BY Janet Schrader, Democrat Reporter

Head Football Coach Jay Walls said Gulf Breeze would be fired up and running on emotion. Well, they took that emotion and translated it into a lead at half-time. But the Bulldogs hunkered down and fought back, winning the second half and the game, 24-18.



The Gulf Breeze Dolphins did not come to town alone. They brought an enormous band and four busloads of fans The visitor side of Langford Stadium was packed–standing room only. The sidelines were busy too as the team’s mascot (a dolphin naturally) and a guy in shorts and a T-shirt painted half yellow and half blue raced up and down the field urging the fans to cheer–which they did.



Until the Suwannee fans got warmed up, figuratively speaking because the temperatures hovered around 50 degrees, they out-cheered Dog supporters and made twice as much noise.

But Suwannee’s fans joined the game emotionally about the second quarter and made the stands rock and roll, pounding their feet and chanting. The support eventually won the day for the Dogs. They came back in the second half, dominated and took the win.



The Dogs won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. On the second play of the game, the Dogs hammered the Dolphins, forcing a fumble. #50 Eric Wright recovered and the Dogs had the ball on the 43, but it was a short-lived possession. The Dogs turned right around, fumbled and Gulf Breeze recovered.



Neither team scored early in the first period, both feeling each other out, testing out plays and after the fumbles, playing it safe. The game broke open when Brandon “Petey” Lovett snatched the punt return and ran it 88 yards for the first score of the game. The point-after kick was no good and with two minutes left in the first period, the Dogs had taken a 6-0 lead.



But Gulf Breeze came storming back. The Dolphins quarterback made a long pass that was complete for the touchdown in the first minutes of the second period. The Dolphins made a successful 2-point conversion and just like that the lead switched and the Dolphins were up 6-8.

It seemed like the Dogs were cursed. They couldn’t move the ball on the ground. Bernard Williams made several short gains but couldn’t turn the corner and couldn’t get by the Gulf Breeze defense.



The Dolphins scored again with 8:13 left in the half and the score went to 6-15 Gulf Breeze.

Suwannee came back in their next possession determined to score. Williams got away and made a first down. Patrick Cherry made a good catch and another first down for the Dogs on the Dolphin 32. Williams drove his way for another first down to the eight-yard line. But the first of many questionable penalties sent the Dogs reeling back to the 29.



It was first down and 29. Logan Hall, Suwannee’s quarterback, tossed one to the outside to #14 Michael White. White caught the ball and almost made the first down. But the Dogs’ drive failed, and Timmy Smith came out to try a field goal from 26 yards. The field goal was good and Suwannee caught up a little. With 4:18 left in the half, it was 9-15.



The Dog defense began to get tough. #33 Nick Beck and #50 Eric Wright caught the Dolphin quarterback and hammered him. Wright made another great tackle of the Dolphin runner deep in the back field, and Gulf Breeze was looking at a fourth and 21 situation. That’s when the Suwannee fans woke up and began helping the Dogs.



On the Dolphins next possession, their offense tried to confuse the Dog defense with a bunch of trick plays. Suwannee’s coaching staff sent in faster, light #30 Sebastian Brown. Brown tore around the outside and hammered the Dolphin quarterback from the rear. The Gulf Breeze team looked to be in a huge hole but the refs fixed that with another questionable call that gave the Dolphins a first down. But half-time arrived before the Dolphins could capitalize on their good fortune. The score at the half was 9-15, Gulf Breeze.



The Bulldogs received after the half. But the Dog drive fizzled, and Logan Hall came out to punt.

The fans and the Suwannee “D” were fired up. Greg Gabey got a big lick in the Dolphin back field. Then Eric Wright made a good tackle, hammering the Dolphins for more lost yards. When #6 Delwyn Allen sacked the quarterback, the Dolphins were faced with fourth and 15.



The Dog offense was fired up as well. Williams made a seven-yard gain. Patrick Webb caught a Hall pass for another gain and a first down. Williams gained eight more. In a third and three situation, Patrick Cherry made a great first-down catch. the Dogs were on the move. It was Bruce Johnson, who caught the touchdown pass. Johnson caught the long Hall pass and scampered away from the crowd to tack on six more points for the Dogs. With 4:53 left in the third, the Dogs were up 16-15. But a one-point lead in this game meant nothing. The Dog defense came out determined to hold the lead.



Gulf Breeze was determined as well. They began a drive from the 20-yard line. Once again it was Eric Wright making great tackles, along with Ronnie Plummer, Delwyn Allen and Jerome Carter. Plummer and Carter sacked the Dolphin’s quarterback and Gulf Breeze had to punt.



But the Dogs gave up an interception in the next series halting a good drive. The Bulldog defense held the Dolphins off, though they had the ball in the red zone. Gulf Breeze was forced to bring out the field goal team. The Dolphin field goal was good and with 2:06 left in the third, Suwannee was down again. This time 16-18.



Suwannee did not give up. On the first play of their next drive, Patrick Cherry made an incredible catch and ran the ball home for a big Suwannee touchdown. Hall took the ball into the end zone for the two-point conversion and the Dogs had the lead. With 11 minutes left in the game the score was 24-18.



The Dog defense came out and stopped the Dolphins cold. No more scores were made in the game. The Dogs had the ball at the end, and Logan Hall took a knee to run out the clock.

The final score was 24-18 Dogs. The Bulldogs held Gulf Breeze to a single field goal in the second half. This win makes it eight in a row for Suwannee and sends their record to 8-3 for the season.

Hall passed for 12 of 22 and a season-high 283 yards and two touchdowns.



Patrick Cherry made seven pass receptions for 156 yards and one TD.



Bruce Johnson made three receptions for 87 yards and one TD.



Petey Lovett made his first touchdown ever off a punt return, and Timmy Smith kicked a field goal.



The First Federal Offensive Player of the Game was Patrick Cherry with seven receptions, the most beautiful catch and run down the field anyone has ever seen for a touchdown and 156 passing yards.



Delwyn Allen was First Federal’s Defensive Player of the Game. Allen was all over the Dolphin quarterback in the second half playing an integral part in controlling the Gulf Breeze offense.



The Dogs will take on Raines Friday night. Raines defeated Bishop Kenny 42-7 to move up to the second round of the playoffs. That game will be in the Dog House Friday night. Kick-off will be at 7:30 p.m. Go Dogs!



Janet Schrader may be reached by calling 1/386/362-1734 ext. 132 or by e-mail at janet.schrader@gaflnews.com.