Beach District football: Ocean Lakes defense stuffs Kellam in final minute as Dolphins stay unbeaten

Any more questions about Ocean Lakes’ defense?

With their backs pinned against the goal line, the Dolphins came up with their biggest stop - make that stops - of the season.

They stuffed Kellam four times from the 5-yard line or closer in the final minute to preserve a 21-17 victory in a key Beach District game Friday night.

Ocean Lakes stayed unbeaten at 6-0 and kept pace with Green Run atop the Beach standings.

The Dolphins stayed perfect by corralling Kellam’s vaunted wing-T rushing attack after falling behind 17-7 at halftime.

The Knights (5-2) chewed up the final seven minutes of the fourth quarter by marching 58 yards to the Ocean Lakes 5-yard line. But three running backs failed to crack the end zone on the final four plays.

On fourth-and-goal from the 3, James Taylor, the area's leading rusher, sprinted outside and was yanked down by Shamarko Thomas and Reginald Owens with 12 seconds left.

“We knew he was going to go outside,” Thomas said. “I told (linebacker Jonathan Godfrey) to hit the hole, and I was going to help them out.”

Taylor rushed for 145 yards on 33 carries to become South Hampton Roads’ first player to reach 1,000 yards this season.

But the Dolphins constantly closed the holes in the final two quarters, limiting the Knights to 52 total yards on their first five drives after halftime.

On those five possessions, Ocean Lakes forced three punts, intercepted a pass and stopped Kellam on a fourth-and-1 at the Dolphins’ 22.

The Knights gained 197 yards in the first half.

“We went in the locker room and it got us a little worried because we were rattled,” Dolphins first-year head coach Chris Scott said. “I told them you should be upset. You should be upset because you didn’t play the way you’re able to play.”

Ocean Lakes seized momentum with scores on its first two possessions of the second half, one of them after Matthew Baptiste’s interception deep in Kellam territory.

Notable stats: K-Taylor 33-145 rushing, 1-31, TD receiving; Sean Abrams 11-46 rushing; Matt Schmit 5-8-1, 99 yards, 1 TD passing, 8-15, 1 TD rushing; OL-Walter Davis 9-50, TD rushing; Justin Hunter 3-22, TD receiving.

See a Photo Gallery from the game.