CRESTVIEW — It will be an all Crestview final Thursday night when Shoal River Middle School's football team hosts cross-town rival Davidson for the Okaloosa County championship.
And, for the first time in history, the game will be played on the Shoal River campus.
The Mustangs (8-0) have beaten the Panthers (4-4) twice this year, but anything can happen when rivals take the field.
Looking at the size of the players on the respective teams, Davidson looks like David going against a middle school Goliath in Shoal River.
“They are big and fast,” Panther Coach Chris Small said. “We’ve got to play Football 101. “Protect the ball. Do what you are supposed to and play as hard as you can.
“Hopefully we will play with a lot of emotion and get after it. It ought to be a good one.”
The Mustangs should be favored to win the game, but Shoal River Coach Ryan Gillis knows they can’t take Davidson lightly.
“They are well coached and they play hard,” he said. “I can tell you one thing (that concerns him). They play their guts out.
“Coach Small has got them flying around (to the football). He’s got them prepared. I think he will have a great plan and it won’t be surprising to me.”
UPCOMING
WHAT: Middle school football championship, Davidson at Shoal River
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: Shoal River Middle School
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mustangs host Panthers for county championship