Bay ready for Arnold

PANAMA CITY - Cliff's Notes of Bay's 20-0 preseason kickoff classic loss to King Kekaulike of Hawaii would read something like this: The Chiefs dented Bay's 20 four times and scored three touchdowns. The Tornadoes drove to Kekaulike's 8, 10 and 17 and came away without a point.

Otherwise, Bay outgained its opponent by 15 yards. It was done in, largely, by two big plays by the Chiefs, a 32-yard run on a fake punt and 56-yard interception return, both setting up first-and-goal inside the 5. Also noteworthy were punts of 61 and 56 yards that helped turn field position against the Tornadoes, and Bay averaging 23 yards on four punts.

The regular-season opener against Arnold 7 p.m. Friday at Tommy Oliver Stadium is not so much a chance for atonement as it is an opportunity for Bay to get back on task.

Six turnovers last week, three fumbles and three interceptions, could be the byproduct of playing a first game against a team that already had played one.

"We're new everywhere on offense and it showed last week," Bay coach Mike Healey said. "Actually we got some things going and had opportunities, but couldn't hold onto the ball and maintain possession."

Healey said Bay's spread attack on offense during the first half was more geared to a much larger Hawaii opponent than emblematic of a new philosophical approach.

He said the Tornadoes will use the spread "when necessary," but aren't necessarily committed to a new strategy.

Defensively, Healey hopes to see more of the same Friday as he did in the classic. Noseguard T.J. Hewitt, a converted defensive end, made 14 tackles, including three for loss, and inside linebacker Dorian Bell had 15 stops against the Chiefs.

"I thought we played pretty well, I was happy with the defensive team," Healey said. "We played just about as good as we could play for an opening ballgame against a pretty good team."

"(Hewitt) likes being in a spot where he can make tackles, and Tracy Craft on the other side of the ball had a particularly good game. We think he has some possibilities to do some things" as revealed by his 83 yards rushing on 10 carries.

Ball security, how the young Tornadoes respond to a county rivalry game and the challenge of correcting mistakes made last week should be key against Arnold, looking for its first win in the short series between the schools.

"They're a veteran football team, a lot of seniors, and like I said last week we've gotta get better from week to week," Healey stressed. "Some of our young guys have to grow up. They're (Arnold) very physical, their quarterback manages the offense very well and both running backs can break it."

"Our kids realize that was their opening ballgame" last Friday, "and they had chances to make a play and hold onto the ball. We just have to limit the number of errors, and that's where teaching comes in."