Vikings blank undermanned Dolphins
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Photo by B.J. Rotolo Michael Mann went 10-for- 20 for 72 yards and an interception in his first varsity start Monday.

A short handed Dolphin football team put up a good fight, but lost 28-0 Monday at Fort Walton. The game was postponed due to threatening weather in the area Friday.

"The kids played with a lot of heart - a lot of character," coach Chris Nemith said. "The ones that didn't play were coaching the kids up, giving them watermelon...they handled it with a lot of class."

The 'ones' in question - 16 in all, many of them starters - were suspended for the game for violating team policy. They will all be eligible to play in Friday's game at Catholic.

"They're the same old Catholic," coach Chris Nemith said. "They're athletic, physical and play real good technique."

The game will be the home opener for the Crusaders, who hammered West Florida Tech 56-27 Monday at the old Woodham High School. It was also their first win of the season after starting 0-3.

The suspensions allowed the coaching staff to see a lot of new faces, including quarterback Michael Mann. The freshman was 10-for-20 passing for 72 yards and an interception. Six of his passes went to Alex Duntz, who finished with seven catches for 45 yards.

Photo by B.J. Rotolo Jeff White is tackled after making the first of his two interceptions Monday at Fort Walton.

Rhys Rinke, who finished with 29 yards rushing on 15 carries, had 18 of them in the first three plays. Duntz caught two passes in the first drive, which ended on a turnover on downs.

The Vikings scored on its first offensive possession, with Luke Barnes' 17-yard pass to Felton Payton ending the seven-play drive. The extra point made it 7-0 with 5:28 left in the first quarter..

The two teams traded punts three times before Jeff White intercepted the first of his two passes. Mann found Cuyler Snyder for 13 yards on third and seven before the Dolphins punted four plays later.

Two plays later, Matt Coffee scored from 13 yards out. The PAT made it 14-0 with 4:25 left in the first half.

The Vikings recovered the onside kick, but White intercepted a Barnes pass in the end zone four plays later.

The Dolphins stopped the Vikings deep in their own territory on their next drive, but would score their next touchdown by blocking an Austin Santiago punt in the end zone with 5.3 seconds left in the first half. The PAT made it 21-0 at the half.

Jason Pendergraph forced a Viking fumble four plays into the second half, with teammate E.J. Troup recovering.

Gulf Breeze would turn the ball over on downs four plays later, which led to the Vikings' final score with 7:12 left in the third quarter. Coffee scored from five yards out after Barnes scrambled for 11 yards on third and seven the play before.

The Dolphins, who had only 26 yards of offense after their opening drive, went on two drives of eight plays or more the final quarter and a half.

The first one ended after Snyder, after hauling in a 17-yard pass, had the ball ripped from him, with the Vikings recovering.

Ben Lively quarterbacked the final series, completing passes to Philip Hoffman, Duntz and Anthony Kolokouris before being picked off with 2:07 left in the game.