EORT WALTON BEACH — Crestview’s defense consistently did its job, stopping Fort Walton Beach, and even when the field was considerably shortened Friday.
Eventually, the Bulldogs’ offense got rolling, too.
Crestview surged with two late first-half touchdowns, the second a 28-yard pass from quarterback Rusty Moorer to wide receiver Marquis McClain to end the half, and the Crestview offense exploded in a 41-16 road win against Fort Walton Beach despite entering averaging less than 10 points per game.
“It’s big when we can run our offense,” Crestview coach Tim Hatten said. “When we can take advantage of what teams give us we have the personnel to do that.”
After the teams traded fumbles to start the game, Crestview running back D.J. Stewart put the Bulldogs (1-4) up 7-0 with a 2-yard run less than three minutes into the game.
Fort Walton Beach (1-4) replied on the second quarter’s opening play with a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jake Fairly to running back Dontavion Cunningham, who finished with 90 of the Vikings’ 124 rushing yards. After a missed extra point, Crestview responded with Moorer’s 43-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Adkins, who had six receptions for 120 yards.
Moorer finished 14-of-22 passing for 210 yards and Crestview tallied 331 yards of offense.
“We didn’t tackle very well, “Fort Walton Beach coach Mike Owens said. “We didn’t play very well. They played a great game. I think they wanted it more. We’ll get better.”
Fort Walton Beach went three and out on its next possession, but a fumbled punt return by Crestview set the hosts up for a short field, starting at the 22-yard line. Crestview’s defense, though, made what defensive tackle Marcus Flavors called one of the biggest sequences of plays in the game.
The Bulldogs defense held, and the Vikings settled for a 33-yard field goal from Jared Dunn cutting the score to 14-9 with 6:37 left in the first half.
“If they score (a touchdown),” Flavors said, “then you never know what happens or if they get momentum.”
Crestview followed Dunn’s field goal with a 9-yard touchdown run from Rodderick Skinner and the half-closing score to lead 28-9.
In the second half, Crestview’s defense continued making stops. After Vikings safety Ahmeiya Brown’s interception, starting Fort Walton Beach inside Crestview’s 30-yard line, the Bulldogs forced a turnover on downs in four plays. On the next Fort Walton Beach possession, starting around midfield, defensive tackle Tyrone Baker made consecutive sacks to end the Vikings’ hopes.
“Coach Owens does a great job,” Hatten said. “It’s a bittersweet deal. You want to get the first win, but you wish a guy like that the best.”
Stewart scored from four yards out in the third quarter’s final minute. Fort Walton Beach backup quarterback John Michael Owens connected with wide receiver Evan Mitchell and Antryan Gloster finished Crestview’s scoring with a 4-yard ru
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Bulldogs pick up first win