Spring Football Action

Three of the county’s four varsity football programs took part in Spring Football action this past week. The Graceville Tigers squared off against Holmes County last Friday night for one half of football and came away with a 14-7 win over the Blue Devils. The Tigers posted two scores in the first quarter to take a 14-0 lead. Leron Hoover scored on a 5 yard run and Justin Miles scored on a quarterback keeper. Holmes County managed a score late in the second quarter to make the final 14-7 in Graceville’s favor.
The Cottondale Hornets traveled to Liberty County on Tuesday night and found the going rough. The Hornets and Bulldogs played four 8 minute quarters with the Bulldogs coming out on top 21-0.
The Marianna Bulldogs headed south to Blountstown on Tuesday night and took on Port St. Joe for one half and then Blountstown for one half. The Bulldogs took an early lead against the Sharks as Dustin Larkin hit R.J. Bowers on a 11 yard pass for a score with 5:43 left in the first quarter. That score was set up by a 30 yard run by Bradley Battles. The extra point attempt was no good so the Bulldog lead stood at 6-0. A Bulldog drive late in the first quarter saw Quan Boykin pick up 16 yards and Battles pick up 20 yards. The drive ended, however, early in the second quarter when the Sharks picked off a Bulldog pass in the end zone. Port St. Joe took advantage of the Bulldogs heavy substitutions and marched down the field. With 8 minutes to play the Sharks took an 8-6 lead with a touchdown and two point pass play. Marianna had another possession but could not mount a scoring drive. Port St. Joe added a last second score to make the final 14-6.
In the second half of action Marianna once again jumped out to an early lead. On the first play from scrimmage Battles ripped off a 70 yard scoring jaunt. Fidel Montgomery added a two point run to make it an 8-0 lead. Moments later Boykin scooped up a Blountstown fumble and raced 65 yards for another Bulldog score. The extra point attempt failed but Marianna led 14-0. The Tigers got on the scoreboard with four minutes to play in the first quarter to trail 14-7. The Bulldogs put the half away with a 5 yard touchdown run by Kevin Lockhart with just under four minutes remaining to play. The final went Marianna’s way by a score of 22-7.
The Sneads Pirates, under new Head Coach Don Dowling, will conclude their spring practice season with a Blue & Gold game Friday night at Citizen’s Field starting at 7 pm. See next week’s Times for a complete wrap up and pictures of that inner squad contest.