Story by Near Post Sports The Lady Raiders’ flag football team won a twin bill Wednesday night to claim its first district title and move into the regional playoffs.
“They are winners,” head coach Sean Tomey said after shutting out the Niceville Eagles, 12-0.
In a unique two-games-in-one-night playoff, Navarre walked victoriously off the Eagle Stadium turf hoisting the2A District 1 championship trophy.
The bracket for regional games has not been set (as of 10 a.m. Thursday), as it depends on seeding. According to Florida High School Athletic Association, Navarre is the second highest-ranking team (#14 as of last week) still playing in the region. The Apopka Blue Darters (ranked at #12 and coming out of District 3) play tonight (Thursday) for their shot at moving deeper in the playoffs.
Seeded second in the district bracket, the Raiders drew Chiles first. Another overtime battle ensued between the two, ending 27-26. Then, just 10 minutes after that final whistle, Navarre faced off with Niceville. Last time these two met, the Eagles stuffed the Raiders 42-0.
“I feel like this game, we were way more prepared and more excited to win,” said Adreanna Busch. “It’s really fun, but very exhausting. It’s a really good accomplishment.”
There were three games played Wednesday in Niceville.
The Eagles earned their spot in the final after sweeping away Crestview 27-15 in the early game in Niceville’s Eagle Stadium. Things were tight until Niceville scored late. Eagle quarterback Nakerra Brown hit receiver Sha’Miyah Coward in the corner of the end zone – on a jump ball – for the touchdown.
In the second game of the night, Navarre needed overtime to send the Chiles Timberwolves packing into the off-season. Quarterback Tailor Ernst connected with Rachel Leggett twice in the overtime period – a 15-yard strike for the touchdown and again for the point-after – setting up the nightcap with the Eagles.
“What I was really worried about was after an emotional high of winning a game in overtime: how do you turn around and then play another game after that?” Tomey said. “These girls have incredible stamina (from other sports) … that allowed them to come out and play a second game against a really good team in Niceville.”
The Eagles’ quarterback constantly had a Navarre defender in pursuit, nipping at the flags – Busch, Alyssa Herrick, and Madison Simmons. At times, as the wind gusted, lofted passes got caught in the breeze and made for easy pickings. The Lady Raiders had two – one each by Leggett and Herrick – at key points to ground the Eagle attack.
Post-game, Niceville head coach Adron Robinson cited his offense’s uncharacteristic performance as a key factor to the final result.
“Defensively, I thought we did OK. We held them to two scores,” Robinson said. “But if we’re going to score zero, we don’t deserve to be district champions.”
Offensively, Ernst distributed the ball among the many weapons at her disposal. It was through the air where Navarre made their biggest gains.
“We wanted to score as quickly as we could and give us some momentum,” Simmons said, who scored what eventually proved to be the game-winning touchdown in the first quarter.
Ernst hit Simmons on the right side – between three defenders – for paydirt with less than 20 seconds left in the first quarter.
“I ran a five-yard out. And when she threw it, it was too high. I just went for it. I tried to jump, it tipped, and I ended up catching it,” Simmons said. “I was just glad that I caught it, because it was an opportunity for a touchdown for the team.”
Navarre struck again with just over two minutes left in the first half – Ernst to Leggett from four yards out.
“Our strategy was to execute … dispersing the ball to multiple people, make our reads,” Tomey said. “(Ernst) did a great job tonight not just focusing in on Rachel, but focusing in on all her receivers. And that makes it very difficult for even a good defense – like the two we played tonight – to really hone in on just one person.”
Cobbling a squad from athletes excelling in other Navarre sports – basketball, soccer, and track – gives the Lady Raiders flag football team a jumpstart to such a young program.
“It is awesome – in our second year as a program – to be district champions in a district that has team that have been playing this for 10-plus years, and ranked. It’s an incredible feeling,” the Raider skipper said.
Story by Near Post Sports
All photos by Stu Camp
