The Elberta Warriors caught lightning in a bottle on one set of plays in their Class 5A Region 1 game against Gulf Shores in a contest that changed both time and location a day before it was scheduled.

Quarterback McCoy Cooper reared back and tossed an 82-yard strike to T.J. Harris, who fought his way down the Gulf Shores one-yard line. Coby Sawyer completed the lightning strike by plunging in from on the next play.

But on the night, the Dolphins had more firepower and provided a handful of lightning strikes to beat the Warriors, 49-6.

The game was originally scheduled for 7 p.m. on Oct. 8 and in Gulf Shores. Because of the looming Hurricane Isaias and a state of emergency in the coastal city, it was moved to Elberta and a 4 p.m. start.

The Dolphins brought the lightning with them early as Elijah Malone had a big return of the opening kickoff to his own 48. Gulf Shores quarterback Major Hudspeth then launched a heave to speedster Carter Davis way behind all the Warrior defenders.

Just 13 seconds in Gulf Shores already had a 7-0 lead and by the end of the second quarter – thanks to several short fields from Elberta turnovers – the score ballooned to 35-0.

Gulf Shores ran 11 plays in the first quarter and scored on five of those, starting with the first two touchdowns by Davis on passes from Hudspeth. First was the 52-yard strike followed by a 17-yarder after the Dolphins recovered an Elberta fumble at the Warriors' 21.

Other touchdowns for Gulf Shores in the first quarter including a six-yard run by Benton Brereton, a 46-yard reception by Brereton and a 13-yard run by Davis as time ran out in the quarter.

In the second quarter, the Dolphins continued to take advantage of good field position to score, bolstered by big plays. Janoy Ferguson raced 47 yards for a touchdown at 7:46 of the second quarter and Evan McCrary scored from six yards out after being set up by a 37-yard run from Jett Todd.

For the second half, quarters were shortened to eight minutes and featured a free-running clock. Elberta opened the half with the lightning touchdown drive and ran 14 plays to just four for the Dolphins in the second half.

PRIMETIME PERFORMERS

West Virginia-signee Carter Davis let everybody know he was in the house with three touchdowns in the first quarter, two on pass receptions.

DEFINING MOMENT

Gulf Shores threw a 52-yard pass for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and the Dolphins were off to the races.

WHAT’S NEXT

For Gulf Shores, a huge matchup for sole possession of first place in Class 5A Region 1 standings at Spanish Fort. Both teams are 5-0 in region play, with Gulf Shores 7-0 on the year and Spanish Fort at 6-1 overall.

Elberta, 1-7 overall, is at home against Baldwin County, 1-6, and both teams are looking for their first region win.