Pickett has big night, but turnovers doom Crestview

TALLAHASSEE — Leon football coach Bill Ragans figured that the best way to get the ball into playmaker Eric Williams’ hands was to give it to him from the snap.

Williams alternated at quarterback with Raleigh DeVore for Leon (5-2) on Friday versus Crestview (5-3), threw two long touchdowns and ran for two more in the Lions’ 49-36 homecoming win.

“We have a great athlete in Eric Williams,” Ragans said. “He adds a completely different dimension to our offense. We had to find other ways to give him the ball.”

Williams threw for 147 yards and two touchdowns to receiver Brandon Graham. The first came in the second quarter on an 80-yard throw. The two hooked up on a 51-yarder to start the fourth.

The senior also added 87 rushing yards and two scores. He hadn’t played quarterback since ninth grade, but told the coaches he’d be fine.

“I knew I could do it,” Williams said. “I just told my receivers to be ready for the ball.”

DeVore hit Graham on a deep touchdown himself, a 48-yarder in the first quarter. Graham ended the game with four catches for 189 yards and three scores.

It looked like the Bulldogs could give the Lions a long night in the first quarter. Leon found itself in an early two-touchdown hole thanks to Crestview running back Chris Pickett. Pickett put the Bulldogs ahead on the game’s second play with a 75-yard touchdown dash.

He came back on Crestview’s second drive to catch a 60-yard touchdown from quarterback Blake Ritchie and gave the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead with 6:06 left in the first quarter.

Pickett ended with 210 yards on 25 carries, but the Bulldogs hurt themselves with several turnovers. Crestview fumbled the ball away three times and Ritchie threw two interceptions. Ritchie did finish with 223 yards passing and two touchdowns.

“Coach Ragans has a squad that’s very athletic and they did a great job,” Crestview coach Matt Brunson said. “Their overall athleticism did it. They did a good job with either quarterback.”

Crestview        14   0   7  15 - 36

Leon               7   14  7  21 - 49

First Quarter

C – Chris Pickett 75 run (J.T. Arnold kick)

C - Pickett 60 pass from Blake Ritchie (Arnold kick)

L - Brandon Graham 48 pass from Raleigh DeVore (Sean Allen kick)

Second Quarter

L - Juan Neloms 11 run (Allen kick)

L - Graham 80 pass from Eric Williams (Allen kick)

Third Quarter

L - Williams 8 run (Allen kick)

C - B.J. McClure 21 pass from Ritchie (Arnold kick)

Fourth Quarter

L - Graham 51 pass from Williams (Allen kick)

L - Neloms 40 run (Allen kick)

C - Pickett 1 run (Arnold kick)

L - Williams 7 run (Allen kick)

C - Ritchie 1 run (Ritchie run)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing - Crestview: Chris Pickett 25-210, Jerry Siler 6-59, D.D.

Johnson 3-42, Blake Ritchie 3-22, Amond Robinson 2-2, Matt Hutchinson

1-1. Leon: Eric Williams 21-87, Juan Neloms 10-78, Darryl Sanders

4-13, Raleigh DeVore 5-31, Brandon Graham 1-7.

Passing - Crestview: Blake Ritchie 14-37-2-223. Leon: Eric Williams

4-7-1-147, Raleigh DeVore 2-3-0-52.

Receiving - Crestview: Chris Pickett 4-93, Artis Coleman 2-18, B.J.

McClure 3-51, Georgeo Hillsman 1-16, Allen Caldwell 1-10, D.D. Johnson

1-4, Jerry Siler 1-2. Leon: Brandon Graham 4-189, Daniel Foxwell 1-6,

Eric Williams 1-4.