CRESTVIEW — Signature win would be one way to describe it. A 3-0 unblemished record in District 1-5A would be another. Or, how about this, can we could just wax poetic about Georgia Tech commit Noah Renes looking like a Derrick Henry/Ray Lewis hybrid?
You can say what you want about Niceville amid a 4-4 start following an offseason filled with uncertainty and controversy, but simply put: The Eagles control their own playoff destiny.
And they do so by taking control back of a coveted rivalry Friday night, the Eagles walking into Jack Foster Stadium and delivering a 42-41 win for the ages over a Crestview team that could very well be 5-3 or 6-2 if had been at full health this year.
Noah Renes shined out of the heavy package with two touchdowns and a clutch 16-yard pickup on fourth down in the waning seconds, Deagan McCoy's go-ahead touchdown run with was one of three scores on a night he'd eclipse 300 yards and Niceville overcame a time-expiring Hail Mary between Zy Tassin and Jayden Goldsmith with a Renes block on the extra point to keep its postseason hopes well intact.
"I usually don't line up to block kicks," said Renes, who rushed five times for 26 yards. "But I was like, I might as well with the game on the line. I lined up in the C-gap, snuck up a little bit and I just jumped and I swatted it. I knew I blocked it right away."
"He does it all," McCoy said. "It shows his passion for the game, for Niceville football."
Pandemonium ensued. The student section rushed the field. And Adron Robinson was in tears afterward as his players embraced the first-year head coach, who in the offseason was promoted to turn around rivalries like this. Early setbacks to Mosley and Choctaw robbed him of that, and come Friday you saw an Eagle alum overwhelmed by the gravity of the win.
"Damn, we just kept fighting," Robinson said. "It wasn't always pretty, it wasn't always what we drew up, but all summer we talked about everything matters, and blocking the extra point matters. We got the win and we're 3-0 in districts, that's all that matters."
He's right. When Pace enters Eagle Stadium Wednesday, Nov. 4, a District 1-5A crown will be on the line. Niceville will have to find an answer for Makael Williams. And Pace will have to find an answer for Renes, McCoy, four-star tailback Jakobe Gilyard and a deep receiving core that includes White, Caleb Leonard, Jaxon Dark, Jason Leach and Austin Stanley.
Renes, who increased his touchdown total to six on the year, may demand a higher usage rate in the future.
"Heavy's back baby, heavy's back baby," Robinson said. "That's Niceville football."
The 16-yard run with a little over a minute to play on fourth down validated that.
"They were chopping at my legs, but I just kept going," Renes said. "I'm a big man. Good luck on bringing me down."
Two plays later, McCoy rolled out right, tucked it and dove for the end zone to put the Eagles up 42-35 after the extra point from Nate Martinez.
"It actually wasn't supposed to be a run play. It was a pass covered up," McCoy said. "I just kept my eyes downfield and was like, 'Why not?' I just went for it."
McCoy knew it'd be a dog fight. Zy Tassin showing out with four touchdowns, Manwell Robinson eclipsing the 200-yard rushing mark and Crestview topping 500 yards of offense affirmed that.
"We knew they were a lot better than their record, but we're always going to play Niceville football and do our best. This feels amazing to be 3-0 in districts. Pace is going to be fun."
Pace is 4-2 but just 1-0 in district with Tate, Navarre and Niceville looming.
"It feels great to be 3-0, but we can't get complacent with Pace coming to town Nov. 4. We just have to show up."
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Niceville wins district thriller over Crestview in Game of the Year