Crestview, Choctaw ready for district opener

By TRAVIS DOWNEY

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

Depending on the circumstances, a bye week can be viewed as a curse or a blessing.

For Crestview coach Matt Brunson, last week's bye may have been a little bit of both.

"If you're playing well you'd like to keep playing and if you haven't quite played up to your potential, you the open week to tweak your stuff," Brunson said. "So it's been helpful for us."

Just how much could be determined tonight as Crestview (2-2) travels to Choctawhatchee (2-3) for both school's District 2-4A opener.

Choctawhatchee is coming off of a 49-48 double-overtime loss at Milton that coach Greg Thomas admitted late Thursday night took its toll on the Indians.

"Last week took a lot out of our kids," Thomas said. "It took a couple of days this week to get back into it."

Fortunately for both Crestview and Choctawhatchee, the dawn of district play brings with it a fresh start.

"It gives you a jolt, so to speak," Thomas said. "It really doesn't matter how anybody has done up to this point. Everybody is 0-0 right now and everybody can still reach their goals of making the playoffs."

With Fort Walton Beach (5-0) appearing more than capable of defending their district crown of a year ago, tonight's clash could prove pivotal for both the Bulldogs' and Indians' post season hopes provided each team can iron out a few wrinkles.

After putting 62 points on the board in their season opener at Paxon, Crestview has managed 14.6 points per game in their last three games, a number that Brunson believes the Bulldogs will have to improve upon tonight.

"We're going to have to score a few more (points) than we have traditionally," Brunson said.

Shoring up a defense that has shown a propensity to give up big chunks of yardage at a time was high on Thomas' to-do list this week, a task made more difficult with the loss of the unit's leading tackler, linebacker Alec Schubele, who will not play tonight due to an injury sustained last week.

Thomas has also spent the week re-emphasizing the concept of ball-security to his offense.

In their last two games the Indians' offense has been guilty of eight turnovers.

"We're not going to win - especially against good teams like Crestview or Niceville - turning the ball over," Thomas said.

After not playing a week ago, Choctawhachee running back Le'Keefe Robinson will likely return to the lineup tonight after suffering a deep leg bruise a week ago.

CRESTVIEW (2-2) at CHOCTAWHATCHEE (2-3) 7 p.m.

Last week: Milton defeated Choctawhatchee 49-48 in 2 OT. Crestview was off.

Last year: Crestview won 34-28.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Crestview: Jordan Glover, RB; Chris Pickett, WR; Jason Parker, QB; Darius Robbins, DT.

Choctawhatchee: Le'Keefe Robinson, RB; David Weber, QB; Phillip Roebuck, CB.