Arnold wins battle of marine mascots
Dolphins still control playoff destiny despite 31-17 loss to Marlins
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

B.J. Rotolo/Special to the News Shane Dorlag (12) looks for room to run in the second half of the Dolphins' 31-17 loss to Arnold Friday.

Coach Chris Nemith felt like his team was prepared and felt good about their chances before their District 1-3A clash with Arnold Friday.

He was anything but good afterwards as the Marlins hit the Dolphins on three big scoring plays to beat the Dolphins 31- 17 at Dolphin Stadium.

"It wasn't that we did anything wrong (in our scheme), we just didn't make plays," Nemith said.

Nemith and the Dolphins hoped that their scheduled would have them battle tested and ready to go Friday. But it was breakdowns in all three facets of the game that proved to be too much to overcome.

The offense only converted 5-for-15 third down opportunities, with two of those conversions happening late in the game. One of the others came off an Arnold penalty.

The defense gave up a pair of long touchdown runs in the first half, while the special teams gave up several big returns, including one for a touchdown.

"There are no small parts (i.e. special teams) in a game of this magnitude. Especially where we could've clinched a playoff berth," Nemith said.

Despite the loss, the 2-6 Dolphins can still get into the playoffs with a win next week at Pensacola High.

"I'm not throwing in the towel," Nemith said. "I'm going to do everything I can to give us a chance to get into the playoffs."

The Marlins, who have played only one 4A school this year to the Dolphins' five, took a 6-0 lead a minute, 10 seconds into the game.

Jeremy Hester, who had 228 yards rushing on 15 carries, broke through the line, cut to his right, and raced 60 yards for a touchdown.

The extra point was no good, making the score 6-0 with 10:50 left in the first quarter.

Justin Hurd, who ran for 120 yards (on a sore ankle), was stopped short of a first down, forcing a Dolphin punt.

The Marlins would add a 37-yard field goal with 6:12 left in the first quarter.

Kyle Schnackenberg, who had 67 yards on 14 carries, along with Hurd, had three consecutive double digit yard gains to start their next drive. But the drive would stall as the Dolphins turned it over on downs.

Photo courtesy of Athletesfeatsphotography.com Playing hurt Despite a sore ankle, Justin Hurd had 120 yards on 18 carries Friday.

After forcing an Arnold punt, Gulf Breeze put its first points on the board - a 35-yard field goal by Thomas Farmer. Hurd had a run inside the Arnold 15, but a holding penalty pushed the Dolphins back, settling for the field goal.

Arnold would answer with another long touchdown run from Hester, this one from 71 yards out on the first play after the kickoff. The try for two made it 17-3 with 4:22 left in the second quarter.

Arnold, who missed a field goal late in the first half, forced a Dolphin punt after GBHS picked up one first down. The Marlins didn't need a long run from Hester this time as Dominic Peace fielded the punt, shook off several Dolphin tacklers as he scored on an 80-yard punt return.

The PAT with 9:24 left in the third quarter made it 24-3.Schnackenberg fumbled on the Dolphins first play of their next drive, but the defense would get the ball back on downs four plays later.

The teams traded punts before Gulf Breeze found the end zone. After Schnackenberg and Hurd both had double digit yard gainers to open the drive, a personal foul call pushed the ball back to the Arnold 20.

Four plays later, on fourth down, Schnackenberg found Stuart Franklin in the end zone on a 19-yard pass.

Farmer's PAT made it 24-10 with 10:52 left in the game.

But the Marlins would go on a 10-play drive after the kickoff, with Chris Jackson scoring from five yards out. The PAT made it 30-10 with 5:36 left.

The Marlins picked off a Schnackenberg pass on the next series, but would go three plays before punting back.

GBHS went on an eight-play scoring drive, with Hurd scoring from two yards out with 2:35 left in the game. Farmer's PAT was good.

Cody Warford, who had two catches in the game, left the game after being hit late after a catch on the scoring drive. X-rays proved his leg wasn't broken.

Jason Pendergraph recovered the onside kick, but a chop block and a holding penalty forced a first and 37. They turned it over on downs four plays later.

The Dolphins are idle this week. PHS plays Tate Friday before hosting the Dolphins net Friday.