SPANISH FORT, Ala. – “This is a new season we have here,” Coach Bryant Vincent said to his players after Spanish Fort’s victory Friday night. “We need to decide what type of team we are.”

Spanish Fort (7-2, 4-2 5A Region 1) won’t begin a new season technically, but what Vincent means is Spanish Fort has qualified for the state playoffs. They did so after a 32-14 victory over region opponent Citronelle (3-6, 2-4).

The Wildcats hung for one quarter before Spanish Fort scored 17 second-quarter points en route to a strong performance on both sides of the ball.

Quarterback Ameriol Finley ran for 116 yards and two touchdowns, and he also threw for a touchdown to lead the Toros offensively.

Linebacker Blake Deese anchored the Spanish Fort defense against a Citronelle offense that managed around 200 yards of total offense and did not get on the scoreboard until only seconds remained in the third quarter.

Deese also made a big play in the second quarter, and Vincent thinks it may have swung momentum. The Toros led 9-0 in the second quarter and Citronelle had a fourth down and four from their own 33-yard line. The Wildcats went for the first down on an option play, but Deese got in the backfield and forced a fumble and an eight-yard loss to give Spanish Fort great field position. The Toros scored a touchdown two plays later to widen their lead to 16-0.

“They tried to run a speed option and Blake got in the backfield and made a play,” Vincent said. “Defensively, we came in with a great game plan and our players played very physical.”

The Toros forced three turnovers. Johnny Cook, Chris Beasley and Connor McGavin came away with an interception each for Spanish Fort.

Spanish Fort led 19-0 at halftime, and with the ball to start the third quarter, Finley hit wide receiver Adam Adcock on a 50-yard touchdown reception to give the Toros a 26-0 lead. Adcock had 94 yards receiving in the game.

The Wildcats finally got on the scoreboard after a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Logan Orso to wide receiver Elijah Pugh with 0:57 left in the third quarter.

Robert Creighton also pitched in offensively for Spanish Fort with a 34-yard field goal at the end of the first half. He also missed from 42 yards in the fourth quarter.

The special teams also got involved when Citronelle botched a punt snap in the first quarter and had to take a safety. The Toros took an early 2-0 lead and never looked back.

Spanish Fort goes on the road to play Carroll-Ozark Friday at 7 p.m.