Arnold rolls over Munroe (See Homecoming Photos, Scores)

PANAMA CITY BEACH — No amount of flu hitting the Arnold football team could have saved Quincy Munroe on Friday night.

The Marlins finished their final tuneup for the District 1-3A season next week with a 49-6 thrashing of the visiting Bobcats. It was Arnold’s second win against a lesser opponent to open the season. The scheduling was by design, Arnold coach James Hale said.

“We wanted to get ready for district by doing this, plus when we made the schedule we didn’t know we’d have so many transfers, new kids and then this sickness,” Hale said. “These two games helped us, and tonight we were able to get everybody in.”

Arnold (2-0) secured the needed 35-point bulge in the first half of its Homecoming game. The Marlins, who battled a rash of illness since opening the season on Sept. 4, rolled up 248 yards of total offense in leading 42-6 after 24 minutes. They scored three touchdowns in each of the first two quarters.

Hale played his starters until midway through the second quarter. Quarterback Eddie Williams completed 5 of 7 passes for 52 yards and a 13-yard score to Nate Aultman to cap the first-quarter scoring. He also rushed for 51 yards and a 43-yard touchdown.

Jeremy Hester had 117 yards on four carries, including an 87-yard score on his first run of the game with 3 minutes, 45 seconds left in the first quarter. Arnold scored on its first possession with seven passing plays and no rushes.

Munroe (0-3) scored its only TD on a 6-yard run by Daniel Meeks, who led the Bobcats with 73 yards on 15 carries. He punctuated the scoring drive with a 44-yard run on a draw play to push Munroe into Marlins’ territory. Munroe quarterback Dustin Watson struggled and finished 8 of 24 for 130 yards and three interceptions.

Hale said the goal was to give the Marlins time to work into starting positions during the first two games. He also said they wanted to stay healthy and the Marlins have avoided major injuries. The only scare was a minor back injury suffered by Hester in the jamboree, but it didn’t appear to bother the senior much on Friday.

Hale said it was vital to be ready for the seven-game district campaign that begins against Bay at home next Friday.

“Our season starts next week,” Hale said. “We have seven big district games then we finish with one of the best teams in the area (Mosley).”

Shor inducted

Former Arnold tight end Alex Shor was the first inductee in the Arnold Hall of Fame on Friday, and his jersey No. 88 was retired by the school.

He played for the school’s first team in 2000 before going on to Syracuse University. Shor also played in the National Football League’s European division and was a member of the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad during the team’s run to the NFC Championship last season.

• Munroe 0 6 0 0 – 6
• Arnold 21 21 7 0 – 49
• First quarter
• AHS – DeBoard 3 pass from Williams (Masker kick), 7-0 AHS, 8:09
• AHS – Hester 87 run (Masker kick), 14-0, 3:45
• AHS – Aultman 13 pass from Williams (Masker kick), 21-0, 1:20
• Second quarter
• MUN – Meeks 6 run (kick failed), 21-6, 11:28
• AHS – Williams 43 run (Masker kick), 28-6, 10:05
• AHS – Hester 19 run (Masker kick), 35-6, 8:22
• AHS – Lewis 10 run (Masker kick), 42-6, 4:33
• Third quarter
• AHS – Evans 3 run (Masker kick), 49-6, :15