Choctaw hopes to avoid letdown at Gulf Breeze (VIDEO)

FORT WALTON BEACH – As the Choctawhatchee football team takes a break from District 2-6A play today to travel to Gulf Breeze, coach Greg Thomas, at least for one week, can put aside all the talk of playing for a possible district title or the likelihood of a three-team shootout. Right now, Choctaw need only concern itself with, well, itself.

As Choctaw (5-2) travels to Gulf Breeze (5-2) for a non-district tilt, Thomas says the Indians’ top priority is to continue to do the little things that have led to their current three-game winning streak.

“The key is to play well, right now,” Thomas said. “It doesn’t matter if its district or non-district, we expect our kids to play hard. We know we have a big challenge ahead of us. The worst thing we can do is have a let down.

“It’s all about momentum and playing well at this time of the year. We need to keep doing what we’ve been doing.”

Gulf Breeze is enjoying one of its better seasons in recent memory thanks in large part to an offense that has averaged nearly 40 points per game. Quarterback Jordan Bennett has thrown for 1,394 yards and 17 touchdowns. That aerial assault has opened things up for the Dolphins’ ground game, as  running backs Mitchell De kozan (449 yards, 5 TD) and Chandler Foxworth (718 yards, 9 TD) have taken turns gashing opposing defenses.

“Offensively, they’re well-coached, they’re fundamentally sound. It’s a huge challenge for our defense,” Thomas said. “Defensively, they bring people from every where, they try to disrupt blocking schemes, so you’re going to have to be productive on offense.”

After struggling to score earlier this season, the Choctaw offense has found a rhythm as of late.

Running back Josh LeMay has run for 744 yards this season, an average of 106.3 yards per game, to rank as one of the area’s most productive backs.

Thomas points to improved blocking up front by the Choctaw offensive line as the leading culprit, as well as the work of fullback Therion Robinson.

LeMay himself was quick to point to Robinson as chief among the reasons for the Indians’ surging ground game.

“He helps me a lot,” LeMay said. “Therion gives me a lot of confidence. I know he’s going to bust it in there no matter who he’s going against. If he makes a block, it’s my job to run by it.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. tonight at Gulf Breeze.