Week 9 Bold Predictions, game picks for high school football along the Emerald Coast
Just three weeks remain in the high school football regular season, but there remains a host of unanswered questions.
While South Walton (5-3) and Walton (7-0) clinched district crowns last week, Choctaw (District 1-3S), Navarre (District 1-4S) and Niceville (District 2-4S) control their own destiny in winning a district title and shoring up home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
On the outside of the playoffs looking in currently are Fort Walton Beach (4-3) in 3S, Rocky Bayou (3-5) in 1S and Baker (2-5) and Freeport (1-6) in 1R, while Crestview (1-6) has been mathematically eliminated in 4S and Destin (6-2) is in the freelance division and ineligible for the postseason.
The playoff picture will clear up a bit more after Week 9. Here are this week's bold predictions and game picks.
Emerald Coast football: Which two area teams secured district titles Friday night?
Week 9 HS football playoff scenarios: District champions, championship implications
No Tabb, no problem: Choctaw scores last-second touchdown to down district rival Escambia
Niceville's Fayard scores five times in rout
On the precipice of a District 2-4S crown and rested coming off a bye, expect the Eagles (6-1) to look the part Friday of a state title contender. We all know Maddax Fayard is the man in the heavy package and Kane Lafortune's favorite target. When Niceville puts up points, so does Fayard — he of nine rushing scores and a pair of touchdown grabs. Expect a heavy dose of Fayard in the red zone and 20-plus touches that result in five scores.
Navarre upsets Pace, wins sixth straight
Talk about a season of streaks. After opening the season 0-2, the Raiders have rebounded to win five straight during a win streak in which they've outscored foes 225-133. Connor Mathews' emergence as a lead back has been central to the turnaround, the junior rushing for 914 yards and 17 touchdowns to enter the Player of the Year conversation.
The Raiders will need a monster night from him if they expect to win at district rival and sixth-ranked Pace, which is 6-1 with key wins over Choctaw and West Florida and outscoring foes 245-96. Whomever wins here controls District 1-4S.
Jonathan Boyd goes off vs. Booker T. Washington
With Cole Tabb sidelined with a minor hamstring injury, this is Boyd's backfield. In his first start, he garnered 66 yards on 13 carries against a vaunted Escambia defense. Afterward, Choctaw head coach Frank Beasley praised the athlete in Boyd, who'll face a much more porous defense this week in Washington. The Wildcats are 1-5, allowing 30 points a night and are coming off a 44-14 loss to Fort Walton. With a District 1-3S title on the line, Choctaw (5-2, 2-0) is not going to get cute here. I foresee 150 rushing yards and three scores for Boyd in the Thursday night matchup.
Last-second goal-line stand propels Baker past Freeport
Baker has had Freeport's number since 2013, winning eight straight in the rivalry. But this year we're seeing both teams vulnerable at a combined 3-11. Baker's Wing-T has been neutered without Kayleb Wagner en route to a 2-5 start, while Freeport has faced a litany of injuries and depth issues on its way to 1-6. Freeport has the athletes to end the losing streak, but I see another heartbreaker here on Thursday night as Baker inches its way back to .500 and keeps its playoff hopes alive.
Love Jr. tops game-high 259 rushing yards in FWB rout
A year after finishing 0-10, the 4-3 Viking have revamped their schedule and welcomed in a mostly new coaching staff and host of transfers to infuse new life into the program. One of those transfers is running back Eddie Love Jr., who has 1,253 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns on the year. The junior has eclipsed 200 rushing yards twice this season, his season-high 259 yards coming in a win at South Walton. Expect him to torch a 3-4 Bay program and set a new career-high in rushing yards.
Week 9 Picks
Navarre 35, Pace 28
Niceville 49, Leon 7
Choctaw 49, Booker T. Washington 7
FWB 42, Bay 7
Crestview 28, Milton 14
Baker 21, Freeport 17
Destin 28, Hilliard, 7
Rocky Bayou 28, Georgia Christan 14
Walton 31, Gadsden County 21
Bye: South Walton
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: high school football bold predictions and game picks for week 9
