If the 2022 Crestview football season could be summed up in an Elvis Presley song at the halfway point, it undoubtedly would be “Heartbreak Hotel.” Friday night’s game with Niceville was the latest verse to what is becoming an all too familiar song.

The scoreboard at Jack Foster Stadium remained unlit Thursday night as Crestview hosted Escambia in the 2022 Kickoff Classic.

In what can’t be described as a game and maybe not even a controlled scrimmage, the Bulldogs and Gators battled for 90 minutes without scores being tallied on the scoreboard or the ball going over on downs.

Trailing visiting Ponte Vedra Nease 31-22 with less than seven minutes to play, the Crestview High School boys basketball could have folded under the pressure of the 6A regional quarterfinal game.

But where some teams might have taken flight, the Bulldogs stayed for the fight..

As Madi Muse prepared for her final lift of the day, an attempt of 175 pounds on the clean and jerk, fan support for her was not in short supply inside the R. Marion Craig Coliseum in Port St. Joe.

Family, friends and teammates cheered from the stands. Her coach, Alex Pottinger, shouted words of encouragement. And a few of the Navarre lifters crouched down outside the competition area cheering on Muse.