The Gulf Shores football team doesn’t need any extra motivation for this week’s Class 5A, Region 1 showdown with UMS-Wright.

“Our kids have a chip on their shoulders because of how last year went, and they still don’t think they are respected enough,” Dolphins coach Mark Hudspeth said. “They’ve had this attitude for a year now. They’ve worked awfully hard, and they are dialed in. Their antennas are up for this game I can assure you.”

Gulf Shores, ranked No. 3 in this week’s ASWA 5A rankings, will host No. 6 UMS on Friday night. The Dolphins have yet to beat the Bulldogs in seven previous tries, including a 35-28 UMS victory in Mobile a year ago.

“Last year, we had some success offensively,” Hudspeth said. “Defensively, we didn’t play as well as we would have liked. It was a hard-fought game. We had a chance with the ball at the end and just couldn’t make a play to tie it up or win it. They’ve got a good football team. It’s definitely going to be another challenge.”

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Gulf Shores is off to a 3-0 start and has outscored its competition 103-36 in the process. The Dolphins are coming off a 31-16 victory at No. 7 Faith Academy last week. They played that game without defensive starters Braden Jackson, Carter Byrd and Jamichael Garrett, who were suspended for a violation of team rules.

Hudspeth said they would all be available this week.

“Last week was big for us, especially since we played without three defensive starters,” he said. “We were in the right position most of the night and played very physical, very tough. Offensively, I thought we moved the ball well and hit some explosive plays. We still have not played up to our standard yet, though we are improving each week.”

Kolin Wilson, a transfer from Mobile Christian, leads Gulf Shores in rushing with 473 yards and six touchdowns. N.C. State commit Ronnie Royal has 219 yards and three touchdowns. The team has alternated freshman Jud Harris and senior Alex Rippy at quarterback, though Harris played the majority of the game a week ago.

“We had planned on playing both in that game,” Hudspeth said. “We started the freshman for the first time, and he was playing so well, and our offense was in rhythm, so we just decided to stick with him. We would like to play them both. Both are good players and deserve to play.”

UMS (2-1) has struggled to find its offensive rhythm through the first three weeks. The Bulldogs have scored just 36 points and have held on for tight victories over T.R. Miller (16-14) and LeFlore (13-6) the past two weeks.

“We’ve probably been playing without our best running back, a senior who has played a good bit in Jake Jaye,” UMS coach Terry Curtis said. “We are just kind of piecemealing it together and moving guys around and doing the best we can. We have to get better with our blocking assignments and not fumbling and not having holding penalties and stupid penalties and killing ourselves.”

The UMS offense – and really the defense, too – revolves around Joe Lott. The senior has rushed for 249 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 164 yards.

“He’s their guy,” Hudspeth said. “Whether he’s returning punts or playing quarterback or safety, he’s all over the field. He’s an incredible athlete. It all goes through him. We’ve got to make sure we can control him. I’m not sure anyone can ever really stop this guy, but we definitely have to control him because he can make some big plays.”

Defensively, the Bulldogs have again been stingy, allowing just 34 total points. Caplyn Reed (27 tackles, INT) and Jeff Holston (24 tackles, two TFL) have led the way.

“They are doing OK,” Curtis said. “They are giving up a lot of yardage and having a hard time getting off the field sometimes. We are just real small. People are running the ball right at us. If we play our techniques and do what we are supposed to, we do OK.”

Curtis said, on paper at least, the matchup with Gulf Shores doesn’t favor UMS.

“It’s probably not a good matchup,” he said. “They have five or six new players. Getting the running back from Mobile Christian helped. Getting the linebacker from Oxford (Garrett) helped. Those guys are players. That is what they needed. And, to go with all the other ones they got, they are pretty good.

“We have to play a lot better than what we’ve been playing. We just can’t have all the turnovers and can’t have the penalties.”