CRESTVIEW — Corey Armstrong scored three touchdowns and racked up 153 yards in total offense to lead Crestview High School’s football team to a 47-20 win over Northview on Friday.
Armstrong, Crestview’s starting middle linebacker and backup quarterback was called into action when starting quarterback Rusty Moorer left the game at the end of the first quarter with an injury to his throwing hand.
Keenan Redd got the first call at quarterback when Moorer went down, but only had modest success moving the ball against a rugged Chief defense.
Enter Armstrong, who, as a sophomore, led the Bulldogs to an upset win at Niceville in 2013.
Armstrong took his first snaps on offense at fullback before moving to the quarterback spot in Crestview’s spread offense. Armstrong led the Bulldogs (1-0) in rushing gaining 74 yards on eight carries and was 4-of-7 through the air for 69 yards.
The Bulldogs finished the night with 342 yards in total offense. Crestview runners carried the ball 39 times for 249 yards. Bulldog quarterbacks combined to throw for 93 yards.
“We knew (Armstrong) could play quarterback for us,” Bulldog coach Tim Hatten said. “But he’s a good linebacker too. And then Rusty is a good player.
“He gave us a little different shot with the dynamics of our team, but right now, sometimes you have to change the dynamics. It’s unfortunate for Rusty and we are going to see (the extent of the injury). But I thought Corey did a heck of a job.”
That’s not to say Armstrong was a one-man show.
The Bulldogs were up 19-8 by the time his number was called.
Crestview took the lead at the end of Northview’s first possession when Marcus Flavors blocked a Chief punt and B.A. Larkins scooped the ball up and scored from 23 yards out.
The Bulldog offense scored on its first possession of the game going 36 yards on seven plays. Antryon Gloster finished the drive with a 6-yard run.
Moorer was sharp throwing the ball on the drive completing 4-of-5 passes.
Luke Ward put the Chiefs on the board with a 23-yard touchdown run. Ward later added an 80-yard scoring run and scored on a 47-yard pass from Gavin Grant.
For every Ward touchdown the Bulldogs had an answer or two of their own.
Taron Akins capped a 30-yard Bulldog drive with a touchdown run of three yards. The drive started deep in Northview territory after a Chief onside kick went backwards.
Armstrong scored the next three Bulldog touchdowns. The first Armstrong score came three plays after Michael Robinson recovered a Chief fumble at Northview’s 12-yard line.
Marcus Mobley finished off the scoring for Crestview with a 7-yard run. Mobley’s touchdown capped an 85-yard drive that started with his brother, Capri Jones, intercepted a Northview pass.
Seth Kootsouradis kicked five extra points for Crestview.
Gloster finished the game with 33 yards rushing on seven carries. Mobley was good for 36 yards on four carries. Alik Whited had two catches for 32 yards.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Armstrong leads Crestview past Northview