Gulf Breeze used three defensive touchdowns to sink the Navarre Raiders 38-26 in the 2021 Beach Bowl.
Story by Near Post Sports
The Dolphins (7-3) now await their postseason match in the 6A classification, which will come out around 2 p.m. Sunday.
This end-piece victory removes the question mark about their season, which opened with five straight wins, then stumbled with losses to West Florida, Pine Forest, and Escambia.
In total Friday night, the Dolphins defense took away two interceptions and three fumbles.
“Their offensive line did a great job throughout the night. I knew if they dropped back long enough we would get to the quarterback,” Gulf Breeze linebacker Andrew Thorn said. “He fumbled the ball a little bit, and we got on top of it.”
One of those fumble “scoop and scores” was Thorn’s.
Honestly, Navarre’s offense was clicking.
Hunter Pfiester was connecting with his receivers, which opened up holes for the running backs. Chris DeCorte scored a rushing touchdown in the first quarter. Terence Marshall scored twice in the second half, including a kickoff return going almost the entire length of the field. And Derek Percivalle hauled in a TD pass.
Defensively, the Raiders gave up very little on the ground — limiting Troy Coughlin’s upfield gains. Battle Alberson and his corps of receivers kept the ball moving, including a 25-yard touchdown to Carson Hepworth and an 81-yard scoring strike to Bryson Rouillier. But Alberson also got picked off by Jadan Moon.
“It was electric. You love to be in a game like this,” said Navarre defensive lineman Lemmy Wilson. “Obviously, turnovers cost us, but we stayed in the game. I can’t be mad at the process.”
Navarre ends the season with a 5-4 record, which is its lowest team record since the 5-5 season of 2011.
All photos © 2021 by Stu Camp can be purchased in high resolution at https://stuartcamp.smugmug.com/
