Despite skid, Mosley still has chance for playoff berth

LYNN HAVEN — It’s not often that a team that has lost four consecutive games and is winless in its district can use a possible playoff berth as motivation.

That is exactly the framework for Thursday’s 7 p.m. game with Fort Walton Beach and Mosley at Tommy Oliver Stadium. While it might be bucking the odds to think the Dolphins (3-4, 0-2) can reverse their fortunes in District 2-4A, it’s not as far-fetched as thinking any district team is going to defeat No. 1-ranked Niceville.

If Mosley can find a way Thursday, it likely would leave Fort Walton Beach, Crestview and the Dolphins in a shootout for the second playoff berth from 2-4A.

The Vikings are without standout quarterback Luke Barnes, who eclipsed Danny Wuerrfel’s school passing records before being lost with an ACL injury two weeks ago. Fort Walton Beach had a bye week to work in a replacement.

“I think it’s big,” Mosley coach Perry Brown said. “Unfortunately they lost the kid, but they’re very fortunate to have that two-week frame to prepare the next guy.

“We don’t know who is going to be the quarterback. That makes it a lot more difficult for our defensive staff to get ready. The good thing is as this point after seven games our kids have seen a little bit of everything.”

Brown also is trying to script a different opening for his squad. Against Niceville, Crestview and Rickards, the past three losses, the Dolphins fell behind early.

They weren’t going to convince Niceville anyway, but lost the past two efforts 34-33 and 36-33 after recovering and taking both opponents to the limit.

“We definitely need to get out and keep it close there early,” Brown said. “The kids have been able to play the last half pretty good.

“We’ve had some slow starts as the kids adjust and adapt to what’s happening to them. Then they start playing some pretty good football. That initial start, that may be the inexperience that we have.”

Don’t expect Mosley to defer if it wins the coin toss. The Dolphins will take the football, and hopefully force an opponent to play catchup for a change.

Brown said his team was banged up in a physical game at Rickards, but declined to reveal specifics. He did say, however, that the addition of  12 players from a successful junior varsity team has spiced practice this week.

“They’re pretty solid up front with their down linemen,” Brown said of the Vikings. “We’re hoping to be able to move the football and eat up some clock.

“We’re not healthy, but have had a good week, we had a good practice yesterday. The kids were upbeat. Sometimes the JV kids come up and it gets a little confusing, but they’ve been getting after it.”