South Walton and Freeport, two Walton County high school rivals separated by the Choctawhatchee Bay, were on year two of an indefinite "break" in their football rivalry that was instituted by the FHS staff during the off-season of 2016 to help defuse tension that was boiling over between the schools.
However, last week, when it became official that the destruction of Hurricane Michael had left the would-be opponents for both teams unable to yet field a football team tonight, SWHS and FHS put their differences aside and garnered the blessing of the FHSAA to play a sanctioned game tonight against each other.
South Walton's defense stopped a two-point conversion with 4:36 left in the game, then stuffed a late 4th-and-1 on Freeport's final drive to hold on for a 20-18 victory.
Proceeds went to Hurricane Relief, and an astonishing amount of perishable foods, clothes, and supplies were donated by fans at the game.
