Time for turnaround is now for Choctawhatchee

FORT WALTON BEACH — An early bye week could be a momentum killer for some football teams. For Choctawhatchee, it was just what the doctor ordered.

The Indians have had two weeks to get healthy and clear their heads leading into tonight’s District 1-3A opener against visiting Rutherford after losses to Pensacola Catholic (33-9) and Niceville (49-0). While there’s no shame in falling to those two outfits, the way it happened ate at the Indians, who expected the outcomes to be far less one-sided.

“I don’t think it could have happened at a better time for our kids,” Choctaw coach Greg Thomas said of the off week. “They were very disappointed after the first two weeks. Not cause we lost, but because they think they’re a better team than what they’ve been showing.”

Choctaw (0-2) should be buoyed by the return of quarterback Jesse Adams, who missed the first two games after tearing his MCL. Thomas said Adams is about 90 percent healthy, but his presence can’t be underestimated.

“He just knows the offense so well, and he’s a great leader out there,” Thomas said. “ … He’ll bring a lot of experience with him.”

Wide receiver Zach Morgan also is back and tailback Freddie Gray is fully healthy, leading Thomas to say, “There’s no more excuses, so to speak.”

Thomas said the Indians have to put their first two losses behind them or they’ll never progress. With seven new starters on both sides of the ball, Choctaw was bound to have some early struggles. But as Thomas said, the turnaround has to start now that the district slate has arrived.

“It’s going to take some time, but we don’t have any more time,” he said. “Everything’s do or die for the next seven weeks.”

Rutherford (1-2), which defeated Port St. Joe 31-13 between losses to Escambia (46-7) and Mosley (31-28), features a four-year starting quarterback in Cordarryl Rogers who has rushed for 291 yards and four touchdowns despite missing significant time in two games due to injury. For the Indians to open district play on the right note, they’ll have to contain him.

“We know we can do better than what we’ve been showing,” Thomas said, “and they want to do that on Friday night.”