2014 PREVIEW GUIDE: Top Panhandle Rivalries

Get a FREE 2014 FNF Magazine when you sign up for our annual MVP subscription rate at the special rate of $39.99 (originally $49.99). Click here to start your subscription today!

The Panhandle has long been home to some of the best rivalries around the state. Some that come to mind are Escambia-Pensacola, Niceville-Choctawhatchee, Blountstown-Liberty County and many more.

Corey Davis, give us the scoop on some the top Panhandle rivalries that will be great again this year and some history behind them.

Fort Walton Beach/Choctawhatchee 

Simply known in Fort Walton Beach as The Game, the annual rivalry between cross town rivals Fort Walton Beach and Choctawhatchee has been played 43 times with Choctawhatchee holding a 22-21 lead after a 19-7 win last season to claim the city championship and Hudson Marina trophy.

The two teams shared Joe Etheredge Stadium from 1969-2005, before Fort Walton Beach moved into Steve Riggs stadium in 2006 on its own campus.

In last season’s game, ahead 13-7 with just under three minutes remaining, Choctawhatchee linebacker Patrick Keefe came up with biggest play of his career intercepting a Fort Walton Beach pass and returning it 30 yards for a score to help the Indians secure the district runner-up title.

All-time results
1971-Choctaw 12-7
1972-FWB 27-0
1973-FWB 16-13
1974-Choctaw 20-14
1975-FWB 7-0
1976-FWB 7-6
1977-Choctaw 23-0
1978-FWB 14-7
1979-Choctaw 14-0
1980-Choctaw 34-13
1981-FWB 14-7
1982-Choctaw 21-13
1983-Choctaw 14-0
1984-FWB 10-7
1985-FWB 22-14
1986-Choctaw 9-7
1987-Choctaw 19-14
1988-Choctaw 31-24
1989-Choctaw 33-7
1990-Choctaw 28-14
1991-FWB 33-28
1992-FWB 31-7
1993-Choctaw 38-17
1994-Choctaw 28-7
1995-FWB 30-10
1996-Choctaw 29-7
1997-FWB 31-7
1998-FWB 27-20
1999-Choctaw 31-28
2000-FWB 21-10
2001-Choctaw 31-16
2002-Choctaw 14-10
2003-Choctaw 21-14
2004-FWB 24-7
2005-FWB 16-13
2006-FWB 23-21
2007-FWB 37-23
2008-FWB 35-21
2009-Choctaw 21-14
2010-FWB 20-17
2011-Choctaw 31-23
2012-FWB 38-31
2013-Choctaw 19-7

Pensacola/Escambia

The oldest rivalry in the Pensacola area has been one-sided for a while but that doesn’t stop both Pensacola and Escambia from continually meeting each year.

The Battle for Ye Olde Wash Boiler Tub has resided at PHS since 2002, until last season when Escambia stunned PHS 35-14 to end the Tigers 11 year run in the series. The 55th Annual Meeting will take place at Pensacola High.

2013-Escambia 35, Pensacola 14
2012-Pensacola 24, Escambia 3
2011-Pensacola 48, Escambia 10
2010-Pensacola 41, Escambia 0
2009-Pensacola 27, Escambia 7
2008-Pensacola 30, Escambia 7
2007-Pensacola 38, Escambia 13
2006-Pensacola 13, Escambia 10
2005-Pensacola 32, Escambia 7
2004-Pensacola 31, Escambia 21

Pace/Milton

Nearby rivals Pace and Milton began playing in 1981 and play for the Bronze Helmet Trophy.

Milton leads the all-time series 21-12 and has won the last two meetings 21-14 and 28-20 which snapped the Bulldogs nine game winning streak.

Despite the series beginning in 1981 and taking a short break from 1983 to 1985, Pace did not notch its first win until 1988 when they won the game 14-0.

Milton would go on to win the next four before the Patriots would record a win in 1993 and then again in 1999.

Since 2004, the Bronze Helmet has stayed at Pace High School, until the last two meetings.

1981 Milton 24-7
1982 Milton 10-0
1985 Milton 28-0
1986 Milton 28-13
1987 Milton 28-0
1988 Pace 14-0
1989 Milton 31-0
1990 Milton 29-7
1991 Milton 43-15
1992 Milton 35-7
1993 Pace 20-18
1994 Milton 9-7
1995 Milton 7-0
1996 Milton 38-8
1997 Milton 21-7
1998 Milton 30-17
1999 Pace 21-14
2000 Milton 30-27
2001 Milton 7-3
2001 Milton 30-19 (Playoffs)
2002 Milton 40-32
2003 Milton 34-6
2004 Pace 17-10
2005 Pace 16-0
2006 Pace 21-14
2007 Pace 17-10
2007 Pace 27-3 (Playoffs)
2008 Pace 28-6
2009 Pace 17-7
2010 Pace 35-14
2011 Pace 49-35
2012 Milton 28-20
2013 Milton 21-14

Niceville/Crestview

Crestview players and coaches knew what was at stake when they traveled to county rival Niceville last fall in the second to last week of the regular season.

Win and force a three-way tiebreaker for both playoff spots, lose and the season was over.

Easier said then done though, it had been over 30 years since Crestview has knocked off Niceville. Until now.

Thirty years of frustration was finally over, as Crestview finally knocked off county rival Niceville 17-12 last season ending a 30 year streak.

With the win, the Bulldogs earned their first win since 1982, which stopped a current six game losing streak and more importantly forced a three-way shootout for the District 1-7A title and runner-up spot.

2013: Crestview 17-12
2012: Niceville 42-7
2011: Niceville 20-10
2010: Niceville 28-27
2009: Niceville 56-38
2008: Niceville 28-26
2007: Niceville 31-8

Bay/Rutherford

The 50th all-time meeting between Bay County oldest football programs, proved to be one to remember.

Bay knocked off Rutherford 26-20 at Tommy Oliver Stadium to claim its first win over its arch-rival since 2010 and just its third win in the series since 2004.

2013-Bay 26-20
2012-Rutherford 20-14
2011-Rutherford 52-14
2010-Bay 28-27
2009-Rutherford 25-14
2008-Rutherford 37-18
2007-Rutherford 13-10
2006-Bay 36-17
2005-Rutherford 28-24

Gulf Breeze/Navarre

The two Santa Rosa rivals 17 miles apart, have met the last six years for the Public Beach Bowl Cup trophy. Gulf Breeze dominated the rivalry early on winning six of the first seven meetings, but Navarre has flipped the switch winning the last seven games.

2013-Navarre 34-24 (8-7)
2012-Navarre 28-14 (7-7)
2011-Navarre 32-0 (7-6)
2010-Navarre 34-24 (7-5)
2009-Navarre 42-12 (7-4)
2008-Navarre 18-9 (7-3)
2007-Navarre 35-14 (7-2)
2006-Gulf Breeze 24-22 (6-1)
2005-Gulf Breeze 25-3 (5-1)
2004-Gulf Breeze 14-0 (4-1)
2003-N/A
2002-N/A
2001-N/A
2000-Gulf Breeze 31-10
1999-N/A

Honorable Mention:

Niceville/Choctaw, Niceville/Fort Walton Beach, Rutherford/Mosley, Bay/Mosley, Port St Joe/Wewahitchka, Pensacola/Pine Forest, Washington/Pensacola, South Walton/Freeport, Blountstown/Liberty County