Bulldogs welcome West Florida to Jack Foster Stadium

CRESTVIEW — Tim Hatten wasn’t kidding.

Prior to this past Friday’s game against the International School of Broward, Crestview’s coach told the Daily News his main focus was escaping the night healthy. A quick look at the box score shows an incredibly well executed gameplan and an incredibly complete 73-0 beatdown.

Senior quarterback John Gillis threw only two passes, completing one for a 48-yard score to Devin Voisin. Regular starter Jack Corbin didn’t have a pass attempt.

Running back Jay Stanton, who is making a case as the best back in the area with 544 yards and 11 touchdowns through four weeks, carried the ball only three times for 108 yards and three scores.

Stanton’s primary backup, Taylor Scarborough, carried the ball four times for 40 yards and three scores, while senior Zyneal Daniels took the bulk of the backfield reps with 80 yards on eight totes. All told, Crestview’s ground game averaged 11.3 yards per touch against Broward and scored eight touchdowns.

The Crestview defense, meanwhile, put up six sacks and forced three turnovers. Senior Taurean Mays had three sacks by himself.

The dominant showing on both sides of the ball will be put to the test with West Florida coming to Jack Foster Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday.

Crestview (3-1 overall) topped the Jaguars 38-20 a year ago and led 35-13 at halftime. Quarterback Rod Bouchard dissected the West Florida secondary, completing 67 percent of his passes for 290 yards and four total touchdowns. Stanton had 181 yards of total offense and a rushing touchdown.

Despite it’s 1-2 record, West Florida has outscored opponents 70-56 in 2018. Losses on the road to Escambia and Mosley have come by a combined six points. A few more lucky bounces one way or the other and Rhett Summerford’s Jaguars might have come to Jack Foster Stadium with an unblemished record.

Senior quarterback Trevor Jordan has been inconsistent but effective in guiding the Jaguar offense. He’s completed 39-of-74 passes for 327 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions.

Jordan likes to spread the ball around between three key receivers: Xavier Pugh-Davis leads the team with 12 catches, Keion Burrell has 10 catches with three touchdowns and Amir McDaniel has nine catches for a team-high 121 yards and two scores.

Sophomore Jaheim Simmons, however, paces the Jaguar attack at running back. He leads the team with 80 carries for 372 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, senior linebacker Antarrious Moultrie leads the team in total tackles (27) and tackles for loss (five), while defensive backs Donte Thompson Keyshawn Swanson and McDaniel have five combined interceptions.