Sports Archive

Jody Dunn’s face lights up when he talks about Crestview High School’s Big Red Machine Marching Band.

The Big Red Machine is a fixture at Crestview football games, and Dunn, the longtime band director, has made sure to work closely throughout the years with the Bulldog football coaches to coordinate when the band plays during the game and how he and the band can help the team and fire up the spectators.

The smells of new varnish fill the air in the Crestview gym. And where an old faded floor was just a few months ago, a sparkling new surface is now in place.

When the Crestview volleyball team play its home opener in a few weeks the new court will be officially christened. And, if the new floor last the 52 years the old floor did, the athletes competing on the court will be drawing their pensions before another court is put down in the Dog Pound.

At Baker School, it’s rare to find an athlete that specializes in one sport.

The Crestview High School band has been a part of Jody Dunn’s life for almost 40 years.  

He’s now in his 17th year as band director after serving as associate director for 10 years under former director David Cadel.

As a former high school and college offensive lineman, Crestview High School head football coach Thomas Grant knows a good lineman when he sees one.

Time will tell if the Crestview football team makes the playoffs and a deep run towards a state championship. If the Bulldogs make such a run it’s safe to say that Friday night’s season opener was a perfect stepping stone to start the season.
Crestview will be in Orlando on Friday to take on Ridley, Penn., in what should be a major test.

About the only thing that can be said about the defense in last season’s football game between Baker and South Walton is there wasn’t much of it played.
The teams combined for 1,196 yards in total offense and scored 97 points as the Gators pulled off a 49-48 win.

Kasey Campbell knows the expectations for the athletic programs at Laurel Hill School.

A three-sport standout for the Hoboes, Campbell was good enough to play college softball before settling into academics and ending up back home at Laurel Hill.

There’s a favorite saying in sports that some teams rebuild and others reload. It’s safe to say that the Baker volleyball team fits in the category of teams that reload.

The last 19 years, no matter what district or classification, the Gators have won district championships..

First-year Crestview head volleyball coach James Kerrell faces a massive rebuilding effort. After making the playoffs five consecutive years, the Bulldogs won only two matches last season.

The rebuild won’t be easy as Crestview plays in a tough district that includes Niceville, Mosley and Chiles and Leon.