South Walton edges Vernon in double-overtime

SANTA ROSA BEACH — After trailing most of the night, the South Walton football team tied the game in the fourth quarter and then pulled off a 30-27 Homecoming victory over Vernon in double-overtime on a 26-yard field goal by Jonathan O’Hara in a District 1-A contest.

“It’s the Cardiac Kids,” South Walton coach David Barron said.

“In the fourth quarter, we finally decided to play ball."

“We got out-coached and we got out-played (for most of the game)," he added. "But a win on homecoming is very important."

And they won the hard way.

Down 14-13 at the half, the Seahawks (8-1, 7-1 District 1-A) ate up most of the third quarter on a drive that fizzled inside the Vernon 5-yard line.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Vernon (4-4, 3-4) put together a seven-play drive with Markeith Bell scoring on a 13-yard run. The extra-point attempt failed and the Jackets led 20-13 with less than five minutes to play.

South Walton answered in 10 plays with Dennis Smith finding Jay Gatto for a 26-yard gain and later spotting Andrew Priest for an 11-yard connection. Three plays later, Gatto ran the ball from 14 yards out for the score. O’Hara hit the PAT to tie the game with 1:42 left in regulation.

Vernon made an attempt at a field goal but it fell short, forcing the game into overtime.

The Seahawks got the ball first on the 10 with four tries to score. Gatto picked up 5 yards and Chris Shock added 3. On third down, Gatto ran around the right end for the score. O’Hara hit the point-after for a 27-20 lead.

Vernon came back and scored in two plays. Dylan Lee scored the touchdown on a 4-yard run and Chris Ross kicked in the point-after for a 27-27 tie.

In the second overtime, the Seahawks' defense pushed the Jackets backwards. On fourth down, Ross attempted a 42-yard field goal that went wide right.

South Walton stepped on the field with O’Hara booting in a 26-yarder on first down for the win.

Earlier in the first half, DeQuarious Peterson scored Vernon’s first touchdown on a 6-yard run and Hunter Dobbs the second on a 51-yard dash to the end zone.

Shock scored the Seahawks' first TD on a 28-yard run at the start of the second quarter, and Smith scored the other TD on 1-yard sneak up the middle.