Story by Near Post Sports
The Chiles Timberwolves stalked out of Russell Stadium Thursday with a 18-12 quadruple-overtime flag football victory over the Navarre Raiders.
Chiles headed off to play Niceville for a nightcap in their double-header trip from Tallahassee.
Timberwolves receiver Azaria Varnado barely escaped Skylar Burleson’s grasp at the line of scrimmage, then she scampered through the left side of the Lady Raider defense for the game-winning score.
“It was what we wanted to run, and finally we figured out something that could get it in the end zone against that team,” Chiles head coach Stan Goldstein said.
Navarre (5-2) has dropped two straight, and the Timberwolves – a top-five ranked team in the state — remain undefeated through five games.
“We went out there and pushed them into multiple overtimes,” Raider head coach Sean Tomey said. “If we clean up a few things here and there, we catch a few balls that were dropped tonight … very easily (it) could have been us walking out of here in regular time with the win.”
The Lady Raiders held a 6-0 lead for nearly the entire game after scoring early in the first quarter.
“I wish we could bottle up what we have early and do it on every series,” Tomey said.
But this clash with the Timberwolves turned out as a defensive battle.
“That’s a heck of a team Navarre’s got,” Goldstein said. “They’re quick, and they took away some of the things we can usually out-quick the other team on.”
Chiles rushed only one, giving them superior numbers out in the pattern. And downfield passes to Rachel Leggett were especially well defended.
The Timberwolves’ offense adjusted to Navarre’s speed, eventually finding success with quick screen passes.
“Their little tosses, that got us a lot,” Burleson said. “They had a good quarterback. They just got it done.”
In the last minute of regulation, Timberwolves’ quarterback Sam Wilson connected with Bailey Kay Ragans crossing the middle for a 19-yard touchdown strike with 47 seconds left. The point-after try was unsuccessful, forcing overtime.
Both teams scored in the third overtime period. Wilson hit Sidney Hines in the back of the end zone. The point-after try was unsuccessful. And when it was Navarre’s turn, Tailor Ernst threw a strike to Madison Simmons. It was tipped, and Rachel Leggett swooped in for the catch and evened things up. Their PAT failed as well.
“We had opportunities tonight, and I think in the future, we’ll make those plays,” Tomey said. “(We) have nothing to be ashamed of tonight. They left everything out there against one of the best teams in the state.”
Story by Near Post Sports
All photos by Stu Camp
