CRESTVIEW — Crestview High School’s football team seemingly faces a make-or-break 2016.
Coach Tim Hatten enters his fourth year with the Bulldogs in search of his first winning season. Crestview is 13-17 under Hatten, having posted seasons of 5-5, 3-7 and 5-5.
Here's a look at the 2015 season, which started with high expectations and ended with questions of what could have been.
DEFINING MOMENT
Crestview’s hopes for a magical season took a big hit early in the season opener against Northview.
Late in the first quarter, junior quarterback Rusty Moorer broke his right hand while attempting a pass.
Moorer’s leadership and athletic ability in operating Hatten’s spread offense were crucial for the Bulldogs to have any hopes of making the playoffs.
Corey Armstrong and Keenan Redd split time at quarterback in Moorer’s absence. Armstrong led Crestview to a 47-20 win against Northview.
BULLDOGS STRUGGLE WITHOUT MOORER
Crestview was 2-3 in games Moorer didn’t start, losing to Mosley, St. Martin’s, Miss., and Choctaw. The Bulldogs were outscored 88-35 in the losses.
St. Martin’s inflicted the most damage, handing Crestview its second-worst loss of the year, 46-13.
The 46 points were the most the Bulldogs allowed this year.
Crestview managed two wins without Moorer: The Bulldogs beat an outmanned International School of Broward 53-6 on Sept. 18. A week later, they beat Pace 45-28.
KEY LOSS
The Bulldogs were still without Moorer when they hosted Choctawhatchee in the Oct. 2 District 3-6A opener.
Crestview only managed 161 yards in total offense in the 21-6 loss to the Indians.
The Bulldogs had 36 yards rushing on 25 carries. Corey Armstrong went the distance at quarterback for the Bulldogs, completing 14-of-32 passes for 125 yards and two interceptions.
Crestview’s defense allowed more than 330 yards in offense to the Indians.
MOST IMPRESSIVE WIN
The Bulldogs had larger margins of victory than their 45-28 win over Pace, but this would probably be the best win against a decent opponent.
Pace managed to gain almost 350 yards rushing, but the Bulldogs limited the damage forcing three Patriot fumbles. Tatum Taylor returned one of the fumbles 25 yards for a Bulldog touchdown.
Armstrong was 12-of-18 passing for 223 yards and two touchdowns. He ran for 52 yards and another touchdown.
Andrew Adkins, Marquis McClain and Antryon Gloster also scored touchdowns for Crestview, and Seth Kootsouradis kicked a field goal for the Bulldogs.
IMPORTANT WIN
Crestview’s 27-24 season-ending win over Gulf Breeze in overtime lacked style points, but there was more to victory than meets the eye.
The win over the Dolphins allowed Crestview to avoid a second-straight losing season and a fourth losing season in five years.
Time will tell whether the win will mean anything, but it did give the Bulldog players something to smile about as they go through winter workouts.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON 2015
You could argue that Crestview was one freak bounce on a Milton field goal away from having a winning season.
You could also argue that, in light of Choctaw's recent self-reported violation, the Bulldogs should have at least been in a shootout to try to make the playoffs.
But a team is only as good as its record, and Crestview was a 5-5 team.
One can speculate about how Moorer’s broken hand affected the season, but that’s all it is: speculation.
Nobody can say, with absolute certainty, that Crestview would have won more than five games had Moorer been healthy.
LOOKING TO 2016
Crestview’s football team faces its most important season under Hatten. The Bulldogs haven’t made the playoffs since 2010, and it’s been that long since Crestview has won more football games that it has lost.
Hatten inherited a mess from Kevin Pettis, and he’s had to rebuild an attitude and atmosphere in the program.
The Bulldogs will have to replace several key players from this year’s team, most notably Armstrong, McClain, Matt French and Marcus Flavors.
Next fall’s senior class will have been with Hatten since his first year at Crestview.
Moorer and Adkins will be two of Northwest Florida's better players. Keenan Redd can play multiple positions. And Keon Viosin and Taylor will be juniors next year, just coming into their own.
Crestview doesn’t have to win a state championship, or even a district championship next year, but the Bulldogs need to return to the playoffs and have a winning season.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview needs breakout season in 2016