GULF SHORES, Ala. — Week three of high school football was a test for both the Gulf Shores Dolphins and the Spanish Fort Toros. Both teams are trying to find an identity when it comes to offensive consistency. It did not help the Toros that their original starting quarterback, Wyatt Wilkinson, was injured in the first game of the season against McGill-Toolen.

Former Gulf Shores Dolphin, Rett Files, got the start for the Toros. Spanish Fort got the ball first and Files threw the ball to Jalen Wayne for 24 yards but the Dolphins’ defense forced a field goal out of the Toros early for a 3-0 score. After a three-and-out series from the Dolphins offense, the Toros fumbled their second possession that was recovered by Dolphins linebacker Hunter Wells.

The Toros got in the Dolphins’ backfield multiple times including a sack shared by Robert Vought and Austin Nail. Throughout the first and most of the second quarters, the Dolphins and the Toros could not drive the ball efficiently due to penalties and tight defensive coverage.

In the middle of the second quarter, Files threw two 20-plus yard throws to Wayne with one for a touchdown to make it 10-0. Gulf Shores got a chance after a failed onside-kick attempt by the Toros was recovered by the Dolphins. Even with quarterback Jackson Newman runs of five or more yards and a collection of penalties from the Toros’ defense, the Dolphins were held to a field goal kicked by Adam Callaghan (10-3). The first half ended with a Toros’ deep ball pass intercepted by Dolphins’ Josh McDaniel.

At halftime, there was a special ceremony for both the Gulf Shores and Spanish Fort community as the Gulf Shores Dolphins football team retired the jersey (No. 14) of former Dolphins quarterback Nathan Harris. Harris died April 30 after a motorcycle accident. Both Gulf Shores and Spanish Fort players wore a No. 14 patch on their helmets. Harris played under Spanish Fort head coach Ben Blackmon (then at Gulf Shores) and he holds multiple records set at Gulf Shores. His parents Johnny and Carol Harris, other loved ones, former coaches and former teammates were at midfield for the ceremony. After the halftime ceremony Johnny Harris said, “It’s a special tribute to him, it goes to his character and it goes to who he was.”

Blackmon added, “It’s a special night, Nathan has touched so many lives and I’m so blessed I got to be a small part of it.”

After halftime, the Dolphins recovered a Toros fumble but ,it didn’t take long for Spanish Fort to score with a 21-yard run by Holdan Wilson. That was followed by a 9-yard touchdown run to make the score the 17-3.

Newman connected with Brodie Wilkinson for an 18-yard Dolphins gain. But, on the same drive, Robert Vought stripped the ball LSU commit Justin Thomas recovered the for a 39-yard touchdown return to make the score 24-3.

The Dolphins finally got a touchdown on a Newman keeper for 3 yards with five minutes left in the third quarter. Files threw a 37-yard touchdown to Wayne to make the score 31-10. The Dolphins’ drive was cut short on a Thomas Johnston sack of 5 yards. Files found Wayne one more time with a 60-yard touchdown throw (his third) to end the third quarter 38-10.

In the fourth Armando Iverson recovered a fumble for SFHS. The Dolphins final offensive drive ended with a turnover on downs. The Toros then ran out the clock with the final score being 38-10.

The Dolphins (0-3) will be back next Friday at home against B.C Rain (2-0). The Spanish Fort Toros (2-1) will be at home against the Robertsdale Bears (0-3) next Friday.