Who has the best football student section in the area? We rank the top 5.

When it comes to a great student section at a high school football game, several factors loom large.

Size, noise strength, chemistry, traditions, the ability to work off the band and cheerleaders, being well-traveled, proximity to the field — all are essential to creating an atmosphere that serves two purposes: Rally the team and rally the crowd.

But as we've come to learn on the Emerald Coast — our schools ranging from rural 1R to 2,000-plus suburban 4S — no student section is created the same. In my humble opinion, here are the five football student sections that do it best in the Daily News' coverage area.

No. 1 should come as no surprise.

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1. Niceville

Niceville's student section isn't just the best in the Panhandle, but the state. Need proof? Just reference the photo above or the video below.

But how'd this iconic student section take root? Like the Cameron Crazies for Duke basketball, it stems from sustained success. After all, Niceville hasn't had a losing season in the lifespan of any current Eagle player. This year has been much of the same, the Eagles are 6-1 with rivalry wins over Choctaw and Crestview.

But owning the label of best in the land isn't about sheer size — 400-plus students spanning 20 rows next to the home end zone. It's about the never-ending chants from Niceville's lauded cheerleaders camped on the track below. It's about the Rose Bowl-bound Eagle Pride band, so large it needs seperate bleachers north of the home end zone. It's about the student section leaders waving flags and doing pushups after every Niceville score.

As for tradition, spectators young and old know when the drumline starts its march toward the student section after halftime and the caps come off the Silly String canisters, it's about to get lit. From black-outs to themes of cowboys, construction workers and beach wear, it's a sea of rowdy, devoted, raucous students that show up preseason or postseason, rain or shine. And any rival school member dare enters, they're booted.

But the best thing about Niceville's student section? It only gets better with each new senior class.

2. Crestview

Crestview's student section T-shirt game is strong.

A couple years back, they showed up to Eagle Stadium with black T-shirts that read: "Us vs. the Recruiters." Before that, they debuted the 3-peat T's against Niceville during a run of three straight district wins.

In the face of adversity, they travel well. And at home, they have a tradition of flooding the field pre-team entrance to welcome the Dawgs. They're large, they're loud, they're united and they're located right next to the band typically in red and black. At their Final 4 run height, they were the best of the best. Now, even at 1-5, they're still electric.

3. Fort Walton Beach

"Chuga! Chuga! Chuga-chuga-chuga! Chuga! Chuga! Chuga-chuga-chuga!"

The Little Red Wagon chant is synonymous with Fort Walton, and the Vikings get brownie points for soldiering through some winless campaigns while still bringing the energy to Friday Night Lights. What I love about the student section setup at Steve Riggs Stadium is the proximity both to the field and the band, which is right on its pocket to the left.

Viking players definitely get an earful, and the fact that the Vikings are competitive at 2-1 at home and 3-3 overall is helpful. This is definitely an old-school student section, typically clad in American-flag colors and following the direction of its appointed leaders up front. If the Vikings continue to win, its student section will only grow.

4. Choctaw

Choctaw is more musically inclined than the other student sections, the stereo constantly blasting hits to get their pipes going. It's quintessentially a fun music club vibe that makes you wonder when the glow sticks will be passed around. It's an atmosphere that conjures up festival wear, and it helps that the cheerleaders set up shop on the track in front of the Kelly green-clad crew.

Unlike the other stadiums, Joe Etheredge is massively towering and impossible to give the allusion of a sellout. But Choctaw's student section does its best, camping front and center near the 50-yard line in solidarity, waiting to erupt over the latest Jesse Winslette bomb or Cole Tabb highlight-reel run.

5. South Walton

The Seahawks have a good student section on the cusp of greatness. But that's to be expected from a young program growing leaps and bounds both on the gridiron and in its student population.

On my last visit, the theme was U-S-A and the decibel level never waivered despite a 21-0 halftime deficit to Fort Walton. No, it's not the size of the aforementioned sections, but South Walton has a laid back vibe that doesn't depend on outside factors. It's a crew that'll leave happy regardless, and my guess is that stems from life in a beach community.

This student section will surely make bigger waves in the near future as the student population, band and team continue to grow.

Seth Stringer is sports editor of the Northwest Florida Daily News.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Ranking high school football student sections on the Emerald Coast