QUICK HITTERS: Panhandle Region – Week 4

We have come up with a new way to get the information that we wan to give to our Premium Subscribers in a much quicker and easier to read version. Welcome to Quick Hitters, giving you a quick rankings run down for each and the top five games. We might also include a few tidbits on what is going in the region as well depending on what it is about.

Here is this week’s Quick Hitters for the Panhandle Region for Week 4.

Quick Hits

Welcome back

Following two solid seasons at Sneads, Antwan Durn shocked the tiny community of Sneads by leaving for Union County.

A year later, Durn has returned and is back leading the Pirates ground game once again. Through three games, Durn leads the Pirates with 690 yards and four touchdowns on 69 carries

Big blow

Navarre got some devastating news earlier this week during its bye week as starting junior tailback Michael Carter was ruled out for the season with a torn PCL and slightly torn LCL according to doctors.

Carter led the area in rushing with 526 yards and eight touchdowns in two and half games before getting injured in the 42-0 win over Pensacola Washington last week.

Navarre will look to senior Hasaan Williams (209 yards, 3 TDs on 46 carries) and junior Aaron Mitchell (99 yards, 2 TDs on 8 carries) to fill Carter’s role now.

Seeing blue

Two state ranked teams, two undefeated teams, everything you would want in a regular season meeting between two teams.

For the third straight year, Rickards and Choctaw met up in another tight showdown and for the third straight year Rickards handed Choctaw another tough loss.

Last year a one yard run on the final play of the game helped Rickards knock off Choctaw 33-32, the second straight year the Raiders stole one winning 39-35 two years ago.

Call it a case of deja vu again as Rickards quarterback Marcus Riley followed a tying touchdown pass snuck in for the two point conversion to give Rickards a 36-35 overtime win over host Choctaw.

Top Ten Rankings

1. Escambia, 3-0
2. Tate, 2-0
3. Choctawhatchee, 2-1
4. Niceville, 2-1
5. Navarre, 3-0
6. Vernon, 2-0
7. Walton,  3-0
8. Baker, 2-1
9. Mosley, 2-1
10. Bay, 2-0

Conference Standings

Bay County Standings
County Overall
Bay 1-0, 2-0
Mosley 1-0, 2-1
Arnold 0-0, 1-2
Rutherford 0-2, 1-2

Emerald Coast Standings
Niceville 0-0, 2-1
Choctaw 0-0, 2-1
Crestview 0-0, 1-2
Fort Walton 0-0, 0-3

Escambia County Standings
Escambia 2-0, 3-0
Tate 1-0, 2-0
Pine Forest 1-0, 2-1
Pensacola 1-1, 2-1
Washington 0-1, 0-3
Catholic 0-1, 1-2
West Florida 0-2, 1-2

Santa Rosa
Navarre 0-0, 3-0
Milton 0-0, 3-0
Gulf Breeze 0-0, 1-2
Pace 0-0, 1-2

Top 5 Games

No. 7 Walton (2-0) at No. 8 Baker (2-1): Two of the top 1A teams in the Panhandle meet up in a possible preview of a potential playoff meeting. Can the Gators defense contain explosive tailback Azende’ Ray?

Pensacola (2-1) at No. 2 Tate (2-0): Pensacola has put up 40 points back-to-back weeks and won two straight, can the Tigers offense keep it going against a tough Aggies that could be looking ahead to a showdown with Niceville next week?

No. 3 Choctaw (2-1) at No. 5 Navarre (3-0): The Game of the Week features a Choctaw team coming off an overtime loss to Rickards paired up with a Raider team who was off last week dealing with the news of losing star tailback Michael Carter for the season.

Port St. Joe (1-1) at Bozeman (2-1): How will a Sharks team respond after being beat down by 35 points to state title contender Trenton? Where is the offense which has scored only 16 points in two games? The good news is the Sharks defense can bail them out going up against a Bucks offense which averages 20 points a game.

Bassfield, Miss (3-1) at Niceville (2-1): The Yellow Jackets are coming to the Panhandle fresh off their first loss of the season and looking to head back to the Magnolia State with a huge win. Niceville bounced back after losing their first game handing a solid Godby team 28-14 at home.