Big games abound in the Panhandle: Week 7 football preview

As the 2022 Football season closes in on the final third of the regular season, some of the top teams in the Panhandle Florida are facing big match-ups that will undoubtably have implications on playoff rankings and momentum moving into the final stretch of the regular season.

SBLive Sports, which has rapidly becoming the leader in the coverage of high school sports in Florida, will be providing more coverage in the Panhandle as we move forward. Taking a look at this week’s schedule, here are previews of some of the biggest games in the area.

Niceville, FL (4S #8) 6-0 @ Pine Forest (3S #2) 6-0

Without a doubt the top game in the region this week is Niceville traveling to Pine Forest (last years 6A state runner up) for what will prove to be a must watch game.  Niceville will come in hoping to stop running back Miequle Brock (514 yards on the season) and quarterback Tierra Wilson (1,216 passing yards on the season) with their daunting defense, led by Christian Caballero and his 11.6 tackles and 4 sacks per game average.  Based on what Wilson did last year in the 5A state title game, Caballero and the Niceville defense definitely have their work cut out for them. This match-up will not fail to bring all the excitement of Florida football. Both teams will have to bring their best to pull out a win.

Navarre (4S #15) 4-1 @ Mosley (4S #32) 4-2

On paper these two are pretty evenly matched. Both are averaging just about 300 yards per game on offense and touting fairly stingy defenses that are well rounded and able to keep opposing offenses off balance. Navarre will likely lean on their top running back Eddie Love, Jr (averaging 142.6 yards per game) to break through the Moseley defense. While Moseley will rely on quarterback Sam Freitas (averaging 177.4 all purpose yards per game) to get it done on the ground and through the air. Moseley has risen to become the number one team in the Panama City area in the last few years under head coach Tommy Joe Whiddon (from Niceville) and a win over the historically successful Navarre Raiders could help elevate them to one of the best in the region.

Wakulla (2S #6) 5-1 vs. St. John Paul II (1S #5) 4-0

In the battle of smaller schools this one leads the way in Week 7. Wakula comes into this match-up having played against some much larger schools this season and walking away with wins. Its only loss is to 4S Mosley and the War Eagles certainly gave the Dolphins a run for their money. St. John Paul II comes in led by quarterback Tremaine Hughes, Jr., who averages nearly 300 yards per game in total offense and running back Jadan Walden that adds nearly 100 more yards per game on the ground. Wakulla is going to have to find an answer against that talent if it hopes to pull out the win.

Choctaw (3S #17) 1-4 @ South Walton (2S #19) 4-1

Coming off a record setting season in 2021, South Walton has stepped up its schedule and taken on some bigger schools in the area this year. In a flip from last years offense that could almost score at will, the South Walton defense led by Judah McCoy at outside linebacker, has been the story of 2023. Apart from one lopsided loss in Week 4, the Seahawks have only given up 28 points all season, stifling opponents with a defense that swarms to the ball on every down. Choctaw comes in with only one win, but in a schedule that includes Niceville and Pine Forest, the Indians have played everyone very close. They are battle-tested and bring a lot of talent to the field. Running back Cole Tabb and his 153 yards per game average will certainly be a test for the Seahawks at home.