Niceville rallies to defeat Pine Forest (PHOTO GALLERY, VIDEO)

NICEVILLE – As strange as it may sound, the Niceville football team, last year’s state runner-up in Class 4A, has grown to relish its newfound role as underdog.

Once again entering a Friday night having heard the skeptics pick apart its most recent performance, Niceville looked to silence – or at least further muffle – its doubters.

Sophomore Andrew Mitchell connected on a 40-yard field goal with 5:35 remaining and the Niceville defense made one last swarming, suffocating stand to put its stamp on a 17-14 win over Pine Forest at Eagle Stadium.

Click here to view a photo gallery from the game.

The win, one Eagles’ coach John Hicks dubbed "the best team win we’ve had," moved fourth-ranked Niceville to 3-0 on the season.

"I hope people keep doubting them and they keep proving them wrong," Hicks said.

Niceville’s defense hemmed in Pine Forest running back and University of Florida verbal commit Louchez Purifoy for much of the night, as the elusive back picked up just 27 yards on 11 carries. But quarterback Rashaad Lee rambled for 146 yards, 86 of which came on a third quarter touchdown run that gave Pine Forest a 14-7 advantage.

Niceville quarterback Kyle McDorman finished with 63 yards and one touchdown rushing while completing 5-of-12 passes for 97 yards and another touchdown.

Trailing 14-7 late in the third, it was his 56-yard strike to receiver Brandon Burke – on second-and-14 from his own 14, no less – that proved instrumental in the win. Three plays later, McDorman called his own number on a sneak and ran around the right end for an 11-yard touchdown that knotted the score at 14-14.

"The guys did a good job, we just couldn’t finish the drill," Pine Forest coach Jerry Pollard said. "No. 11 had an outstanding game. I thought he was the difference in the game, when they needed a big play he made the pass, he makes the run. … He did a great job for them."

On Pine Forest’s ensuing possession, with the game clock slowly ticking away, the Eagles committed a costly third turnover. Pine Forest (1-2) running back Robert McNeal fumbled as he neared the Niceville 43 and Niceville defensive lineman Andrew Watson was there for the recovery.

A steady dose of runs by Marquis Pratt eventually set up Niceville for Mitchell’s soon-to-be game winner. Pratt led Niceville with 72 yards on 18 carries and proved to be a workhorse in the second half.

On the sideline, McDorman said he had zero concerns as Mitchell lined up for the field goal try.

"In practice he makes them all the time," McDorman said.

Following a defensive-minded opening quarter, Niceville’s offense made good on its second trip deep inside Pine Forest territory. After balking on a fourth-and-1 from the Pine Forest 2 yard line two possessions earlier, a staunch Niceville defense allowed the Eagles to regain possession 9 seconds later when Pine Forest’s Lee fumbled and the ball was recovered on the Eagles’ own 20 by Niceville’s Terry Oakley.

It was the second Pine Forest turnover of the first half and, unlike the first, Niceville’s offense made certain it proved costly when McDorman connected with Burke on a 20-yard touchdown pass.

Niceville 17, Pine Forest 14

Pine Forest       0     7            7         0—14

Niceville             0     7              0       10—17

Second quarter

N – Brandon Burke 20 pass from Kyle McDorman (Andrew Mitchell kick); 11:12

PF – Louchez Purifoy 5 run (Taylor Weir kick); :45

Third quarter

PF – Rashaad Lee 86 run (Weir kick); 2:34

Fourth quarter

N – McDorman 11 run (Mitchell kick); 11:17

N – Mitchell 40 FG; 5:35

                                           Pine Forest   Niceville

First downs                            11            14

Rushes-yards                  35-241         40-174

Passing yards                        54            97

Comp./Att./Int.                5-6-0      5-12-0

Fumbles-lost                         3-3           0-0

Penalties-yards                    5-25         6-35

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Pine Forest: Rashaad Lee 14-146, Robert McNeal 7-51, Louchez Purifoy 11-27, Trebian Suggs 2-19, Stephon Davis 2-19. Niceville: Marquis Pratt 18-72, Kyle McDorman 10-63, Spencer Pullen 12-39.

PASSING—Pine Forest: Rashaad Lee 5-5-0 54. Niceville: Kyle McDorman 5-14-0 97.

RECEIVING— Pine Forest: Louchez Purifoy 1-19, Shaquille Purifoy 2-16, Robert McNeal 1-11, Trebian Suggs 1-8. Niceville: Brandon Burke 2-76, LaDon Morris 2-12, Marquis Pratt 1-9.