By PATRICK CASEY
Senior quarterback Johnathan Ortner threw for 233 yards and four touchdowns while adding a 42-yard scamper for the first score of the game as South Walton wrapped up the District 3, Class A championship with a 63-6 win over Holmes County on Friday night.
The Seahawks wasted little time in jumping out to a 21-0 lead after the first quarter, then added another 28 points in the second to hold a 49-6 lead at the half.
Holmes County senior running back Chad Leavins provided the only bright spot of the night for the visiting Bluedevils as he got loose on a 96-yard run to trim the lead to 14-6 with 94 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Seahawks needed only the ensuing kickoff to respond as Jireh Crittenden raced 85 yards down the visiting sideline for a touchdown and a 21-6 lead.
South Walton senior receiver Alex Smith had another big game as he hauled in eight passes for 172 yards with touchdown catches of 37 and 18 yards.
The Seahawks defense forced five turnovers as Joe Ledo-Massey had a pair of interceptions with Payton Strain adding another. Harrison Schaffer and Jeremiah Crittenden each had fumble recoveries as the defense held Holmes County to just 220 total yards.
The game was played under the Mercy Rule the entire second half as South Walton had only a missed field goal and two fourth down plays go awry to stop the offensive onslaught.
Ortner earned a Walton County record during the game as his four touchdown passes moved him ahead of former Walton quarterback Jason Roulhac (71) with 74 career touchdown passes.
The Seahawks are now 5-3 against Holmes County in the history of the series and improved to 6-1 overall while guaranteeing themselves a home playoff game on Nov. 14.
South Walton will host Freeport on Friday night as they face the Bulldogs in the “Battle of the Bay.” Freeport is 3-4 this season after falling to Northview last week by a score of 43-9. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. as the Bulldogs are welcomed in for the Seahawks’ 2014 Homecoming game.
