Randy Dickson
randyd@crestviewbulletin.com
PENSACOLA – There’s no doubt about it, Pine Forest senior quarterback Louchiez Purifoy is as good as advertised.
Purifoy, who has committed to play at Florida next year, piled up more than 300 all-purpose yards and scored four touchdowns as the Eagles cruised to a 42-6 win over Crestview in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.
“Our kids gave great effort tonight,” Bulldog coach Matt Brunson said. “And Pine Forest has a pretty good football team just like we thought.
“Our kids to where we were sitting at 2-3 and to have a great four-week span and almost come out as district champions. I’m very proud of the character of this bunch and the way they stayed together and kept playing hard.”
The talented senior scored on runs of 99 yards, seven yards, and 10 yards. For good measure he also returned a punt 25 yards for a touchdown.
Purifoy showed off his speed early on returning the games opening kick deep into Bulldog territory, but a penalty stalled the open drive as the Bulldog (7-4) got the ball.
The rest of the night pretty much belonged to the Eagles.
An Anthony Boyd field goal from 26 yards out gave Pine Forest (9-2) the lead and the Eagles never looked back.
On Crestview’s second possession of the night the Bulldogs managed to drive deep inside Pine Forest territory. But on a fourth-and-1 Crestview couldn’t punch the ball into the end zone from the Eagle 1-yard line.
Purifoy then broke out of the pack on a quarterback sneak and then outran the Bulldog defense for a 99-yard score with 8:53 left in the half.
A bad snap on a Bulldog punt attempt ended in a safety as things continued to snowball on the Bulldogs.
Purifoy scored two more times in the second quarter as Pine Forest led 26-0 at the half.
Purifoy was at it again early in the third quarter with his punt return for a score.
When Bulldog quarterback Garrett Teal was sacked in the end zone the Eagles were up 35-0.
The Pine Forest backups got in on the act scoring the final Eagle touchdown on a 26-yard pass.
Although the game had long been decided the Bulldogs continued to fight.
With time running out Teal teamed up with B.J. McClure on a 23-yard touchdown pass as the Bulldogs avoided the shutout.
“I guess that’s a good one to go out on,” Teal said of his touchdown toss. “It was one of those nights. Anything that could have gone wrong, it did, but it was nice to go out on a score.”
The Pine Forest defense was a perfect compliment to the Eagle offense holding the Bulldogs to 67 yards in total offense.
Al Caldwell had 16 yards rushing and 11 yards in receiving.
McClure finished with 23 yards receiving and Teal had 54 yards passing.
Next year Caldwell will be playing at the Naval Academy, but he knows it won’t be the same as his days at Crestview as he savored his last moments as a Bulldog football player.
“Even though we lost this was the most fun I’ve ever had,” he said. “This was the most fun game I’ve ever played in. I’ve played with these guys 11 years since I was seven years old, and I’m never going to get to do that again.
“I don’t care if I am going to get to go play college football. For those guys who won’t get to play it is best of all that we turned it around after the Navarre game. We made to playoffs when people didn’t even think we could win.”
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