Senior quarterback Khalil Foster hit Matt Gillis with a 5-yard touchdown pass with two minutes left in the fourth quarter to give the Crestview High School football team a 14-13 come-from-behind win over Milton.
The Bulldogs (1-0) trailed all but the final two minutes as the Panthers jumped to a 10-0 lead at the half.
Crestview scored on its first possession of the second half when Foster hit D.J. Stewart with a 1-yard touchdown pass.
"It was very, very ugly," Bulldog coach Tim Hatten said. "We didn't execute our offense at all.
"We will look at the film and get better."
Hatten praised defensive players JaQuan Daniels, Kyle Koontz, Marcus Flavors and Tyrone Baker for keeping the pressure on the Panther offense.
But he said it was the defensive play of an offensive lineman that probably saved the day for Crestview.
Foster threw and interception with the Bulldogs deep in Panther territory. Rather than hang his head for the bad play, Foster pursued the Milton player and forced him to make a cut on around the Bulldog 8-yard line. Bulldog guard Matt French was there to make the tackle and keep Milton out of the end zone.
The Crestview defense the Panther offense to a field goal setting up the thrilling finish.
"It was just a good job of not quitting," Hatten said. "We gave ourselves a chance to win and close the deal."
Foster finished the night with 112 yards passing.
Emmanuel Reed had 91 yards rushing and 25 yards receiving. Jaylynne Robinson had 56 yards rushing.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bulldogs rally past Panthers