Raiders rally for homecoming win

Andrew Rieves threw three touchdowns to Jordan Leggett and the Navarre Raiders rallied for a 21-17 homecoming win Friday against district rival Choctawhatchee at Bennett C. Russell Stadium Field.

“In a big game, your playmakers have to make big plays,” Navarre coach Jay Walls said after the game. “We made some plays in the second half.”

The Raiders’ fourth straight win improved their record to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in District 2-6A. Choctaw, which had won two straight including an upset of district power Niceville, fell to 2-4, 1-1.

Navarre trailed 10-0 at halftime and 17-6 midway through the fourth quarter. But with 5 minutes, 20 seconds on the clock, the Raiders took over at their own 36-yard line. On first down, Rieves took the snap, turned and passed to Leggett streaking down the right sideline. The 6-foot-6 senior receiver, who has committed verbally to play for Clemson University, caught the ball in stride, dodged a defender and sprinted to the end zone. Rieves scored the two-point conversion, running into the end zone after being unable to find an open receiver.

Senior running back Jay Warren, 2012 NHS Homecoming King, sparked the Raiders’ next drive with a 34-yard run to the Navarre 46. Runs by Warren, Rieves and Warren again moved the ball to the Indians’ 38 with less than two minutes to play. On second down and needing six yards to move the chains, Rieves again through a quick pass to Leggett on the sideline in front of the Raiders’ bench. Leggett spun away from one defender, bounced off another and pulled out of the grasp of a third before retracing his steps into the Choctawhatchee end zone. Chandler Moorer’s extra point provided the game’s final point.

John Hicks, the Indians’ workhorse sophomore running back, fumbled the Navarre kickoff and the Raiders ran out the clock after recovering the ball at the Choctaw 19.

Leggett caught a 13-yard touchdown in the front corner of the end zone with 3:56 left in the third quarter for Navarre’s first points.

Navarre 21, Choctawhatchee 17

First quarter

CHS – Garrison Floyd 3 run, Dominik Jordan kick. 9:33.

Second quarter

CHS – Jordan 22 FG. 4:06

Third quarter

NHS – Jordan Leggett 13 pass from Andrew Rieves, kick blocked. 3:56

Fourth quarter

CHS – John Hicks 12 run, Jordan kick. 10:32.

NHS – Leggett 64 pass from Rieves, Rieves run. 5:20.

NHS – Leggett 38 pass from Rieves, Chandler Moorer kick. 1:41.