Dolphin JV loses lead, game to West Florida
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

The West Florida junior varsity football team scored 26 unanswered points over the final 12 minutes to rally past Gulf Breeze 34- 23 Thursday at the old Woodham High School.

The game put the GBHS ninth grade team on the field for the odd number quarters and the junior varsity for the even number quarters.

The ninth grade offense didn't much time on the field in the opening quarter as the Jaguars grinded out an 18-play, 80-yard drive to open the game. The drive, which ate up 7:41 of the first quarter, included a fourth-down conversion run and two on third down, including the four-yard touchdown. The try for two made it 8-0.

A 15-yard run by Eric Adams and a nineyard scramble by Brandon Sorenson put the JV in Jaguar territory to start the second quarter. Five plays later, Mario Villegas scored from 13 yards out. Danny Gibble's extra point made it 8-7 with 7:47 left in the first half.

The ensuing kickoff bounced back to Gulf Breeze, with Casey Meredith recovering. But Gulf Breeze turned it back over on downs four plays later.

Casey Moore intercepted a West Florida pass six plays later, leading to a 13-yard touchdown pass from Ben Lively to Adam Woods. The PAT failed, making the score 12-8 with 22 seconds left.

Nicky Schumacher recovered a fumble on the following kickoff. Four plays later, Gibble made a 30-yard field goal as time expired, making ti 16-8 at the half.

The two teams traded punts to open the second half before Adams scored on a 53- yard run with 5:28 left in the third quarter. Gibble's PAT made it 23-8.

But a pair of turnovers - one on a fumble on a kickoff and an interception for a touchdown - allowed the Jaguars to rally for the victory.

The Dolphins, with Thomas Dorsey at quarterback and Lively at a receiver spot, marched more than 70 yards in the final 1:15. But Dorsey, who completed three passes to Lively in the final drive, was stopped three yards short of the end zone as time expired. Dorsey had runs of 15 and nine yards in the drive.

The GBHS JV and ninth grade teams host Milton tonight, starting with the JV at 5 p.m. before taking two weeks off before their season finale against PHS on Nov. 1.