Niceville avenges loss to Crestview, moves to 5-1 behind rushing attack

NICEVILLE -- Another week, another rivalry win for Niceville.

Last week was about humbling a state title contender and stretching its win streak to 12 over Choctaw. This week was about redemption, the Eagles avenging last year's 26-21 region quarterfinal loss to Crestview with a 42-21 District 2-4S victory at Eagle Stadium.

The Eagles move to 5-1 as they build on a resume that had them ranked sixth in 4S by FHSSA and seventh by USA Today. Crestview falls to 1-4.

With Fort Walton Beach taking Niceville off the schedule, this essentially makes Niceville the de-facto county champion.

"They don't count, so the three of us play for the county champ, and that's a big deal," Niceville head coach Grant Thompson said. "It always has been, always will be. Okaloosa County football is the pinnacle around here. A lot of respect for that team."

Niceville's flex Friday night was built on the run game, which toted the rock 44 times for 372 yards, five scores and 21 first downs.

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Maddax Fayard rushed for three scores out of the wildcat, DJ Robinson wracked up 165 rushing yards and a score, and quarterback Kane Lafortune picked up a touchdown on the ground and through the air to Caden Bridgeman. Redemption was the prevailing narrative for every Niceville player, but Fayard took last season's loss personally.

"After last year, I just had this on my calendar," said Fayard, who ended the night with six carries for 51 yards to go along with six grabs for 40 yards. "Three hundred sixty-five (days) I've been waiting for this game."

Defensively, setting the tone early was Jon Bocchino. With Crestview milking the clock on a nine-play 75-yard drive to Niceville's 5-yard line, the junior linebacker stripped quarterback Zy Tassin and Terrance Powe pounced to give Niceville the ball and set up the first of Fayard's three scores.

"I was like, 'We can't let them score here, can't let them gain momentum,'" Bocchino said. "So I just thought, I have to make a play here. That's what I did."

"We were ready. We kind of had a pit in our stomach coming from last year's loss. But we were going to come out with a win regardless tonight."

Watching Crestview pick up two big third downs to continue the drive, Thompson had seen this movie before.

"It reminded of last year. I was like, 'Here we go again.' They're going to run eight, nine minutes off the clock and go up 7-0, " he said in reference to the start of that 26-21 loss. "'Is this going to keep happening?' Coach Grant does a good job, and he's really smart. He had a bye week to prepare, and they had a championship drive and executed, and we got fortunate we created a turnover."

Niceville never trailed after, leading 23-7 at halftime and milking the clock late with the run.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Niceville football beats Crestview 42-21 in redemption win