Adams leads Choctawhatchee to romp over Gulf Breeze (VIDEO, PHOTO GALLERY)

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Choctawhatchee football team made it a point this week to focus on Gulf Breeze and not get preoccupied with its impending grudge match with Fort Walton Beach.

But by halftime Friday at Etheredge Stadium, there was little reason for the Indians not to turn their attention to their archrival.

Click to view a photo gallery from the game »

Playoff-bound Choctaw put an exclamation point on its District 1-3A season by slamming the Dolphins 56-24 behind a jack-of-all-touchdowns performance by quarterback Jesse Adams.

Adams passed for three touchdowns, ran for another and even made a 41-yard touchdown reception. On that play, wideout Cody Brannen took a reverse and flipped to Adams, who was wide open in the left flat. It was the most dazzling play in a first half that saw Choctaw rack up 388 yards of total offense and lead 42-13.

Adams accounted for 221 yards alone before halftime for the Indians (6-3, 6-1 District 1-3A), who have won five straight games and six of their last seven. Choctaw scored on six of its seven possessions in the first half, never requiring more than seven plays to find the end zone.

The game was the last chance for Gulf Breeze (0-9, 0-7) to secure a district win. The Dolphins did get a standout outing from Mitchell de Kozan, who rushed for a game-high 153 yards on 15 carries. He broke off a 59-yard touchdown run that made it 14-13 Choctaw in the second quarter.

But it was all Indians from there. They ripped off 28 unanswered points heading into the intermission.

Choctaw's Charlie Lott and Freddie Gray followed a dominant offensive line to the tune of 106 and 89 rushing yards, respectively. Gray scored on a 56-yard touchdown run and added a 23-yard scoring catch.

Adams also connected with Justin Savage for a 21-yard scoring strike and Zach Morgan from 37 yards out. Adams finished his highlight-heavy game 8-of-12 passing for 146 yards and added a 6-yard scoring run to go along with his touchdown grab.

In the second half, Miguel Paulino burst free for an 85-yard kickoff return touchdown and Therion Robinson capped the Indians scoring with a 7-yard run.

Gulf Breeze’s Eric Adams totaled 104 yards combined rushing and receiving, scoring on a 5-yard run.

Choctaw 56, Gulf Breeze 24

GB                  7                      6                      11                   0—24

Choctaw        14                   28                   7                      7—56

First quarter

C – Jesse Adams 6 run (Dillon Drake kick); 10:11

C – Freddie Gray 56 run (Drake kick); 8:32

GB – No. 90 2 pass from Michael Mann (Danny Gibble kick); 1:33

Second quarter

GB – Mitchell de Kozan 59 run (kick failed); 11:05

C – Justin Savage 21 pass from Adams (Drake kick); 8:54

C – Adams 41 pass from Cody Brannen (Drake kick); 4:53

C – Gray 23 pass from Adams (Drake kick); 1:37

C – Zach Morgan 37 pass from Adams (Drake kick); 40.8

Third quarter

GB – Gibble 23 field goal; 7:37

C – Miguel Paulino 85 kickoff return (Drake kick); 7:24

GB – Eric Adams 5 run (Mann run); 1:22

Fourth quarter

C – Therion Robinson 7 run (Drake kick); 1:11

                                                 GB                            C

First downs                         18                      22

Rushes-yards                      40-257             36-314

Passing yards                       134                  191

Compl./Att./Ints.               13-26-0            10-15-0

Fumbles-lost                        0-0                     0-0

Penalties-yards                     6-33                 6-40

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING— Gulf Breeze: Mitchell de Kozan 15-153, Mario Villegas 8-36, Michael Mann 12-33, Eric Adams 3-31, Billy Lutz 2-4. Choctaw Charlie Lott 13-106, Freddie Gray 5-89, Therion Robinson 7-37, Luke Clark 5-36, Jesse Adams 2-34, Cedric Bridgewater 2-11, Marcus Rosenthal 2-1.

PASSING— Gulf Breeze: Michael Mann 13-26-0 134; Choctaw: Jesse Adams 8-12-0 146; Cody Brannen 1-1-0 41; Luke Clark 1-2-0 4.

RECEIVING— Gulf Breeze: Eric Adams 5-73, Brandon Sorenson 4-28, Mitchell de Kozan 1-12, Trey Nichols 1-11, No. 30 1-8, No. 90 1-2.  Choctaw: Justin Savage 3-42, Cody Brannen 2-38, Jesse Adams 1-41, Zach Morgan 1-37, Freddie Gray 1-23, Ryan Born 1-6, Devin Borders 1-4.