CRESTVIEW — If Shoal River Middle School’s football game against rival Davidson on Thursday is a sign of things to come, the other teams in Okaloosa County should be concerned.
The Mustangs ran just 15 offensive plays while piling up 182 yards in offense en route to a 36-6 win over the Panthers.
Shoal River-Davidson photos click here>>
Davidson avoided the shutout with a touchdown as the final horn sounded.
The frightening thing is Shoal River Coach Ryan Gillis believes the Mustangs can play better.
“It was the first game and we had some mental mistakes as coaches and players,” he said. “But I feel like we’ve got a lot better game in us.
“The thing I like about these guys is they are turning into a team in a hurry. They’ve got each others’ backs and I think they played a heck of a game. But I think we’ve got a lot more in this team.”
It didn’t take long for the Mustangs (1-0) to set the stage for what was to come. Gabe Ellis raced 65 yards for a touchdown on Shoal River’s first offensive play of the night. Terrelle Holliday added the 2-point conversion as Shoal River never trailed.
That’s not to say the Panthers didn’t put a scare or two into their rivals.
Davidson’s Austin French recovered a Mustang fumble late in the first quarter at the Shoal River 40-yard line. Five plays later Davidson (0-1) had the ball first and goal at the Mustang 3-yard line thanks to some strong running by quarterback Chad Hayes.
Davidson might have been able to sniff pay dirt, but the Panthers were turned back and came away empty early in the second quarter.
A 35-yard touchdown run by Jay Stanton late in the second quarter put Shoal River up 16-0.
The Mustangs broke the game open with three quick scores to open the third quarter.
Stanton capped a quick three-play, 40-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown run to start the scoring spree. Holliday set the score up with a strong kickoff return that he followed with a 20-yard run.
Less than two minute later Jr. McGlaughlin scored from 10 yards out following Braison Smith’s recovery of a Panther fumble.
Two plays after his rushing touchdown, McGlaughlin capped the Mustang scoring with a 40-yard interception return for a score.
The score started the running clock and the Mustang offense never possessed the ball the remainder of the game.
The Panthers took the ensuing kickoff and moved 70 yards on 15 plays.
Davidson quarterback Chase Moulton connected with Trace Sears with a pass that gave the Panthers a first and goal at the Mustang 2-yard line with less than 30 seconds left in the game. Tavion Grant pushed the ball across the goal line as time expired as the Panthers avoided the shutout.
Davidson Coach Chris Small took much of the responsibility for his team’s performance.
“We played hard,” he said. “We didn’t play smart a lot of times. “We get inside the (Mustang) three on first down and I blew two calls and we don’t score.
“If we score there we are in the ball game. We got beat a better team and that was obvious tonight. They blew us out of the water.”
EmailNews Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Mustangs run past Panthers (photo gallery)