Raiders shooting for perfect district slate

Penthouse meets outhouse when Mosley visits Navarre tonight.

The Raiders, 7-1 overall and ranked 10^th in the latest Associated Press Class 6A High School Football Poll, clinched its second-ever district title last week. And, while Navarre hasn’t lost a District 2-6A game, Mosley is 3-5 overall and hasn’t won a district match.

The Maroon-and-Black is guaranteed to host at least one playoff game and the Dolphins know they’ll be sitting home after next week’s grudge match with Rutherford. But Navarre isn’t without motivation; Mosley thrashed Navarre 49-20 in last season’s district finale at Tommy Oliver Stadium in Lynn Haven, all but extinguishing the Raiders’ playoff hopes.

Navarre had entered the weekend in a three-way tie for first with a 3-1 loop mark, but its dis­trict loss to the Dolphins, coupled with wins by Niceville and Choctawhatchee, left the Raiders in third place.

The 2012 Dolphins have lost three straight, all district games, by an average score of 37-12. In its four District 2-6A losses, Mosley has been outscored by an average of 22 points.

The Dolphins’ offense has relied on a balanced ground game led by junior Ryan Rogers (jersey No. 1), who has 554 yards and five touchdowns on 81 carries, an average of 6.84 yards per carry. Junior Christian Childree (No. 40) has six scores and 403 yards on 91 carries (4.43) and sophomore Andrew Hardick (No. 2) has contributed 240 yards and three TDs on 51 carries.

Senior Zach Rhodes (No. 9) has completed less than half his passes, 56 of 113, for 746 yards and six touchdowns with eight interceptions.

Nat Dixon (No. 6), a junior receiver, defensive back and punt returner, has been Rhodes’ main target, catching 27 passes for 476 yards – 17.63 yards-per-reception average – and three scores.

On defense, senior linebacker Brady Barton (No. 68) leads Mosley with 66 total tackles, 36 unassisted. Sophomore safety Raekwon Jones (No. 4) has 45 tackles, 27 of them solo stops. Defensive end Trey Traszka (11), another sophomore, has been the Dolphins’ top pass rusher with four sacks and six hurries. He has 38 total tackles, 19 unassisted.

Dixon and senior quarterback Louie Abbott (3) each have two interceptions.

Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Bennett C. Russell Stadium.

District 1-6A

                                                District                        Overall

Milton                                                 6-3                   4-1

Pine Forest                              5-2                   4-1

Pace                                         6-3                   4-2

Escambia                                 4-4                   3-2

Pensacola                                4-3                   3-2

Washington                             1-7                   0-5

Tate                                         0-8                   0-5

Nov. 2 games

Catholic at Pace, 7:30 p.m.

Escambia at Pensacola, 7:30 p.m.

Pine Forest at Milton, 7:30 p.m.

Washington at Tate, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 games

Catholic at Washington, 7 p.m.

Escambia at Wakulla, 7:30 p.m.

District 2-6A                                         

                                                District                        Overall

Navarre                                   4-0                   7-1

Fort Walton Beach                  2-2                   5-3

Niceville                                  2-2                   5-3

Crestview                                2-2                   4-5

Choctawhatchee                     2-2                   3-6

Mosley                                    0-4                   3-5

Nov. 2 Games

Choctawhatchee at Fort Walton Beach, 6 p.m.

Niceville at Crestview, 6 p.m.

Mosley at Navarre, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 Games

Arnold at Fort Walton Beach, 5 p.m.

Bay at Niceville, 7 p.m.

Rutherford at Mosley, 7 p.m.

Gulf Breeze at Navarre, 7:30 p.m.

Choctawhatchee idle

Crestview idle