Niceville falls to Pine Forest in Class 5A semifinals

By TRAVIS DOWNEY

Florida Freedom Newspapers
(850) 315-4476 | travisd@nwfdailynews.com

PENSACOLA - In a Niceville season that has so often hinged on big plays - whether it be on offense, defense or special teams - the Eagles found themselves on the wrong end of a momentum swing late in the third quarter of Friday night's Class 5A regional semifinal at Pine Forest.

Having used a staunch defensive effort and strong special teams play to build a 3-0 halftime lead, it all came crashing down in a third quarter that saw Pine Forest capitalize on a rare Niceville turnover to score 14 unanswered points before holding on for a 21-18 win.

The win propels Pine Forest (12-0) into the regional finals, where it will play Orange Park.

For Niceville, Friday night's loss brought an end to a more than memorable season.

"This was a typical Niceville team," Niceville coach John Hicks said afterward. "Great effort, they came together and just kept playing. I'm really proud of them."

Leading on the road 3-0 entering the later stages of the third, Roy Finch was stripped of the football on a punt return attempt at the Niceville 23-yard line.

It proved to be just enough of a crack for Pine Forest to break through.

Four plays later, Ladarius Green scored on an end-around from 10 yards out to give the Pine Forest a 7-3 lead with 4:41 remaining.

On Pine Forest's ensuing possession after a three-and-out by the Niceville offense, quarterback David Lawrence punctuated a three-play drive with a 43-yard touchdown pass to receiver Victor Brown.

Sven Hurd's point after attempt was good and in the span of five minutes Niceville had seen its momentum - and its lead - erased.

Just as it had all season, Niceville would answer when Rick Whiddon found a leaping Kody Williams in the back corner of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown and again in the opposite corner for a two-point conversion that made it 14-11 Pine Forest with 4:36 left in the fourth.

Whiddon finished the night 15-of-25 passing for 195 yards while Williams caught six passes for 98 yards.

But Niceville's ensuing onside attempt was recovered by Pine Forest and eventually cashed in for six when running back Shawn Morris broke free on a 27-yard run that made it 21-11.

Niceville would march 80 yards and score once more on a Whiddon keeper with 1:39 left but couldn't come up with the onside try, allowing Pine Forest to run out the clock.

"They just outplayed us," Finch said.

For two teams that had combined for 59 points and over 650 yards of offense in their previous meeting, Friday night's contest was surprisingly low scoring early on as Niceville's Reed White connected on a 36 yard field goal at 5:26 in the opening quarter for the half's only points.

Niceville outgained Pine Forest 359-238.

NICEVILLE

- Niceville senior Luke Sager isn't one to mince his words.