Niceville hosts Pace in Region 1-6A quarterfinal (VIDEO)

NICEVILLE – After 10 consecutive weeks of regular season football games against one of the toughest schedules in the area, the Niceville Eagles find themselves at 6-4 and hosting Pace in a Region 1-6A quarterfinal tonight at Eagle Stadium.

The District 2-6A champion Eagles played Pace (8-2) in Week 2, and won 14-13 on the road behind a fourth-quarter rally.

But according to Niceville coach John Hicks, that game is a thing of the past, seeing as how both teams have evolved over the final eight games of their respective seasons.

“We don’t care about that we already played,” Hicks said. “That was earlier in the year and we’re different football teams.”

Niceville quarterback Andrew Mitchell left the Week 2 match-up with an injured knee during the second quarter of that earlier meeting. Mitchell, a dual-threat under center, is the Eagles’ primary runner between the tackles.

But freshman running back Shi Kim Coward has come on for the Eagles as of late. Over the past two games, Coward has rushed for 277 yards and two touchdowns, displaying impressive speed to the edge.

“I actually don’t think about him much as a freshman,” Mitchell said. “He’s been doing great carrying the load. As a quarterback, I love a good running game, it opens up the passing game, and he’s blocking well too.”

The Eagles have faced two of Alabama’s top teams in Auburn and Central this season and lost both games. But playing teams of that caliber has only helped prepare Niceville for the playoffs, according to Hicks.

“We know we’re not going to play many teams in the caliber of Central and Auburn,” Hicks said. “If we bring everything we got we feel we have a chance of playing well in the playoffs.”

Niceville’s defense will face a Patriot offensive attack that has a physical ground game led by running backs J.C. Curry and Austin Autrey, and a talented receiver in Patrick Maddox that can spread the field. Maddox was out injured in the Week 2 meeting.

The status of Pace quarterback Devon Varney, who was arrested last weekend on misdemeanor possession of alcohol and resisting an officer, is unknown. A decision has been made, but not released due to the school’s policy to not discuss student matters.

Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

Follow Pat Flynn on Twitter: @PatFnwfdn