Fort Walton Beach, Freeport win; South Walton stumbles

It was total domination by the Fort Walton Beach Vikings Friday night as they whipped the Niceville Eagles 20-3 in a Kickoff Classic.
They executed on offense for a total of 304 yards and stuffed the Eagles on defense allowing only a field goal in the last 20 seconds of the first half.
Fort Walton’s Luke Barnes hit Matt Coffee on a screen pass which he romped 54 yards for the score. Then Destin’s Don David kicked in the extra point for a 7-0 start.
The Vikings struck again when following a 22-yard completion to J.T. Wortham, Coffee rambled in for a 3-yard touchdown.
In the second quarter, Fort Walton’s Wortham scored on a 4-yard run to cap off a 45-yard drive. David again kicked in the extra point.
The second half of the game was met with tragedy when Niceville’s 15-year-old Taylor Haugen, a sophomore wide receiver, was hurt in a collision with two Fort Walton Beach players during the game.
Haugen’s injury was “very unusual” — so severe and so instantaneous that no one could save his life, according to Okaloosa County public safety director Dino Villani.
He died Saturday morning at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.

FREEPORT
•Cole Weeks had a big night passing and Freeport’s defense held on late as the Bulldogs defeated Cottondale 37-32 on Thursday in a Kickoff Classic.
Weeks, a junior, threw for four touchdowns, including a pair to Nathan Hendrickson. Paul Holmes and Justin Farmer were also recipients of scoring tosses by Weeks, while Cody Binder found the end zone on a short run.
“We’re very happy with our effort,” Freeport coach Jim Anderson said. “It was a great team effort tonight.”
Defensively, Eric Ogles and Farmer both snatched interceptions, while Billy Burnett had two sacks and a forced fumble.
Freeport opens the season Friday at home against Walton. Game time is 7 p.m.

SOUTH WALTON   
•South Walton stayed close to West Gadsden for a half, but could not keep up late in a 28-10 loss on Friday in a Kickoff Classic.
The Seahawks did all their scoring in the second quarter as Cody Adams scored on a 4-yard run and Destin’s David Bazylak connected on a 36-yard field goal.
South Walton was down 14-10 at the half, but could get no closer.
Adams also had an interception on defense, as did Jake Hawkins. Zach Henniger added a fumble recovery.
Offensively, the Seahawks racked up 225 total yards.
South Walton opens the regular season at 7 p.m. Friday at home against Franklin County.