The Raiders finished 2005 with five straight losses, but as they entered the 2006 season, there was a feeling in the air that the Navarre Raider football program was about ready to turn the corner.
Navarre started out with back to back shutout wins over West Florida Tech and University Christian, but fell to 2-2 with losses to Catholic and Milton in Weeks 3 & 4. The Raiders would then reel off five straight wins to move to 7-2, which guaranteed them their second winning season and their first-ever District Title and State Playoff appearance.
The Raiders dropped a close game to Gulf Breeze (24-22) in the season finale to finish the regular season at 7-3 (best regular season win total). Navarre would then host Pace in the first round of the State Playoffs, where they fell 26-7 to end their record setting season.
Coach Olson now stands at 23-25 after five seasons.
2006 Results
Navarre 45, West Florida Tech 0
Navarre 14, University Christian 0
Catholic 20, Navarre 10
Milton 43, Navarre 21
Navarre 49, Holmes County 7
Navarre 14, Fort Walton Beach 0
Navarre 21, Choctaw 14
Navarre 17, Florida High 6
Navarre 21, Crestview 7
Gulf Breeze 24, Navarre 22
Pace 26, Navarre 7 (Playoffs)
Navarre Raider Class of 2007:
12 – Derek Nelson – RB
15 – Donte’ Rome – WR
20 – Sam Harton – DB
22 – Russell Mertens – DB
30 – John Blatz – LB
31 – Stefan Tipton – LB
34 – Tremain Barnes – WR/DB
35 – Ryan Stewart – DL
38 – Rich Dalphone – LB
44 – John Hermance – DL
48 – Michael Hagewood – DB/WR
52 – Asa Dalphone – DL
58 – Brenden Greene – LB
60 – Zach Gillium – OL
63 – Tommy Wiser – OL
70 – Stephen Venegas – OL
71 – Johnathan Jones – OL/DL
80 – Just Moore – WR
82 – Joey Hill – WR
86 – Aaron Brummett – K
99 – Brett Gallrein – DL/TE