NICEVILLE — When tight end Max Roche is taking receptions 71 yards to the house and backup running back Tim Smith is contemplating a Lambeau Leap into the Niceville "blacked out" student section, you know Eagle Stadium is popping.

Friday's 49-13 running-clock victory over eighth-seeded Middleburg in the Region 1-5A quarterfinals confirmed that with Kane Lafortune slinging it for 279 yards and three scores as six different Eagles found the end zone and Niceville's top-seeded defense posted six sacks, two interceptions and a pick-six.

"It's a long, hard season and you go through a lot of ups and downs and trials and tribulations, but to get out here in this environment and see a lot of people be successful, that's huge for us," said Niceville head coach Grant Thompson, who didn't play a single starter in the second half.

High school football playoffs: Scores, updates and results from around Fort Walton Beach

Playoff football is a different beast across the Sunshine State. Florida, Texas, California... nowhere else is football played at this level. But Eagle Stadium, with it's 7,000-plus attendance, is built different.

"It's the best atmosphere you could ask for," said Landon Isbell, who scored his first playoff touchdown in his three years of starting. "The stands are packed. The student section is packed. You can hardly hear anything on the field. It's just great. Nothing beats it."

Eagle Stadium is not only home to a 6-0 record for the Eagles (10-1) this season, but it's also home to the best student section and band in the U.S. and the hottest ticket (sorry 'Noles) in the Panhandle.

And right now, Region 1-5A runs through it.

Yes, Eagle Stadium is just getting started in hosting playoff games. Now Ponte Vedra, which defeated Beachside 45-21 in the other quarterfinal, comes to town next Friday for the Sweet 16 and another deafening, standing-room-only environment. Another booming Eagle Pride band. Another student section ready to deliver the best taste of Friday Night Lights Americana.

"As a senior, playing here has been one of the highlights of my life," Lafortune said. "I couldn't ask for anything more, getting to play another game here."

On Friday, Lafortune gave the sellout crown plenty of reason to celebrate and then some.

In the first quarter, Connor Mathews scored on runs of 23 yards and 1 yard and Johnny Lewis found the end zone from a yard out to push the lead to 21-7. Jon Bocchino kicked the second quarter off with a 60-yard pick-six and Lafortune found Isbell in the left side of the end zone on a 3-yard toss to get the monkey off Isbell's back.

"It just had me pumped — first playoff touchdown and just getting my first touchdown of the year," Isbell said. "I had a blast tonight."

"It feels great to get everyone involved, especially in a playoff game," said LaFortune, who was 10-for-11 on the night. "We don't know how many we have left, but everyone is getting a chance to get the ball in their hands and make a play. I'm so happy for (Isbell). I've been playing with him since middle school and to finally see him get that touchdown in the playoffs at home, it's just something else."

Talk about everyone: Soon after Roche took a Lafortune pass 71 yards up the right side to send Niceville's sideline into pandemonium.

"Kane threw me a good pass and Izzy set up perfectly with good blocking and it was just there," said Roche, who caught a massive fourth-quarter pass to set up the Lincoln win earlier this season.

Did you know Roche had that kind of speed, Lafortune?

"We did not," said the QB. "Shoutout to Max. He has developed as a tight end so much this year and he's just been a great kid. It's awesome being around him."

With a running clock assured to start the second half, Smith took a screen pass 38 yards up the middle and then immediately darted for the student section, posing, dancing and high-fiving as anyone close gave him a tap on the helmet.

Niceville was having fun. Middleburg, entering the night 7-3, was not.

One down, four to go for Niceville.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Niceville football advances to Region 1-5A FHSAA semifinals in rout of Middleburg