Dolphins team up for Tornadoes
LYNN HAVEN — As the cliché goes, there is no “I” in team. If two senior starters on Mosley’s junior class-dominated football team are any indication, there ain’t no “me,” either.
Quarterback Chase Smith and defensive lineman Nick Petrie sounded Wednesday as though they attend the same Humility 101 class. The Dolphins (1-0) are preparing for their annual grudge match with Bay (1-0) 7 p.m. Friday at Tommy Oliver Stadium, and judging by a sampling of their upperclassmen, are a selfless bunch this season.
Smith completed all three of his passes against North Florida Christian in a season-opening 48-13 romp last week. Two of them went for touchdowns.
When asked whether he got more satisfaction from a well-orchestrated scoring drive or a TD pass, Smith was quick to respond.
“Definitely leading the team down the field,” said Smith, who is in his third season as a starter.
“A touchdown is a touchdown,” Petrie added when Smith’s response was met with mock surprise.
“A touchdown is a touchdown,” Smith repeated.
In addition to the forward passes, Smith completed about 20 pitchouts against NFC as the Dolphins tweaked their misdirection Wing-T in an attempt to get their backs to the edge. It enabled Mosley to compile 399 yards rushing.
“The toss-pitch does help that,” Smith said, “and they’re not going to expect the inside run as well.”
With head coach Perry Brown directing the offense, the Dolphins like to pound and trap fullback Jackson Platt while Deric Carter leads a fleet of wingbacks who excel at sweeps and cutbacks. Smith has enough experience to get a feel for when a pass will surprise the defense and pay dividends.
“Oh yes, most times I can tell it’s going to be open, the play fake drawing the safety up,” Smith said.
Does he suggest that to Brown when he goes to the sideline?
“I say it, but he doesn’t get it much,” Smith said.
Just as impressive as Mosley’s offensive numbers last week was the play of a defense that has been a liability much of the past two seasons. The Dolphins forced five punts and a turnover in the opener, and allowed only one scoring drive until the Eagles got a late touchdown during running clock against mostly reserves.
Petrie is one of only two senior starters on defense. His attitude reflected that when it comes to the futility of 2009, where Mosley lost five consecutive games and finished 4-5, the Dolphins have the short-term memory of a cornerback or a closer in baseball.
“We just let last season go,” he said of discarding it as a motivational tool. “Our whole defense steps up, there isn’t just a single guy leading the team.
“We’re a lot more of a family. We click better. We don’t have a lot of standout players, we’re just a group of guys that likes to hit.”
Mosley leads the Bay series 21-12, but three of the last four meetings have been decided by four points or less. Brown is aware that the pass-oriented Tornadoes are likely to come after the Dolphins’ inexperienced secondary.
Mosley allowed four pass plays of 20 or more yards against NFC, but two of them were screens and the other two outstanding plays by Eagles wide receiver Travis Blanks.
“Yeah, we needed that to get some looks at what we can and can’t do,” Brown said. “The kids did a pretty good job covering the pass the other night, but then the Bay quarterback (Kevin Husum) can run, too.”
