Choctaw flag football's bid to return to state title game falls short

Choctaw flag football's bid to return to state title game falls short

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson laughs as he speaks to a person before the start of the second half of the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson watches his players warm up during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard takes a handoff from QB Deagan McCoy during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson catches a ball during pregame drills during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson readies his team during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard carries the ball during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard gets the ball from QB Deagan McCoy during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard evades a tackle during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard looks for running room up the middle during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville QB Deagan McCoy passes during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville MLB Harper Campbell fights through a block during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard runs during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville DL Constantine Sigler and Trimarcus Mays apply pressure up the middle during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville MLB Harper Campbell brings a runner down for a loss during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson on the sidelines after a timeout during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville QB Deagan McCoy evades a tackle during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville QB Deagan McCoy sets up to throw during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville QB Deagan McCoy is flushed from the pocket during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson reacts during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville Clay Nelson runs with the ball after a turnover during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson talks with an assistant after the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson tells his players “Everything Matters” following the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson laughs as he speaks to a person before the start of the second half of the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson laughs as he speaks to a person before the start of the second half of the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson watches his players warm up during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard takes a handoff from QB Deagan McCoy during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson catches a ball during pregame drills during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson readies his team during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard carries the ball during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard gets the ball from QB Deagan McCoy during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard evades a tackle during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard looks for running room up the middle during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville QB Deagan McCoy passes during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville MLB Harper Campbell fights through a block during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville RB Jakobe Gilyard runs during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville DL Constantine Sigler and Trimarcus Mays apply pressure up the middle during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville MLB Harper Campbell brings a runner down for a loss during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson on the sidelines after a timeout during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville QB Deagan McCoy evades a tackle during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville QB Deagan McCoy sets up to throw during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville QB Deagan McCoy is flushed from the pocket during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson reacts during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville Clay Nelson runs with the ball after a turnover during the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson talks with an assistant after the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

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Robinson starts tenure as Niceville Head Football Coach

Niceville head football coach Adron Robinson tells his players “Everything Matters” following the Niceville Pensacola Catholic spring football game at Niceville.

TAMPA — Against nine-time reigning state champ Robinson, the Choctawhatchee flag football team knew it had to bring its A-game to Friday's 2A state semifinal.

Unable to contain Annie Keith and Robinson's aerial attack and struggling on offense with drops, Choctaw did not as its bid for that elusive 2A state title ended in a 42-12 rout at AdventHealth Training Center.

Keith threw for six touchdowns, accounted for more than 300 yards and was 6-for-6 on extra points, feeding Sarah Williams on the corners and finding a safety valve in Natalie Ashburn over the middle. Choctaw quarterback Diaris Morales, meanwhile, wasn't able to get anything going deep as she threw a first-quarter touchdown to Silvy Ewert to make it 28-6 at halftime, and a third-quarter touchdown to KK Hardy.

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It was the fifth straight Final 4 appearance for Choctaw, which has lost to Robinson four of those years. That includes last year's 41-0 defeat in the state championship last year, a 32-13 title-game loss in 2023 and a heartbreaking 18-14 defeat for first in 2022.

Choctaw closes out the season 17-4 with a 558-221 margin of victory. Robinson, meanwhile, advances on with a 20-1 record and a 758-113 margin of victory. All that separates the Knights from a record 10th straight state title is Northwestern, which beat Deltona 40-32 in the other state semifinal. Game time is Saturday at noon (EDT).

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Choctaw flag football falls in FHSAA 2A state semifinal