Arnold's Allen, Hughes shine in three-team jamboree

SAND HILLS — Arnold and Bozeman were full of positives on Thursday, while Port St. Joe was shown how far it needs to go this season.

The Marlins and Bucks defeated the Tiger Sharks in separate halves of a jamboree at Bozeman. The Bucks took advantage of turnovers for a 13-6 win. Arnold ran away with a 35-0 triumph.

Arnold shut out Bozeman 26-0 in the final half. (Click here for photos from the jamboree)

Bozeman 13, Port St. Joe 6

Bozeman capitalized on two PSJ turnovers to provide the final margin.

The first was Quincy Welch’s fumble on the initial series, setting the Bucks up at the Tiger Sharks’ 39. Bozeman needed six running plays to score, Isaiah Robbins taking an inside handoff the final 18 yards.

Bozeman pooched the ensuing kickoff and Natron Lee bobbled the ball to the Bucks. They went 43 yards in four plays with Jacob Martinez scoring on an 8-yard reverse for a 13-0 lead in the first quarter.

PSJ went 63 yards on 11 plays, capped by a 30-yard Calvin Pryor run and two pass interference penalties in the end zone. Pryor scored from 5 yards to give the Tiger Sharks their lone touchdown.

The Bucks gained 106 yards, all on the ground, with Zach Martinez leading the way with 48 yards rushing on six carries. Pryor had 55 of PSJ’s 61 total yards.

Arnold 35, Port St. Joe 0

Andre Allen and Jamari Hughes combined for four touchdowns and the Tigers Sharks again were bullied along the lines.

Allen scored three times, with jaunts of 59 and 52 yards in the first quarter. He also scored on a 19-yarder in the second quarter to give the Marlins a 28-0 cushion.

Allen led all rushers with 143 yards and the Marlins had 273 yards on the ground. Hughes scored on a 54-yarder in the first quarter and finished with 88 yards.

Port St. Joe totaled just 47 yards and failed to cross midfield.

“We definitely took our lumps in that one,” Port St. Joe coach Vern Barth said of his young team. “The first thing we need to work on is conditioning.

“We got physically tired and then that made us mentally tired. Our effort was there, but we just need to get our guys to keep working.”

Port St. Joe opens the regular season next week at Bay.

Arnold 26, Bozeman 0

The Marlins worked on their passing game more in this half, with Blake DeBoard completing three passes on the first drive, including a scoring strike of 20 yards to Robert Walker. DeBoard was 7 for 13 for 125 yards and two TDs.

Joseph Green corralled a second DeBoard TD with a leaping grab from 35 yards in the second quarter. Hughes also scored twice later in the second quarter.

“I’m really proud of the kids for coming back like this with the kinda season we had last year and all that losing,” Arnold coach James Hale said. “We never worked a team harder in the weight room and we’re so strong up front.”

Bozeman coach Loren Tillman said the young Bucks opened some eyes on Thursday.

“We felt that playing Port St. Joe was a good matchup cause we’re two young teams,” Tillman said. “But when we got up we slacked off and we also started strong against Arnold.

“Those times we slacked off are definitely things we can correct.”

Bozeman hosts Liberty County next week in its opener. Arnold is idle next week and travels to Amite County, Miss., for its opener Sept. 10.