By PATRICK CASEY
The Walton Braves defense held Panama City Arnold to 36 total rushing yards while quarterback Jace Fielder threw for 180 yards and posted a 39-yard touchdown run in leading the host squad to a 28-8 victory over the Marlins in the first meeting between the two teams since the 2002 season.
The first quarter was a defensive slugfest that saw neither team do much on offense as the two teams combined for five punts with the Marlins botching a field goal attempt that would have given them the lead.
Walton put the first points of the night on the scoreboard with a 10-play, 54-yard drive that saw junior Thomas Brack drill a 30-yard field goal attempt for a 3-0 lead with 6:08 to go in the first half.
The Braves were back at it again on their next possession as a 52-yard drive was capped with a 1-yard run by Fielder for a 9-0 advantage. Juanyeh Thomas then took a low snap on the extra point and raced to the right corner of the end zone for a two-point conversion and an 11-0 lead with just 97 seconds left in the first half.
Arnold senior quarterback Cody Saunders went to the air and drove the visiting squad 90 yards for a touchdown with a 45-yard diving grab by teammate Dylan Gandy setting up a 2-yard reception by the sophomore to cut the lead to 11-6. Saunders then dove across the right corner of the endzone, hitting the pylon to earn the two-point conversion for an 11-8 halftime deficit.
Walton’s first possession of the third quarter saw Fielder shake loose on a 39-yard scoring run to push the lead to 18-8 midway through the period.
Arnold mounted a drive to the Braves 14-yard line but Saunders threw into double coverage in the endzone and was intercepted by Walton defensive back Cody Phillips to end the threat.
Walton took the momentum and drove the ball to the Arnold 8-yard line before the Marlins stopped the Braves, forcing Brack back into action with a 25-yard field goal for a 21-8 lead with 9:43 remaining in the game.
Arnold moved into Walton territory once again but the Braves defense put an end to the drive by holding the Marlins short of a first down on a fourth down attempt with seven minutes left in the contest.
The host squad moved from their own 42-yard line to the Marlins 12-yard line before senior running back Azende Rey was stripped of the pigskin while trying to fight for extra yardage at the Arnold 5-yard line.
The Marlins recovered the football but did not hold onto it long as Saunders, under heavy pressure from Jalen Jones in the endzone, lofted a pass towards a receiver at the 10-yard line only to see Thomas swoop in, grab the high throw and tip-toe down the home sideline for a defensive touchdown and a 28-8 lead with 3:09 to play.
The Marlins drove into Walton territory with 1:40 left to play but Phillips grabbed his second interception in the endzone to end the Bay County squad’s final scoring threat. Walton has picked off five passes in three games with three of the interceptions being returned for touchdowns in the last two games.
Jones had two tackles for a loss against the run and a quarterback sack as Walton held Saunders to just 10 rushing yards though the senior did manage to roll up 256 through the air.
Rey finished the night with 107 yards on 24 carries to go with five receptions for another 45 yards. Kelvic Thompson had five receptions for 54 yards as the Braves managed their possessions well to pick up the victory and improve to 3-0 overall.
Walton will play their second road game of the regular season as they renew their rivalry with the Baker Gators(2-1) on Friday night at Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
The Walton Braves defense held Panama City Arnold to 36 total rushing yards while quarterback Jace Fielder threw for 180 yards and posted a 39-yard touchdown run in leading the host squad to a 28-8 victory over the Marlins in the first meeting between the two teams since the 2002 season.
The first quarter was a defensive slugfest that saw neither team do much on offense as the two teams combined for five punts with the Marlins botching a field goal attempt that would have given them the lead.
Walton put the first points of the night on the scoreboard with a 10-play, 54-yard drive that saw junior Thomas Brack drill a 30-yard field goal attempt for a 3-0 lead with 6:08 to go in the first half.
The Braves were back at it again on their next possession as a 52-yard drive was capped with a 1-yard run by Fielder for a 9-0 advantage. Juanyeh Thomas then took a low snap on the extra point and raced to the right corner of the end zone for a two-point conversion and an 11-0 lead with just 97 seconds left in the first half.
Arnold senior quarterback Cody Saunders went to the air and drove the visiting squad 90 yards for a touchdown with a 45-yard diving grab by teammate Dylan Gandy setting up a 2-yard reception by the sophomore to cut the lead to 11-6. Saunders then dove across the right corner of the endzone, hitting the pylon to earn the two-point conversion for an 11-8 halftime deficit.
Walton’s first possession of the third quarter saw Fielder shake loose on a 39-yard scoring run to push the lead to 18-8 midway through the period.
Arnold mounted a drive to the Braves 14-yard line but Saunders threw into double coverage in the endzone and was intercepted by Walton defensive back Cody Phillips to end the threat.
Walton took the momentum and drove the ball to the Arnold 8-yard line before the Marlins stopped the Braves, forcing Brack back into action with a 25-yard field goal for a 21-8 lead with 9:43 remaining in the game.
Arnold moved into Walton territory once again but the Braves defense put an end to the drive by holding the Marlins short of a first down on a fourth down attempt with seven minutes left in the contest.
The host squad moved from their own 42-yard line to the Marlins 12-yard line before senior running back Azende Rey was stripped of the pigskin while trying to fight for extra yardage at the Arnold 5-yard line.
The Marlins recovered the football but did not hold onto it long as Saunders, under heavy pressure from Jalen Jones in the endzone, lofted a pass towards a receiver at the 10-yard line only to see Thomas swoop in, grab the high throw and tip-toe down the home sideline for a defensive touchdown and a 28-8 lead with 3:09 to play.
The Marlins drove into Walton territory with 1:40 left to play but Phillips grabbed his second interception in the endzone to end the Bay County squad’s final scoring threat. Walton has picked off five passes in three games with three of the interceptions being returned for touchdowns in the last two games.
Jones had two tackles for a loss against the run and a quarterback sack as Walton held Saunders to just 10 rushing yards though the senior did manage to roll up 256 through the air.
Rey finished the night with 107 yards on 24 carries to go with five receptions for another 45 yards. Kelvic Thompson had five receptions for 54 yards as the Braves managed their possessions well to pick up the victory and improve to 3-0 overall.
Walton will play their second road game of the regular season as they renew their rivalry with the Baker Gators(2-1) on Friday night at Doug Griffith Memorial Stadium with kickoff set for 7 p.m.