Walton wins District 1-2B shootout, secures runner-up
CHIPLEY — The Walton Braves (3-6) overcame Marianna’s offense and Chipley’s defense to win a three-team shootout Wednesday and capture the runner-up spot in District 1-2B
Walton outscored the Bulldogs (4-5) 29-14 in the first quarter and beat Chipley (4-5) 14-0 in the second.
“We certainly faced our share of adversity during the year,” Walton coach Lenny Jankowski said. “We stuck with it and got better each week.”
That could have been said of the Braves’ defense Wednesday night. Walton recovered the fumbled opening kickoff and quarterback Liam Miller ran it in from 6 yards on the next play. Alex Brack’s kick made it 7-0 Walton with 11:39 left.
Marianna quarterback Fidel Montgomery answered with a 3-yard run to cap off the ensuing drive with Ryan Webb’s kick tying it at 7-all. On the next drive Miller hit Tray Williams on a 38-yard scoring pass, with Brack’s kick making it 14-7 Braves with 7:11 left.
Marianna’s Chris Bowers answered with a 25-yard scoring run with 6:33 left and the kick making it 14-all. Walton regained the lead on Miller’s 3-yard score with 6:04 left. The Braves stopped the next Bulldog drive and finished up scoring with Marrion Holmes’ 1-yard run and 2-point conversion to make it 29-14.
The second quarter was scoreless until 2:06 left when the Braves put together a 10-play 54-yard drive ending in Miller plunging in from the 1-yard line. Brack’s kick made it 7-0 Walton.
Walton recovered the onside kick but was forced to punt with 1:37 left. On the third play of the ensuing drive, however, Walton’s Steven Myrick intercepted a Josh Myers pass and ran it in from 9 yards out, with the kick making it 14-0.
Chipley made it to the 25 with seconds left, but a Tiger fumble was recovered and returned 54 yards by Walton’s Deauntae Woods to the Chipley 3 to ice the victory.
Walton travels to Florida High Nov. 20 for the first round of the playoffs.
