Cole Tabb finally bottled up by stingy Niceville defense as Eagles continue win streak

NICEVILLE — For Niceville football, wins over Choctaw will never be taken for granted.

It doesn't matter that the Eagles (4-1) have beaten Choctaw (3-2) 12 straight times. It doesn't matter that the Big Green haven't won at Eagle Stadium since 2001.

What does matter is Choctaw entered Friday night ranked 7th in 3S after a 35-14 undressing of fifth-ranked Pine Forest. What does matter is Choctaw was playing two weeks after Niceville's season ended last year.

What does matter is Niceville's offense had scored just 33 points combined in back-to-back weeks, that offensive rhythm coveted, yet not attained.

Niceville's 42-21 win over visiting Choctaw Friday night at Eagle Stadium wasn't simply a continuation of a win streak over a garden-variety rival.

It was a statement against a state title contender.

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Niceville's defense bottled up Stanford commit Cole Tabb for a season-low 75 yards and the offense finally clicked behind quarterback Kane Lafortune, who threw for two scores and watched his backfield wrack up four touchdowns.

"I had a suspicion we were getting better," said Niceville head coach Grant Thompson, whose team is ranked ninth in 4S and likely to rise in the next USAToday poll. "Lincoln was a very good opponent, Chiles on the road in the rain, I thought we were getting better. We threw the ball well and I'm very proud of Kane Lafortune, very proud of him the way he played, and our defense of rising to the challenge and stopping Cole Tabb."

Tabb, who finished with 26 touchdowns and nearly eclipsed 3,000 yards as a junior, finished the night with 17 rushes, a 4.4 ypc and no scores.

"Make tackles, swarm the ball and everybody do their job," Alant'e Reese, who had a sack and four tackles for a loss, said of the Eagles' approach. "That's the way we practice every day."

Lafortune, who followed a DJ Robinson 6-yard touchdown run and a Maddax Fayard 3-yard score with a 34-yard touchdown toss to Robert Stith and an 18-yard score to Robinson, finished with 173 yards passing, 32 yards rushing and two scores. Uriah West had the final two rushing scores as Niceville pushed the lead to 28 twice before Jesse Winslette threw two junk-time scores to Issac Thomas and Isaiah Johnson.

"It was just a great team win," Lafortune said. "Everybody was making plays. The O-line was blocking great, receivers made a bunch of plays. And our defense ... they are so good. They didn't allow anything."

Niceville hosts archrival Crestview (1-3), which ended the Eagles' season last year, next week. Choctaw has a bye week.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Niceville football beats Choctaw, 42-21, behind Lafortune, defense