Choctaw rallies past FWB, clinches playoff spot (SLIDESHOW, VIDEO)
FORT WALTON BEACH — The 41st meeting between Choctawhatchee and Fort Walton Beach certainly lived up to the annual hype it receives. It took all 48 minutes, but the Indians battled back from a 10-0 deficit to beat the Vikings 31-23 and take a 21-20 lead in the series. More importantly, Choctaw secured a spot in the state playoffs as the District 2-6A runner-up behind Niceville.
View a slideshow from the game »
After Fort Walton Beach (4-5, 0-5) jumped out to the early 10-0 lead, behind some solid running from T.C. Carter. Carter opened up the scoring on the night with a 10 yard rush up the middle with 1:03 remaining in the first quarter. He finished with 12 carries for 56 yards on the evening after a 44 yard performance in the first half.
A Viking field goal on their next drive made it 10-0 with 2:55 remaining in the half, but the Indians’ (7-2, 4-1) offense finally found success and marched down the field on passes of 17 and nine yards from Luke Clark (9-of-22, 120 yards, two touchdowns) to Terrance Bryant (2 catches, 26 yards) and a 12-yard run by Clark to get the Indians down to the three yard-line. From there, Cedric Bridgewater punched it in and the comeback was on, though the score remained 10-7 at half.
Choctaw kicker Skyler Feckner booted a 31-yard field goal with 19 seconds remaining in the third quarter to knot the score at 10-10.
Sensing blood in the water, the Choctaw offense and defense stepped their respective games up. After recovering a Fort Walton Beach fumble on the opposing 22 yard line, Choctaw moved the ball down to five, where on fourth down Clark hit Devin Borders (2 catches, 19 yards, touchdown) on a slant to left for the go-ahead score to make it 17-10 in favor of the Indians.
After holding the Vikings to a quick three and out the Indians struck again as Clark found Phillip Sherman in in the right corner of the end zone to put Choctaw ahead 24-10.
The Vikings just wouldn’t go away though as Blake James hooked up with Marquese Davenport on a 19-yard touchdown pass with 2:05 left. The Vikings got the ball back with 1:00 remaining and no timeout and Choctaw closed the door as Bryant returned a James interception 23-yards for a score.
John Marvin returned the ensuing kickoff for the final touchdown, but Choctaw recovered the Vikings' onside kick attempt and took a knee and the subsequent city championship.
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Choctawhatchee 31, Fort Walton Beach 23
FWB 0 10 0 13—23
Choctaw 0 7 3 21—31
Second quarter
F – T.C. Carter 10 run (Austin Minks kick); 9:23
F – Minks 33 field goal; 2:55
C – Cedric Bridgewater 3 run (Skyler Feckner kick); 1:14
Third quarter
C – Feckner 31 field goal; :19
Fourth quarter
C – Devin Borders 5 pass from Luke Clark (Feckner kick); 9:33
C – Phillip Sherman 17 pass from Clark (Feckner kick); 5:52
F – Marquese Davenport 19 pass from Blake James (Minks kick); 2:05
C – Terrance Bryant 23 interception return (Feckner kick); 1:14
F – John Marvin 95 kick return (kick failed); 1:00
FWB Choctaw
First downs 15 11
Rushes-yards 36-107 40-127
Passing yards 150 147
Comp.-Att.-Int. 14-23-1 11-23-0
Fumbles-lost 1-1 3-1
Penalties-yards 6-50 4-30
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—FWB: T.C. Carter 12-56, Ryan Thompson 18-50, Allen Anderson 1-8, John Marvin 3-3, Blake James 1-(-4), Rece Coward 1-(-6). Choctaw: Josh LeMay 13-45, Therion Robinson 7-25, Michael Hawthorne 4-28, Zachary Theriault 1-13, Luke Clark 1-12, Cedric Bridgewater 1-3, Chase Whitehead 1-1.
PASSING—FWB: Ryan Thompson 3-8-0 57, Blake James 11-15-1 93. Choctaw: Luke Clark 10-22-0 120, Terrance Bryant 1-1-0 27.
RECEIVING— FWB: Keke Richardson 3-57, Austin Campbell 4-40, Marquese Davenport 4-35, Rece Coward 2-13, Allen Anderson 1-5. Choctaw: Phillip Sherman 4-64, Luke Clark 1-27, Terrance Bryant 2-26, Devin Borders 2-19, Gaston Rackard 2-11,
