Dolphins make strides in scrimmage
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Coach Chris Nemith talks to his players after Friday's intrasquad scrimmage.

The Gulf Breeze Dolphin football team began its preparations for Friday's Kickoff Classic in Crestview with its intrasquad scrimmage Friday at Dolphin Stadium.

"We're just trying to make the rough edges smooth," said coach Chris Nemith, referring to things like taking the proper steps and taking the proper angles in their footwork.

"I was pleased with the way it went," he said. "The big thing is no one got injured. As a coach, you worry about that."

The intrasquad scrimmage, unlike a four quarter game, pitted varsity against varsity, varsity against JV and JV against the ninth grade team in various situations that they'll have to face in a game situation.

The scrimmage began with the varsity kickoff unit against the JV kickoff return unit. Robert Clay made a big hit on the return for the JV.

"The JV kids that were freshman last year, you can see a real improvement," Nemith said.

The varsity offense and defense then faced off with the ball at the 2-yard line, moving away from the end zone. The defense had the better of that battle holding the offense to just three yards in three plays.

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Defensive coordinator Mark Ransom puts the defense through a drill Friday before the start of the intrasquad scrimmage.

Defensive coordinator Mark Ransom praised the efforts of Jacob Burks and Eric Agricola on the defensive line, Jimmy Beyers and Houston Chapman at linebacker and Erik Mims and Stuart Franklin in the secondary.

The JV offense had the better of the ninth grade defense as Mario Villegas had two double digit yard gainers.

The varsity squads went up against each other with the ball at the offense's 35-yard line. This time, the offense won out as quarterback Kyle Schnackenberg went 4-for-4 passing. He completed two passes to Cody Warford and double digit yard gainers to both Shane Dorlag and Franklin.

"Kyle did all right fronting the first team. He's picking it up," quarterback coach Greg Hundley said.

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Assistant coach Matt Alt talks with some players Friday night.

Nemith echoed Hundley's sentiments on Schnackenberg, saying that he did some nice things and that he learned some things. Nemith also praised the play of varsity fullback Rhys Rinke.

Zach Permenter and E.J. Troup both had multiple tackles in the series.

The ninth grade offense struggled against the JV defense, with a couple of quarterback snap miscues and one fumble. Eric Adams did have a 20-yard run for the freshman squad, while Thomas Simmering recovered the fumble for the JV.

In a series called Passing Under Pressure, Phillip Hoffman had a short catch. But snap problems and incompletions prevented further gains.

Collin Brown caught passes for the JV team from both Ben Lively and Michael Mann, while Colton Greer had a sack for the defense.

The varsity offense went up against the second string defense, with the ball placed on the defense's 40-yard line. Schnackenberg completed three passes in that series, including one to Franklin down to the 5-yard line. Seth Hewerdine had an interception for the defense.

Troup then had a tackle for the varsity kickoff team against the JV kickoff return unit.

The varsity units then squared off at the defense's 20-yard line. Mims had an interception for the defense, while a couple of more bad snaps kept the offense from making any gains.

Austin Santiago missed on a 38-yard gain, but then made one from 33 yards out.

The JV offense then faced the ninth grade defense at the 20-yard line. Dorsey faked a handoff and ran for 10 yards before Justin Ratte knocked away a sure touchdown pass a couple of plays later. The JV would settle for a 24-yard field from Danny Gibble.

The varsity scored its first touchdown on the next series, against the defense, at the 20-yard line. Schnackenberg completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Franklin before Dorlag caught a 14-yard score on the next series. Santiago made both extra points.

The ninth grade offense then squared off with the JV defense at the 20. Davin Rogers and Adams both had short gains before John Bayer's run put the freshmen inside the 5. The JV defense would hold as Ratte's field goal attempt was no good. Casey Moore had multiple stops for the JV team.

Pantelis Peterson had a 25-yard punt return for the JV against the varsity's punt team. The JV team then scored its first touchdown against the freshmen defense when Brown caught a 10-yard touchdown from Lively. Gibble made the extra point. Villegas scored on a 2-yard run on the next series for the JV.

Dorsey then quarterbacked the varsity squad against the varsity defense, getting sacked by Burks, but then throwing a 6-yard touchdown to John Nieberlein.

Nicky Schumacher recovered a fumble for the JV defense against the ninth grade offense at the 10-yard line before Bayer scored a 1-yard touchdown.

Schnackenberg and Franklin both scored on runs for the varsity offense against the varsity defense, while Dorlag had a 15-yard punt return against the JV punt team, aided by two big blocks.

In the two minute drill, the JV offense threw four straight incompletions, while Franklin picked off a pass against the varsity offense.

The JV offense, against the ninth grade defense moved the ball well until Holden Tibbs picked off a pass inside the ninth grade's 10-yard line. Lively completed passes to both Tyler Johnson and Adam Woods, while Mann completed two passes to Grant Harris.

The varsity offense also moved the ball well on the defense, getting a 2-yard touchdown run from Chase Landrum. Justin Hurd caught a 36- yard pass from Schnackenberg, while Franklin caught three passes in the drive.

The Kickoff Classic at Crestview will feature the team's freshmen squads for a quarter, the JVs for a quarter and the varsities for the second half. Only the varsity teams will feature a kicking game.