JV Dolphins lose close one at Pace
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Jason Thompson/Gulf Breeze News Nicky Schumacher (front) and Casey Meredeth knock away a two-point conversion try against Pace.

The Pace Patriot junior varsity football team scored a one-yard touchdown run on fourth and goal with six minutes left in the game to defeat Gulf Breeze 14-7 Thursday in Pace.

Ben Lively and Michael Mann took turns leading the Dolphin offense, with Lively playing the odd number quarters, Mann the even. Under Lively, the Dolphins picked up a pair of first downs before punting on their second series.

Pace scored first, on a 13- yard run with 6:11 left in the first half. Nicky Schumacher and Casey Meredeth batted down the two-point conversion, leaving the score 6-0.

Schmacher intercepted a pass midway through the second quarter, which started the Dolphins on its scoring drive. Mario Villegas' 25-yard run, followed by a six-yard catch by Schmacher and a 10- yard scramble by Mann, set up Villegas' nine-yard touchdown run with 56.5 left in the half. Danny Gibble's extra point made it 7-6.

The Patriots fumbled the ball three times in the third quarter, but recovered all three. Pace took advantage of a facemask and pass interference penalties to put the ball on the Dolphin 6-yard line.

The Dolphins got a nineyard run by Mann and a three-yard run by Villegas gave the Dolphins the ball midfield, but an interception ended the drive.

Pace ninth grade 28,

Dolphins 0

The Patriots blew open a close game with a pair of third quarter scores Thursday.

The Dolphins' first possession stalled at the Pace 33-yard line. Eric Adams had the bulk of the yardage. Michael Nixon recovered a Pace fumble on the next drive, but a facemask penalty nullified the takeaway.

The Patriots drove to the Dolphins 10 before turning it over on downs. They scored on the next drive with 5:22 left in the half.

Stephen Crowhurst recovered a fumble, which started a drive that would stall at the Pace 20 when time expired in the first half.

Pace added a 40-yard run and an 18-yard run to make the score 22-0. The Dolphins would turn the ball over on their next series, but the defense turned the ball over on downs at the 3-yard line.

John Bayer and Adams both had first down runs before having to punt. Pace added a 13-yard touchdown run with 3:11 left in the game.