Fort Walton Beach advances in 4A playoffs by clipping Pace 14-13

By BILL GAMBLIN

Florida Freedom Newspapers

PACE - Every team will have its day, but Fort Walton Beach was wondering when that day would come in football after some dramatic disappointments against the Pace Patriots.

The Vikings have to wait no more as they defeated Pace 14-13 Friday to advance to the Class 5A region finals.

Fort Walton Beach will host Tallahassee Lincoln, a 27-20 winner over Tallahassee Leon.

"We were due a break because we have had a lot of bad breaks against Pace," said Fort Walton Beach coach Mike Owens. "I am real proud of our defense keeping us in this game and in the second half we stepped it up offensively."

It looked like Pace was going to ice the game until the Patriots fumbled the ball and the Vikings recovered at their own 20.

Despite Luke Barnes being sacked for an 8-yard loss, the Vikings kept moving the ball until they reached their own 47.

It appeared the drive had stalled with 4:49 remaining in the game as Fort Walton Beach was facing fourth-and-9.

Barnes dropped back to pass and heaved the ball to what appeared to be an open receiver, but a Pace defender tipped the ball high into the air. J.T. Wortham swept in and took the tipped ball down to the Pace 7.

Pace's defense looked to have the Vikings number until Charlie Lott rumbled in from 6 yards out to make to tie the game with 3:34 remaining on the clock.

Don David added the point after to give Ft. Walton a 14-13 lead with 3:34 remaining in the game.

This is not unfamiliar territory for the Vikings, as Pace is known for some late game heroics against the Vikings.

And this time didn't appear to be any different as Pace started its final drive of the game at its 20 and quickly faced fourth-and-4 from its 26.

Pace senior Aaron Munoz dropped back and connected with Travis Scott for a 12-yard gain and two plays later Munoz found his favorite target in Tyler Bousson for a 29-yard gain to put the ball on the Fort Walton Beach 32 with two minutes remaining.

The Patriots could only get to the Vikings 30 on the next three plays and were forced to send in Greg Peranich for a 47-yard field goal attempt.

Owens called a timeout to ice the Pace junior kicker and it seemed to work as Peranich had the distance, but his attempt sailed wide left.

"It was a great ballgame," said Pace head coach Mickey Lindsey. "It wasn't for a lack of effort or lack of attempts.

"We had a chance, but we needed to get the ball a little closer."