Another week of Florida high school football brought plenty of excitement, and The Blitz – Panhandle Edition is here with this week’s Pick Six Recap. We take a closer look at six matchups that stood out across the Panhandle region, highlighting big moments, key performances, and games that kept fans talking.
BAKER 34, DESTIN 22
Senior Junior Harris rushed for 216 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries, including a 72-yard scoring run, but host Destin (1-1) fell short against visiting Baker (2-0) in Friday’s high-scoring contest. … Senior quarterback Justice Baldwin completed eight of 15 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns while adding 41 rushing yards and one score to lead the Gators’ balanced offensive attack. … Baldwin connected with senior Riley Renfro for two touchdown passes and senior Joel Morse for another score, while senior Wyatt Straight contributed 86 rushing yards and one touchdown for Baker. … The Sharks’ offense relied heavily on Harris’ explosive rushing performance, but junior quarterback Kellen Ramsey completed just three of eight passes for 30 yards while the team managed only 46 total passing yards. … Baker accumulated 381 total yards and controlled the game despite Harris’ individual brilliance, with the Gators building a 21-16 halftime lead before pulling away in the second half for the road victory.
FRANKLIN COUNTY 35, BELL 14
Senior quarterback Owen Juno completed five of 10 passes for 114 yards and four touchdowns as visiting Franklin County (2-0) dominated Bell (0-2) in Friday’s SSAA Atlantic League contest. … Junior Sadiq Jones caught four passes for 92 yards and three touchdowns, including a 38-yard scoring strike, to pace the Seahawks’ aerial attack against the Bulldogs. … Bell junior Landin Williams rushed for 78 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries while adding an 84-yard kickoff return for a score, but the Bulldogs fell short despite his dual-threat performance. … Sophomore Dre North hauled in one reception for 24 yards and one touchdown while adding a two-point conversion for Franklin County, which accumulated 255 total yards. … The Seahawks controlled the game through Juno’s efficient passing attack, with freshman Maddox Shaw contributing 57 rushing yards while Bell managed just 133 total yards in the lopsided league defeat at home.
BAY 34, MOSLEY 21
Quarterback Zabeyon Morgan threw for two touchdowns, including a 92-yard scoring strike to Omari Johnson, as visiting Bay (2-0) defeated Mosley (1-1) in Friday’s Bay County rivalry at Tommy Oliver Stadium, the Tornadoes’ first victory over the Dolphins since September 2022. … Running back TJ Davis powered in two touchdown runs while MJ Wilkerson sealed the victory with a touchdown run with 1:32 remaining for Bay, which controlled every phase of the game. … Mosley junior Samuel Chisolm rushed for 171 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, including scoring runs of two and 40 yards, while junior quarterback Jp Holsombake found senior Carson Griffin for a touchdown pass. … Morgan also connected with transfer De’Jay Davenport for a red-zone touchdown while receiver Javar Bowden kept drives alive with key receptions for the Tornadoes. … Bay’s defense pressured Holsombake throughout the contest, recording multiple sacks including an early turnover on downs by Aiden Jones, as coach Jeremy Brown’s first full senior class delivered the program’s second straight victory.
Some information via the Panama City News Herald.
TAYLOR COUNTY 27, WAKULLA 21
Junior quarterback Jabez Glanton rushed for 211 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries, including an 85-yard scoring run, while completing eight of 13 passes for 102 yards and two scores as visiting Taylor County (2-0) defeated Wakulla (1-1) in Friday’s North Florida rivalry. … Senior Jordan Barnes rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries while hauling in six receptions for 123 yards and one score, but the War Eagles fell short in the home defeat. … Glanton connected with senior Chedrick Ellis for a 55-yard touchdown pass and freshman Drayden Flowers for another score to lead the Bulldogs’ balanced offensive attack that accumulated 437 total yards. … Wakulla senior quarterback Owen Klees completed 17 of 24 passes for 295 yards and one touchdown while adding 92 rushing yards, finding Barnes for his lone passing score. … The Bulldogs controlled the game on the ground with 335 rushing yards while Wakulla managed 508 total yards but couldn’t overcome Taylor County’s rushing dominance in the six-point road victory.
NICEVILLE 27, ESCAMBIA 6
Freshman running back Jakobe Gilyard carried 21 times for 112 yards and two rushing touchdowns as Niceville (1-1) defeated previously unbeaten Escambia (2-0) in Friday’s non-conference home game. … Sophomore quarterback Deagan McCoy completed 14 of 26 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with senior Robert Oliver five times for 37 yards and one score and senior Justus Donahoo twice for 40 yards and one touchdown. … The Eagles defense dominated with eight sacks led by senior Caleb Sartori’s two sacks, while also forcing two fumbles and recovering three. … Niceville rolled up 327 total yards of offense while limiting the Gators to 221 total yards in the decisive victory.
LINCOLN 23, MADISON COUNTY 12
Senior quarterback Taylor Jacobs Jr completed 13 of 18 passes for 100 yards and one touchdown as Lincoln (2-0) defeated Madison County (0-2) in Thursday’s non-conference home game. … Senior Will Tawney caught the lone touchdown pass on two receptions for 12 yards, while junior Trevor Jacobs led all receivers with two catches for 47 yards. … Despite Madison County’s dominant ground game led by Na’Quez Christian’s 108 rushing yards and one touchdown on 15 carries and LJ Crumity’s 33 yards and one score, the Cowboys could not overcome Lincoln’s balanced attack. … Madison County’s defense recorded four sacks from four different players, including senior Dre Arnold, but Lincoln capitalized on scoring opportunities to secure the victory with 172 total yards compared to Madison County’s 326.