Defense, run game lifts Niceville over Lincoln

It remains to be seen whether or not Niceville will be able to match the offensive production of last year’s state runner-up team.

If Friday’s regular-season opener is any indication, the Eagles won’t need to. Their defense looked that good.

Against No. 7 Tallahassee Lincoln, the No. 6 Eagles put on a clinic of physical and disciplined defense as they dominated the Trojans for a 24-10 victory at Eagle Stadium. Niceville has now beaten the Trojans three times in the past two seasons after beating them twice last year.

“I think we lulled them to sleep based on how we played last week,” Niceville coach John Hicks said. “Our defense just had a great effort. They made the statement that they were going to help carry the football team.”

The Niceville (1-0) offense struggled in last week’s kickoff classic, failing to score in two quarters of varsity play. Against Lincoln (0-1), it looked close to midseason form.

Marquis Pratt led the Eagles with a game-high 114 yards and a touchdown, and Spencer Pullen added 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

“We told the kids we had a recipe, and tonight was it,” Hicks said. “We had great defense and special teams, and we ran the football.”

Lincoln got on the board first with a field goal early in the second quarter but wouldn’t see another lead. On the next drive, the Eagles drove for 11 plays and 80 yards over five minutes, capped by a 25-yard touchdown run by Pratt with 5:58 left in the half.

Niceville then reasserted its dominance to start the second half, posting a methodical drive of over six minutes that was capped by an Andrew Mitchell field goal to make the score 10-3. After holding the Trojans to a three-and-out, Niceville put the game out of reach when Pullen scored from 3 yards out with 1:16 to play in the third.

“It was a typical Niceville team,” Lincoln coach Yusuf Shakir said. “They were fundamentally sound and disciplined. That’s who they are.”

As strong as the offense looked, the defense stole the show for the Eagles. After Lincoln added a field goal and Pullen added his second touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter, the Trojans scored on a 73-yard screen pass from junior quarterback Ronald Butler to receiver Reggie Davis. However, that score came with the Eagles’ second-string defense on the field.

Taking away that play, Niceville held the Trojans to just 229 total yards and seven first downs. Perhaps even more impressively, Niceville was penalized just three times for 25 yards. The Trojans made just one trip inside the red zone.

Niceville quarterback Kyle McDorman completed 6 of 14 passes for 93 yards.

“People have been doubting us all week,” Niceville senior linebacker Chase Darhower said. “Our defense came out and played 110 percent like our coaches preached all week. It just feels really good. This was a great win to start the season and it brought us that much closer together.”

Niceville 24, Tallahassee Lincoln 14

Lincoln              0        3        0      11— 14

Niceville            0        7     10     7  — 24

Second Quarter

LHS—Carlos Gaston 41 field goal; 11:04

NHS—Marquis Pratt 25 run (Andrew Mitchell kick); 5:58

Third Quarter

NHS—Mitchell 26 FG; 5:34

NHS—Spencer Pullen 3 run (Mitchell kick); 1:16

Fourth Quarter

LHS—Gaston 27 field goal; 8:35

NHS—Pullen 4 run (Mitchell kick); 4:12

LHS—Reggie Davis 73 pass from Ronald Butler (Javorius Allen run); 0:54

                                                 LHS           NHS

First downs                           7            15

Rushes-yards                  21-137       47-205

Passing yards                      165            93

Comp./Atts./Ints.               13-22-1      6-14-0

Fumbles-lost                         1-0           2-1

Penalties-yards                    7-35         3-25

Individual Statistics

RUSHING— Lincoln: Allen 6-56, Butler 8-52, Wiggins 6-25, Daniels 1-4. Niceville: Pratt 18-114, Pullen 22-110, Hudson 1-2, McDorman 6-2.

PASSING— Lincoln: Butler 23-33-1-165. Niceville: McDorman 6-14-0-93.

RECEIVING— Lincoln: Davis 3-74, Allen 3-28, Andrades 3-27, Colston 2-19, Williams 2-17. Niceville: Belcher 2-34, Pratt 1-22, Pullen 1-17, 1-12, 1-8.