GULF SHORES, Alabama – The Spanish Fort Toros fumbled away the opening kickoff deep in their own territory but that was the only blemish in a dominating 56-7 win over the Gulf Shores Dolphins on Friday at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium.

Spanish Fort senior quarterback Joel Poe completed 11-of-14 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns, all in the first half, as the Toros improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in Class 5A Region 1 play. Poe connected with Sammy Harris for three scores and hit Ed Autry on a 63-yard screen pass for a touchdown to give the Toros a 35-7 lead at the half. Autry also rushed for a touchdown in the first half.

“They had a great week of practice,” Spanish Fort head coach Mark Freeman said. “I was proud of the kids in the way that they brought their attention to the game tonight. It’s a region game, but you never know with high school kids what you are going to get. I couldn’t ask for any more. Our kids played absolutely with maximum effort tonight. They did the things we asked them to do.”

Spanish Fort fumbled the opening kickoff and Gulf Shores started at the Toro 28. On Gulf Shores’ first play from scrimmage Spanish Fort’s Kylan Cotton picked off Dolphin quarterback Parker Mason in the end zone. The Toros would drive 80 yards in five plays for the game’s first score on a Poe-to-Harris 46-yard touchdown pass. The Toros would score on their next four drives in the first half on two more Poe-to-Harris touchdown passes, Autry’s 2-yard rush and the Poe-to-Autry pass.

Gulf Shores head coach Ben Blackmon said his team had a hard time recovering after falling behind early.

“We got behind early, (Spanish Fort) has a potent offense and when you get behind on a team of that caliber it’s hard to play catch up. That’s not something we do, we aren’t great coming from behind. We had a chance early with the first play of the game with great field position but we turned it right back over to them. That’s on me. If I had it to do over I would do it differently, but it is what it is.”

In the second quarter Mason connected with Thrisstan Cornell for a 25-yard touchdown strike for the Dolphins’ only score.

Spanish Fort’s Matt Hall, Sammy Tolbert and Trey Shabel added rushing touchdowns for the Toros in the second half.

Spanish Fort visits Faith Academy next Friday while Gulf Shores (1-2, 0-2) visits St. Paul’s.