Mosley concentrates on non-district Fort Walton Beach

Mosley's offense versus Fort Walton Beach's defense has all the trappings of a classic confrontation.

Of course Friday's Class 4A collision between two accomplished teams will be decided by all facets of the game, but it's hard not to focus on what will take place when the Dolphins (5-2) have the football.

Thus far they have been held under 30 points only twice, and then to 28 and 24 in their lone defeats. Meanwhile the Vikings (6-1) have surrendered just 41 points in seven games, and no more than 14 to any opponent.

"It looks to be" the biggest challenge for Mosley's run-first attack, Coach Perry Brown said. "They're very athletic on defense. One defensive lineman is a Division I prospect (Akeem Spence), and a linebacker (Rashad Smith) is a Division I prospect.

"They got a lot of size, got speed. We were able to hang 27 on them last year, but I don't know. We'll have to play a good game."

Both teams are coming off district losses, the Vikings 14-13 at Crestview. Mosley, however, likely is out of the playoff picture, and how the Dolphins respond Friday could be critical.

"Practices have been good, the attitude has been good, our kids just love playing the game," Brown said. "The two games we lost were district games and that's unfortunate. We just know we're going to have to plan an A game in order to beat these folks."

Mosley has been unstoppable at times with running backs Tristen McCathern and Justin Broxton running free. The 5-foot-7 McCathern has 971 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns and Broxton has 870 and nine. Freshmen Eddie Williams stepped in when senior quarterback Chase Graves was injured and adds six TDs.

"He had a great year last year, as he's had every year from JV and coming up with us," Brown said of McCathern. "He's just a natural, and an overachiever with his size and all. He's just a ballplayer and can do a lot of things."

Brown is aware that success on offense is doubly important in that Fort Walton Beach has a potent passing attack and the Dolphins have been susceptible to passing offenses. Junior quarterback Luke Barnes has completed 109 of 173 attempts for 1,276 yards, 11 TDs and just one interception.

"We're going to have to be able to try to control it on offense and keep it out of their hands," Brown said. "Being a passing team they have quick-strike capabilities. We need to eat up some clock."

Mosley again will be without Graves and defensive back Sam Bland, but cornerback Ethan Davis is expected to return relieving wingback Jabbar Manning of some duties on defense.

Elsewhere: Northview (2-5) is at Marianna (6-1), Jay (3-2, 4-3) is at a Wewahitchka (2-3, 3-4) team trying to reach .500 is a 1-1A game, district-leading West Gadsden County (5-0, 6-2) travels to Franklin County (0-5, 0-7) in 1-1A, Port St. Joe (4-1, 5-2) has a key 1-1A showdown at Freeport (3-2, 4-3), the Tiger Sharks trying to take another step toward the postseason, Liberty County (2-3, 3-4) is at Sneads (1-4, 3-5) in 1-1A, Holmes County (0-2, 1-7) travels to South Walton (1-1, 5-2) in a 1-2B contest critical to the Seahawks' playoff hopes, Graceville (1-1, 5-2) tries to get back on track in 1-1B at Aucilla Christian (1-1, 2-4), Chipley (0-1, 0-7) still has 2-2B aspirations at Blountstown (0-2, 1-6), Baker (3-0, 5-2) could clinch the 1-2B title at Vernon (1-1, 3-4) and Eagle Nest (4-4) hosts Dawson Street Academy.