A 35-7 win over Marianna last season was monumental not only for the tiny town of Callahan but the West Nassau program as well, as the Warriors made school history last season winning their first playoff game in forty years and their first home playoff in the school’s 50 year history.
Imagine what a win Friday would do for the community and program, as no other West Nassau team has ever been to the third round of the playoffs, that’s what at stake Friday night.Here is a run down of what to expect Friday night.
REGION 1-4A
No. 3 South Walton (6-4) at No. 2 West Nassau (8-2)
Where: Bakers Sporting Goods Stadium
When: Friday, 7:30
About South Walton: Phil Tisa is in his seventh year and has built the Seahawks into a solid program with three playoff appearances and multiple winning seasons. A rare losing season last year with just three wins has spurred the Seahawks this season as they doubled their win total from last year and appear in the second round for just the second time in school history their first since 2008. Tilsa put together a challenging schedule as well and will have them well prepared for their second round matchup with West Nassau. South Walton likes to put the ball in the air a lot as junior quarterback Drake Roberts has completed 205 of 339 for 2,624 yards along with 18 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. His main targets are sophomore Cade Roberts (38 catches for 306 yards, 5.3 y.p.c., 2 TD), senior John Paige (49 catches for 879 yards, 17.9 y.p.c., 8 TD) and junior JM Allen (63 catches for 752 yards, 11.9 y.p.c., 5 TD). The Seahawks average a pass 4 out of every 5 plays throwing for 266 a game, compared to running for only 76 yards a game; when they do run the ball it will likely go to sophomore Elias Roberts, who leads the team with 288 yards and two touchdowns on just 37 carries this season. Defensively, the stats were not available but the Seahawks did give up 30 or more points in 3 of their 4 losses this season.
About West Nassau: Rickey Armstrong has done such an amazing job since taking over the program five years ago, taking them from the out house to the pen house in his tenure. Armstrong has guided the Warriors to a 32-19 record since taking over including winning seasons in four of the five years, the lone exception a 3-7 season in 2016. Last year the Warriors finished 9-2 and won their first playoff game since 1978 and their first ever home playoff game in school history before being bounced in the second round by eventual state champion Raines on the road. A win this week would give them a rematch with nemesis Raines again next week, but before the Warriors can think about the Vikings they first need to take care of South Walton first. These two couldn’t be more opposite offensively, as the Warriors like to run the ball out of the spread option and feature senior tailbacks Javon Wright (672 yards, 9.5 y.p.c., 8 TD on 71 carries), Christian Nobles (658 yards, 7.2 y.p.c., 7 TD on 658 carries) and Caleb Crandall (416 yards, 8.2 y.p.c., 9 TD on 51 carries). They can throw and rely on senior quarterback Dallas Mumford to run the offense and he has completed 40 of 84 for 552 yards with five touchdowns and just two interceptions. Defensively, the Warriors are solid having posted 5 shutouts and led by a trio of linebackers senior Jeremy Starling (74 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 7 sacks), senior Justin Hall (90 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 5 sacks) and junior Seth O’neal (77 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 3 sacks). The most important matchup of the game is the South Walton receivers against the West Nassau defensive back as the secondary will be greatly tested against the Seahawks air attack but if there is one secondary that can handle it, its the Warriors who feature senior Cameron Atwater (40 tackles, 5 INT), 6-4 sophomore Deebo Coleman (42 tackles, 4 INT) and 6-2 senior Damon Harris (42 tackles, 6 INT). The defense, which has accumulated 48 sacks and 21 interceptions must also put pressure on Roberts and force a lot of turnovers to win also. While the Warriors made school history winning their first playoff game in 40 years and first ever home playoff game in school history, a win Friday would one up last years team by advancing to the third round of the playoffs for the first time ever.
Joe Pinkos: West Nassau by 8
Next: West Nassau would host Marianna or travel to Raines in the Elite 8 of the playoffs next week.
Helmets courtesy of FloridaHSFootball.com
