The high school football landscape continues to be affected by Hurricane Isaias and its far-reaching damage to our slice of The Panhandle.
Escambia and Santa Rosa County schools have been canceled for the week, meaning Choctaw-Booker T. Washington, Fort Walton Beach-Escambia, Navarre-Pace, Walton-Jay have been postponed. South Walton and Baker were already scheduled for open weeks, so that leaves only three games set to be played this week.
Fortunately, one of those games has Game of the Year potential. I'm talking about the District 1-5A clash between Crestview and Niceville, of course, Thomas Grant's Bulldogs hosting Adron Robinson's Eagles at Jack Foster Stadium for a 7 p.m. Friday kickoff.
The other two games are Freeport at Marianna for Thursday night football, while Destin welcomes Graceville to Destin Middle School for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday.
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Week 8 Picks (Last week 1-0, 43-15 on season)
Freeport 42, Marianna 31
Reasoning: The Bulldogs are due to exercise some demons after a 90-yard flea flicker handed them a last-second 47-42 loss at Rutherford and then getting routed at district foe Pensacola Catholic. Bobby Johns' crew gets back on track with a big day from the backfield.
Destin 42, Graceville 7
Reasoning: Outscored 294-88, this is not a good Graceville team. Paired with Graceville losing 50-6 to Northview, a team Destin beat 35-21, no need to overthink this one.
Niceville 35, Crestview 21
Reasoning: Crestview has traditionally played Niceville well, including last year's stunning comeback from down 28-7 to win 32-28 at Eagle Stadium. But the Bulldogs are 1-6 overall and 0-2 in District 1-5A for a reason, giving up 35 points per game. This is must-win for Niceville (3-4, 2-0), which needs to position itself for a district title in that season finale at home against Pace.This one should be high scoring.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Week 9 high school football limited to 3 games due to Hurricane Isaias