GULF SHORES - The Gulf Shores Dolphins blanked the B.C. Rain Red Raiders

33-0 on Friday night before a home crowd at Mickey Miller Blackwell

Stadium. The contest proved to be a game decided by special teams as the

Dolphins managed to score four touchdowns on 131 yards of total offense

during the first half. Gulf Shores finished with 215 yards overall,

rushing 168 yards on 40 carries. Quarterback Gary Johnston played in his

usual ground attack mode managing 126 yards on 17 carries, while

completing 2 of 5 passes for 47 yards. The Red Raiders were held to 158

yards total offense, accumulating 103 yards rushing on 36 carries and 55

passing yards while going 8 for 20 on completions. The Dolphins won the

coin toss but elected to defer possession until the second half. “We

decided to defer because we knew their special teams weren’t as good as

[that of other teams] we’ve seen this year,” Gulf Shores coach Duane Davis

said. “We figured that if we could force them to punt a couple of times

early in the game we’d do well playing with great field position.” B.C.

Rain began at its 20-yard line after the opening kickoff and would put

together a first down before ultimately being forced to punt away from the

22. The Dolphins’ first drive of the game would begin at the Red Raiders’

40-yard line after the 18-yard punt. Johnston moved the ball to the 8-yard

line on two keepers of 27 and 5 yards. The third play of the drive saw

Josh Reeves take the ball in for a touchdown with 7:09 remaining in the

first quarter. The extra point attempt fell no good after bouncing off the

left goal post. Following the kickoff, B.C. Rain took over at its own

9-yard line and would only reach the 15 before having to punt again. Oddly

enough the ball would land at the 20 but take a Gulf Shores bounce and

stop on the 14. The Dolphins would extend their lead with 4:06 left in the

opening period off a 6-yard touchdown run on fourth down by Bernard

Nesbitt. The successful extra point by Kevin Kelso held by Marcus Tino

made the score 13-0. The Red Raiders would yet again begin their next

drive deep in their own territory at the 15-yard line. They managed to

move the ball out to the 28-yard line on carries of 11 and 2 yards.

However, a fumble caused by Gulf Shores’ Nicholas Lenard recovered by the

offense would result in a 13-yard loss. An incomplete pass on third down

sent B.C. Rain’s punting unit to the field yet again with the ball at the

15-yard line. The Dolphins took over possession at the Red Raiders’

42-yard line and reached the end zone on a single play off a connection

between Johnston and Ross Davis. Gulf Shores jumped to a 20-0 lead after

Kelso’s successful extra point held by Tino. B.C. Rain began from their

25-yard line and would reach the 49 before having to punt. A botched snap

that sailed over the punter’s head gave the Dolphins possession at the

19-yard line. They would move the ball to the 16 and send Kelso to the

field on fourth down for a 33-yard field goal attempt that was blocked.

The Red Raiders took over at their own 33-yard line following a return on

the block. They would be forced to punt without picking up a first down

and another botched snap gave Gulf Shores the ball at the B.C. Rain 14.

Johnston gained 11 yards with a first down keeper and optioned to Nesbitt

on the second play of the drive for a touchdown with 5:24 remaining before

the half. The Kelso extra point gave the Dolphins a 27-0 advantage that

would remain until the fourth quarter. Gulf Shores’ final points came with

9:50 left in the game, courtesy of a 2 -yard David Rodriguez touchdown

carry that capped a 69-yard drive. The Red Raiders (0-7) (0-5 5A Region 1)

will host St. Paul’s Episcopal next week. The Dolphins (4-3) (2-3 5A

Region 1) will travel to Prichard to face the Vigor Wolves who entered

Friday (4-2) (3-1 5A Region 1) and tied for second place in Region 1.

“We’ve got to look at where we’re at with some of our key players that

were injured tonight, but next week we’re playing a team with great speed

with our backs against the wall and our kids will be ready to play,” Davis

said.