GULF SHORES — The Gulf Shores Dolphins hosted the Spanish Fort Toros in what would be a battle for pride and then some as the game went back-and-forth before a dramatic 24-19 ending in favor of Gulf Shores. 

The importance of the win was not lost on Dolphins head coach Mark Hudspeth. 

“It was a big game for both teams, and especially for us,” Hudspeth said. “We told our kids that the playoffs started tonight. So, we took it as a playoff game and our kids just prepared, played together tonight, and we played well in all three phases.” 

Gulf Shores not only looked to stay in the playoff race, but also to avenge an astonishing 16-game losing streak to Spanish Fort. The 2006 game was the Dolphins’ only win in series history before Friday night. 

“That’s a good feeling,” Hudspeth said of snapping the streak. “Of course you know they’re an outstanding program. Good coaches, good players, so it was just a big win tonight at home in front of our crowd.” 

Gulf Shores’ Elijah Malone stopped the Toros’ first drive with an interception in the first minute of the game, but the Dolphins failed to capitalize. It was running back Justin “JuJu” Bonner of Spanish Fort who struck first with a powerful 15-yard touchdown run through Gulf Shores’ defense, and the Toros had the first lead at 7-0. 

A 28-yard pass from Dolphins quarterback Jud Harris to wide receiver Daynton Duke set up an eventual 33-yard field goal from Taylor Barkley. Gulf Shores trailed 7-3 with 1:25 to go in the first quarter. 

A three and out for Spanish Fort then proved disastrous, as the ball was snapped over the punter’s head deep in Toros territory. The Dolphins would get the ball on the 12-yard line, and tight end Nick Hampton would give Gulf Shores a 10-7 lead. 

That lead was short-lived, as Bonner ran almost untouched for 62 yards on the first play of the next drive to score a touchdown. The extra point was no good, and the score was 13-10 in favor of Spanish Fort. 

A pair of passes to wide receiver Darrion Kirksey moved the ball 22 yards, but Harris decided to finish it with his legs. Zigzagging around the defense, Harris burst out for a 33-yard touchdown run to give the Dolphins the lead again at 17-13. 

The Toros were determined to flip the scoreboard once again, and they drove all the way down to the Gulf Shores 7-yard line. On 4th-and-1, the Dolphins put an end to Spanish Fort’s advances for the time being forcing a turnover on downs. 

The Toros’ luck didn’t turn around to start the second half. On what would’ve been 4th-and-15, a call for roughing the passer backed Spanish Fort up to their own 26-yard line. That drive would set up a 6-yard touchdown by running back Janoy Ferguson, and Gulf Shores would finally take a two-score lead at 24-13. 

A long drive from the Toros ran off ultimately more clock than they could afford, but the result was a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback JJ Thibodeaux to wide receiver Mason Edwards. The Dolphins led 24-19 with less than a quarter left of play. 

A failed two-point conversion followed and would shake the beehive that is the Spanish Fort faithful. Gulf Shores stopped the try and celebrated over Thibodeaux too much for the Toros’ liking, and the booing would seldom stop for the rest of the game. 

The Dolphins ran the clock down to just 15 seconds, and the game ended with Thibodeaux being sacked. 

Gulf Shores (3-4, 3-2 in 6A Region 1) will travel to Theodore — who is undefeated in regional play and fresh off a bye week — on Oct. 17. Spanish Fort (4-4, 3-3 in 6A Region 1) will get a bye week of their own before traveling to McGill-Toolen on Oct. 24.