Liberty County wins shootout, Blountstown runner-up

BRISTOL – On Friday, Liberty County forced a tiebreaker in District 2-1A with a win over rival Blountstown. On Monday, Liberty County won the district title with a win over rival Blountstown.

The host Bulldogs routed the Tigers 21-0 in the second and final quarter of a three-way shootout, which also included Port St. Joe. Liberty County (8-1) clinched the district title, while Blountstown (7-2), which beat Port St. Joe 16-6 in the first quarter, finished as runner-up.

Liberty County hosts South Walton in the regional quarterfinal Nov. 20. Blountstown travels to Freeport in the first round, also Nov. 20.

The District 1-2B shootout in Chipley scheduled for Monday was postponed until 7 p.m. Wednesday because of Tropical Storm Ida. Host Chipley, Walton and Marianna all are vying for the runner-up spot and playoff berth in that district in addition to champion Pensacola Catholic.

“I was worried about us a little after having such an emotional win against Blountstown” on Friday, Liberty County coach Grant Grantham said. “But they pulled it together and it’s great cause they all worked hard.

“We lost our first district game and we didn’t know if we’d be in this position. We knew we had to win out.”

Terrance Evans’ 50-yard interception return was the back breaker against Blountstown, giving the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead. It came one drive after Keith McCray, who had 41 yards rushing, opened the quarter with a 4-yard score to cap a nine-play, 69-yard drive with 7 minutes, 35 seconds to play.

“That interception killed us and we couldn’t regroup,” Blountstown coach Greg Jordan said. “But we’re in the playoffs, and that’s what we wanted.”

Kevin McCray led all rushers with 56 yards for Liberty County. Evans added a 2-yard score to give Liberty County a three-touchdown edge. The Bulldogs scored only 19 points against the Tigers last week.

Jawon Mosley led Blountstown with 25 yards rushing.

Blountstown converted both of its possessions and also notched two 2-point conversions to push past Port St. Joe.

The first drive encompassed 64 yards, capped by Leon Broxton’s third reception on the march on a 15-yard fade pattern from P.J. Buggs where he leaped over two defenders for the score. Broxton grabbed all three of Bugg’s completions for 58 yards. Princeton Grant caught Buggs’ 2-point pass off a deflection for an 8-0 Blountstown lead with 7:33 left.

The Tiger Sharks (7-2) answered with an 80-yard drive with their own fade pattern to Willie Quinn from Calvin Pryor, who had 38 yards rushing on four carries. Pryor’s attempt for the 2-pointer was stuffed at the line of scrimmage, leaving Port St. Joe needing a defensive stop with 3:58 left.

It appeared as if the Tigers Sharks made that stop, as Grant was pushed toward the sideline with less than two minutes to go on third-and-11. However, Grant, who had 63 yards rushing on five carries, squirted out along the side and scored untouched from 57 yards. A needed stop on the 2-point conversion also fell short, as Alexander Garrett ran in to ice the quarter.

Tiebreaker 1

• Blountstown 16, Port St. Joe 6
  
• BHS – Broxton 15 pass from Buggs (Grant pass from Buggs), 8-0 BHS, 7:33
• PHS – Quinn 3 pass from Pryor (run failed), 8-6, 3:58
• BHS – Grant 57 run (Garrett run), 16-6, 1:02

Tiebreaker 2

• Liberty County 21, Blountstown 0
  
• LCHS – KeithMcCray 4 run (Lohse kick), 7-0 LCHS, 7:35
• LCHS – Evans 50 interception return (Lohse kick), 14-0, 6:31
• LCHS – Evans 2 run (Lohse kick), 21-0, 3:46