There has been a buzz around the beach this week.

Class 5A top-ranked Gulf Shores (13-0) will play in – and host – the first state semifinal football game in school history on Friday night against Eufaula (10-3).

The winner moves on to Bryant-Denny Stadium next week for the state title game.

“It’s pretty electric down here right now,” Dolphins coach Mark Hudspeth said on Sports Talk 99.5 FM in Mobile this week. “The community is really behind us, and it is just a fun time to be a Dolphin. Hopefully, we can play well. We’ve definitely practiced well this week.”

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Gulf Shores has won each of its 13 games by 15 points or more this season. The Dolphins’ playoff run has been equally impressive with victories over Beauregard (48-7), Charles Henderson (41-0) and Headland (35-14). The team’s starters on defense haven’t allowed a point in the postseason and the offense hasn’t committed a turnover.

“If we can keep playing with the recipe we have right now and that is playing really good defense and not turning the ball over, that is a pretty good recipe for success,” Hudspeth said.

The Dolphins have outscored their opponents 510-124 this season. The offense is led by running back Kolin Wilson (177 carries, 1,647 yards, 25 TDs), but it’s the defense and special teams that has largely separated this squad from others. Gulf Shores has scored 10 touchdowns on defense and returned six kickoffs – all six by N.C. State commit Ronnie Royal – for TDs.

“Coach (Brian) VanGorder has had a great plan each week on defense, and they are playing hard,” Hudspeth said. “We are tackling well in space and not missing assignments. Offensively, we are scoring points and not turning the ball over and giving opponents a short field.

“If you can make them go 80 every time, chances are a team will self-destruct themselves with penalties or turnovers or whatever. Hopefully, we can continue that upward trajectory because we’ve really improved every week this season.”

Hudspeth said few things have fazed his players, and that has been important. Late last month, media reports revealed another AHSAA school turned in Gulf Shores for alleged eligibility violations.

The AHSAA has yet to announce any ruling, and Gulf Shores attorney Nash Campbell told AL.com in a text message Thursday morning that neither he nor superintendent Matt Akin has received any further updates on that situation.

“Adversity can do one of two things,” Hudspeth said in response to a question about the possibility of an off-the-field distraction. “First, it can tear a family or a team apart or it really can galvanize your team or your family, and that is sort of the approach we took. We all rallied together and pulled this team and these kids together.

“At the end of the day, these are 15 and 16 and 17-year-old kids that the paper and the TVs are blowing up and talking about. These kids know they are talking about them, and they were just heartbroken. It was great to see how these kids pulled together and believed in one another, had each other’s back. The community rallied behind the team and behind the coaches.

“It’s been really fun. You drive through Gulf Shores right now and you know there is a game on Friday because it is blasted everywhere. Ball at the Beach on Friday night. We are excited.”

Hudspeth and company also have a tough opponent to deal with in the semifinals. Eufaula has won six straight games since its last loss on Oct. 13. The Tigers knocked off Shelby County (65-19), Faith Academy (41-14) and Demopolis (20-17) in the first three rounds.

“You can imagine they will be good for one reason — they’ve got a lot of tradition,” Hudspeth said. “They’ve been playing football for a long time, been successful for a long time. They’ve won two state championships. They have great facilities. I’ve got a lot of respect for their head coach (Jerrell Jernigan). He played for (Gulf Shores offensive coordinator) Kenny (Edenfield) at Troy.”

Eufaula QB Browning Anderson has completed 53 percent of his passes for 2,330 yards and 20 TDs. He’s been intercepted 8 times. Anderson also has 8 rushing TDs. RB Marquia “Red” Harris has rushed for 1,216 yards and 15 TDs on 186 carries. Antron Mitchell is the leading receiver with 1,076 yards and 9 TDs on 51 receptions. Defensively, Jaquavious Moss leads the way with 98 tackles and 13 TFL. Shamarion Smith has 80 tackles.

“They’ve got some talent, a lot of players being recruited and a quarterback who manages the game well and can really throw the ball,” Hudspeth said. “They can run and throw very effectively, and they run the heck out of the counter.”

One storyline for Friday’s game could be the weather. Current forecasts call for an 80 percent chance of rain.

“We’ve seen it and even played with the idea of moving the game to Thursday but logistically both schools couldn’t get that worked out,” Hudspeth said. “It’s going to roll on Friday. I hope the rain will be out before we kick it off. Our field gets a little damp, so I’m hoping it won’t be too wet.

“But we’ve played on it like that before. We play well in the rain with a wet ball. We stress ball control. I don’t want it to rain, but if it does, I think it may even be an advantage for us. We will take what the good Lord gives us and do our best, and we will see how the chips fall.”

Friday’s winner will play Guntersville or defending champ Ramsay in the Class 5A state title game next Thursday.