Niceville flag football guts out 1st playoff victory at Eagle Stadium

Niceville flag football guts out 1st playoff victory at Eagle Stadium

Niceville’s Kate Robertson reaches for a catch during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

Niceville head coach Adron Robinson gestures with Gabby Valdez during the final seconds of the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville. The Lady Eagles won 20-12, and remain undefeated.

The Lady Eagles sideline reacts after RaMyan Tripeaux makes an interception during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

Niceville defenders Kate Robertson ,left, and Layla Hughes, right, break up a pass intended for Choctaw’s Tishelle Bowles during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

Choctaw’s Janiya Brown hauls in a pass during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

Choctaw’s Tishelle Bowles carries the ball for extra yards during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

Niceville’s Eden Shaw breaks up a pass intended for Choctaw’s Mirian Redondo during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

Choctaw’s Tishelle Bowles (11) is high fived by QB Diaris Morales after scoring a touchdown during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

Niceville head coach Adron Robinson and players cheer after an extra point during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.The Lady Eagles won 20-12, and remain undefeated.

Niceville’s Jori Brechler takes the ball towards the sideline in a run during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

Niceville QB Peyton Carter throws a pass during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

Niceville’s Jori Brechler evades a tackle en route to a touchdown run during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

Niceville head coach Adron Robinson and Choctaw head coach Jim Bay embrace after the Lady Eagles defeated the Lady Indians 20-12 at Niceville, to remain undefeated in flag football.

Choctaw’s Mirian Redondo makes a difficult catch during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

Choctaw QB Diaris Morales passes during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

Niceville’s Jori Brechler is stopped after a gain during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

Niceville’s Jori Brechler lies on the ground after a run during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

Niceville’s Eden Shaw makes a leaping reception during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

Niceville’s Katherine Newkirk runs with the ball after blocking a punt during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

Niceville’s Avery Cowles runs the ball during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Niceville’s Kate Robertson reaches for a catch during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Niceville’s Kate Robertson reaches for a catch during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Niceville head coach Adron Robinson gestures with Gabby Valdez during the final seconds of the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville. The Lady Eagles won 20-12, and remain undefeated.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

The Lady Eagles sideline reacts after RaMyan Tripeaux makes an interception during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Niceville defenders Kate Robertson ,left, and Layla Hughes, right, break up a pass intended for Choctaw’s Tishelle Bowles during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Choctaw’s Janiya Brown hauls in a pass during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Choctaw’s Tishelle Bowles carries the ball for extra yards during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Niceville’s Eden Shaw breaks up a pass intended for Choctaw’s Mirian Redondo during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Diaris Morales has 6 TDs in 'flu game,' Choctaw flag advances

Choctaw’s Tishelle Bowles (11) is high fived by QB Diaris Morales after scoring a touchdown during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville flag football guts out 1st playoff victory at Eagle Stadium

Niceville head coach Adron Robinson and players cheer after an extra point during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.The Lady Eagles won 20-12, and remain undefeated.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Niceville’s Jori Brechler takes the ball towards the sideline in a run during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Niceville QB Peyton Carter throws a pass during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Niceville’s Jori Brechler evades a tackle en route to a touchdown run during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Niceville head coach Adron Robinson and Choctaw head coach Jim Bay embrace after the Lady Eagles defeated the Lady Indians 20-12 at Niceville, to remain undefeated in flag football.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Choctaw’s Mirian Redondo makes a difficult catch during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Choctaw QB Diaris Morales passes during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Niceville’s Jori Brechler is stopped after a gain during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Niceville’s Jori Brechler lies on the ground after a run during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Niceville’s Eden Shaw makes a leaping reception during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Niceville’s Katherine Newkirk runs with the ball after blocking a punt during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

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Niceville remains undefeated with 20-12 win over Choctaw

Niceville’s Avery Cowles runs the ball during the Niceville Choctaw flag football game at Niceville.

