Niceville pulls away from Crestview in second half (PHOTO GALLERY, VIDEO)

NICEVILLE – Three months ago when Niceville opened its first preseason practice, Eagles’ coach John Hicks knew he had a good team.

Only time, and games, would tell just how how good.

Following a 56-38 win over Crestview, Hicks officially got his answer.

Click to view a photo gallery from the game »

Niceville shook off an early turnover that led to a surprising early deficit before scoring on eight consecutive possessions to burry the Bulldogs and wrap up a sixth district crown in seven seasons. The win also marked the third time in program history that a Niceville team finished the regular season unbeaten.

But while 9-0 and 3-0 in District 2-4A is a big accomplishment, Hicks and the Eagles have a bigger mountain to climb.

“It’s good,” Hicks said of the perfect regular season record, “but we’re all about the playoffs. We want to make a run in the playoffs, that’s what it’s all about.”

For two quarters, it appeared Crestview, which last season upset then third-ranked Fort Walton Beach, would spoil Niceville's bid for an undefeated regular season and a District 2-4A crown.

For two quarters, Crestview had the state’s top-ranked team in Class 4A on the ropes, taking an early 7-0 lead thanks to a fumbled Niceville snap before closing the half with a 42-yard field goal by J.T. Arnold to trim the Eagles’ lead to four at 21-17.

It was in the Eagles’ locker room that Hicks said his defensive coaches issued a challenge to a Niceville defense that had been pushed around for 125 rushing yards.

“I just give our defensive coaches credit,” Hicks said. “They challenged them. They said, ‘Hey, let’s start winning the battle up front on defense and the offense will take care of itself.’ ”

They were right.

Niceville’s offense needed just three plays to score to open the second half, with Kody Williams hauling in a Kyle McDorman pass for a 34-yard touchdown. On Crestview’s ensuing possession, D.D. Johnson was stripped of the ball and Niceville recovered at the Bulldogs’ 22.

Eagles’ running back Roy Finch then ripped off a 22-yard touchdown run and, in the blink of an eye, the Eagles had effectively turned what had been a tightly-contested 21-17 slugfest into a 35-17 rout.

“This is the best feeling in the world,” Finch said. “I couldn’t be more proud of this team for the adversity we’ve overcome this season.”

Niceville found itself in another adverse situation early on, as a low snap to McDorman on the Eagles’ opening possession was recovered by Crestview (5-4, 1-2) at the Niceville 46.

Twelve plays later, Bulldogs running back Chris Pickett, who finished with 49 yards and two touchdowns rushing and one score receiving, burst through the Niceville defense for a 3-yard touchdown run that gave Crestview a 7-0 lead and left the partisan crowd at Eagle Stadium stunned.

Niceville would not answer until early in the second, scoring on a 1-yard scoring run by Finch. Niceville took a 13-7 lead on its ensuing possession when Spencer Pullen bulldozed his way into the end zone from 2 yards out but a high snap resulted in only a six-point Eagle lead.

Finch finished with 76 yards and four touchdowns rushing while Pullen ended the night with 63 yards and one touchdown. Crestview outgained Niceville by a slim 321-317 margin on the night.

“The difference was Roy Finch and Kody Williams,” Crestview coach Matt Brunson said. “Those two are going to take them a long ways.”

Johnson led all rushers with 88 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries. Blake Ritchie finished the night 13-of-29 for 151 yards and one touchdown.

“I’m real proud of our guys effort,” Brunson said.

For Niceville, a well-deserved bye week awaits before the team turns its attention toward the playoffs.

“We’ll take Monday off and go from there,” Hicks said.

Niceville 56, Crestview 38

Crestview         7     10        7          14—38

Niceville            0     21     21          14—56

First quarter

C – Chris Pickett 3 run (J.T. Arnold kick); 5:01

Second quarter

N – Roy Finch 1 run (Tanner Hansen kick); 10:57

N – Spencer Pullen 2 run (conversion failed); 6:28

C – D.D. Johnson 5 run (Arnold kick): 4:07

N – Finch 16 run (Kody Williams 2 pass from Kyle McDorman); 1:34

C – Arnold 42 field goal; :00

Third quarter

N – Williams 34 pass from McDorman (Hansen kick); 10:36

N – Finch 22 run (Hansen kick); 10:22

N – Williams 25 pass from McDorman (Hansen kick); 4:37

C – Pickett 4 run (Arnold kick); :22

Fourth quarter

N – Finch 37 run (Hansen kick); 10:33

C – Pickett 2 run (conversion failed); 5:22

C – Pickett 2 pass Blake Ritchie (Matt Hutchinson 2 pass from Ritchie); :25

                                           Crestview     Niceville

First downs                            19            15

Rushes-yards                  37-170     32-185

Passing yards                      151          117

Compl./Att./Ints.                13-29-0        6-7-0

Fumbles-lost                         1-1           2-2

Penalties-yards                    7-55         4-42

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Crestview: D.D. Johnson 18-88, Chris Pickett 12-49, Jerry Siler 5-28, Blake Ritchie 2-5. Niceville: Roy Finch 9-76, Spencer Pullen 9-63, Garrett Fletcher 6-60, Kyle McDorman 7-37, Marquis Pratt 1-9.

PASSING— Crestview: Blake Ritchie 13-29-0 151. Niceville: Kyle McDorman 6-7-0 117.

RECEIVING— Crestview: Chris Pickett 5-39, Keshawn Thomas 1-32, Artis Coleman 4-42, Allen Caldwell 2-59, Matt Hutchinson 1-2. Niceville: Kody Williams 3-72, Stefano Schutte 1-28, Roy Finch 1-17.