The 2009 Football Rewind: District 1-3A (See Archives, Photos, Standings)
District 1-3A had a Bay County flavor.
Rivals Arnold, Bay and Rutherford were placed into the seven-team grouping. The district crown and the Class 3A state championship ultimately went to Pensacola High, leaving the rest of the team scrambling for the runner-up spot.
Arnold and Bay were mired in bouts of inconsistency. Rutherford, with strong senior leadership, was the remaining Bay County team alive and challenging for a playoff spot.
The Rams were 6-4 overall under electrifying quarterback Cordarryl Rogers. They were 5-2 in the district, but an early-season meeting with Choctawhatchee told their tale.
The Indians won 33-14 in what was one of Rutherford’s worst games of the season. The Rams finished 5-1. but the loss gave Choctawhatchee, at 6-1 in the district, second place and a playoff spot. The Indians lost to Jacksonville Andrew Jackson 42-7 in the first round of the regional playoffs.
It was the last season for longtime coach Greg Rivers, who announced his retirement at the end of last school year. Jeff Rolson took over at Rutherford.
Frank Sorrells also entered the scene as a “new” coach. The former Niceville mentor took over at Bay and helped the Tornadoes improve from a winless 2009 season.
Bay entered the final two weeks with a 4-4 mark. However, the Tornadoes lost big to Pensacola and Choctaw, as both those teams were eyeing playoff bids and finished 4-6 overall and 3-4 in the district.
Arnold also started out with promise, winning its first four games. The Marlins lost six straight and finished 2-5 in the district.
The season wasn’t without highlights. Talented running back Jeremy Hester finished his career with a Bay-County record of more than 5,000 rushing yards.
Next week: Two entries will focus on District 2-1A and 2-4A as the 2009 Football Rewind concludes.
The 2009 Football Rewind schedule
- July 13: District 1-1A
- July 20: District 1-1B and 1-2B
- July 27: District 1-3A
- Aug. 3: District 2-1A
- Aug. 6: District 2-4A