NICEVILLE — Niceville flag's first playoff win at Eagle Stadium — a 26-19 Region 1-3A quarterfinal triumph over visiting Pace in the pouring rain of a newly turfed field yet to be broken in by the boys — isn't possible without a bevy of game-changing plays made by players built for the postseason.

There was the pair of touchdown grabs from captain Layla Hughes, the first fought through three flag pulls for a 34-yard touchdown and the last a 21-yard snag at the goal line where she outmuscled the corner at the 1-yard line, tiptoed the sideline and secured the catch before breaking the plane.

There was the pair of touchdowns on identical sluggo routes from Eden Shaw, who on the game-winner high-pointed a 15-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to put the Eagles ahead 26-13.

Tennis Final 4: Niceville girls tennis wins 3A state opener, advances to state semi

Choctaw flag advances: Diaris Morales has 6 TDs in 'flu game'

There was the back-to-back interceptions from Katherine Newkirk and Avery Cowless, both earning the "Turnover Chucky" and the former which came with the Eagles clinging to an 18-13 lead and the Patriots marching near midfield.

There was two of many flag pulls and two-point conversion from captain Kate Robertson, the first flag pull coming at the 1-yard line just before the half to preserve an 18-6 lead and the second coming on Pace's unsuccessful attempt at an onside down 26-19 in the waning seconds.

Paired with Peyton Carter throwing for four touchdowns and 264 yards, the game ball deserved to be passed around and shared by many. But this is Niceville football: highlight-reel catches, takeaways and unselfish play, a brand that's earned the Eagles a 16-2 record and a trip to Chiles Monday for a Region 1-3A "business trip."

Second-seeded Chiles, which beat Lincoln Wednesday night in their region quarterfinal, defeated third-seeded Niceville 19-0 at home earlier this season. But Niceville played Chiles to a 0-0 draw in the second half after falling behind 19-0 in the first half.

"I'm gonna be honest with you, I'm not gonna think about Chiles tonight," Niceville coach Adron Robinson said after the win. "I'm gonna enjoy this one. You know, this was our first playoff win in Eagle Stadium in the history of flag football, so give me give me 24 hours to enjoy. Well, 12 hours. Okay. And then we'll talk about Chiles."

His girls were OK to chat away, though.

"We didn't have a great game last time, but we got our stuff together for the second half and held them to zero points," Hughes said. "We should be able to do it again this time around, only we'll score this time and give ourselves a good shot to make it even further."

"I'm looking forward to it," Newkirk said. "Chiles is a great team. This'll be a good test for us to show our stuff, show up and show how far we've come since our last meeting. I'm excited."

"I'm super excited," added Shaw. "Our whole team is. We'll be ready."

What was more impressive than the plays being made Wednesday was the praise that followed by teammates.

Hughes called Newkirk's interception "insane."

"We needed a big play to switch momentum for us so we could get our offense going to get another score on the board, to really solidify that energy and the win," she expanded. "And (Newkirk) did exactly what we needed her to do. And she got to carry Chucky and show him the whole crowd."

Newkirk repaid the compliment, doting on Shaw and her captain.

"Eden, I love her so much," Newkirk said. "She's a sophomore like me. She's a goalie for soccer. She's made it to state finals for soccer and honestly I think she has grown a lot since last year. Maybe she was kind of a bit timid, but she's grown a lot and been able to show out. Our captain, Layla, honestly has balled out. Always. I have never seen her have a bad day. I can't be happier that these two are on my team."

Reciprocated Shaw: "Kat won the game for us, so I can't say enough about her. She was huge tonight."

And on Carter, Shaw and Hughes praised their gunlsinging playmaker.

"Peyton is the quarterback who can make the throws, and I just gotta make the plays. Yeah, so we've been able to connect on that level, have had many go ball plays where I had to jump up high or move my body. She puts it where she knows I can catch it."

Now the focus shifts to the Sweet 16. Regardless, Niceville is built for the future, only graduating Hughes and Robertson. But they also understand they can win now.

"We're going to Tallahassee on a business trip," Robinson told his girls. "Let's get down to business."

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Niceville flag football advances to Region 1-3A semifinals