether or not your 0-10 or 10-0 you always look forward to it,” Fort Walton Beach coach Mike Owens said.

The Vikings' offense struggled with turnovers last week, committing four turnovers, including three in the red zone. That will need to stop if the Vikings want a shot to play the role of spoiler for a Choctaw team that is on the verge of a possible playoff berth.

Choctaw is currently tied atop the District 2-6A standings with Niceville. A Choctaw win paired with a Niceville loss would give the Indians their first district title since 2002. If Chocaw loses to Fort Walton Beach and Niceville win against Crestview, the Indians would advance as the district runner-up by virtue of its win over Navarre earlier this season.

But if Choctaw falls to Fort Walton Beach - and Niceville lose to Crestview - the Indians could find themselves in a four-team shootout involving Niceville, Crestview and Navarre.

“If I’m coming into a season it’s definitely the game I’m worried about, beating Choctaw,” Fort Walton Beach running back T.C. Carter said. “If I lose every game, one game I want to win is Choctaw.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Follow Pat Flynn on Twitter: @PFlynnNWFDN