At least one Keys public high school football team had to win Friday night, but two of the three turned in the victories.</p><p>Marathon High School (2-0), fresh off a victory last week over Key West, was stellar in a home win over Zion Lutheran Christian School.</p><p>And with a defense that kept Coral Shores High (0-2) in its own territory for all but two plays, the Key West High School football team (1-1) defeated the Hurricanes, 16-0, at Tommy Roberts Memorial Stadium.</p><p>MARATHON</p><p>Marathon High School running back A.J. Freeman might have a 2,000-yard season at his current pace. </p><p>The junior ran for nearly 300 yards Friday night to help lead the Dolphin football team to a 35-20 home victory over Zion Lutheran. Friday’s performance comes on the heels of a 202-yard night against Key West in last week’s season opener.</p><p><hr size="1"><br> <h5>See A.J. Freeman score</h5> <table border="0"><b><tr valign="top"><td align="center"><a href="http://media.keysnet.com/smedia/2008/10/03/12/0913_dolphins-127.source.prod_affiliate.143.wmv"><img src="http://media.keysnet.com/smedia/2008/09/11/13/122-GREEN_Clapboard.source.prod_affiliate.143.jpg" alt="Video clip"><br>Click to see A.J. Freeman run for a touchdown against Zion Lutheran</a></td> </tr></b> <tr><td colspan="4"><br></p><p><font size="1">You need a video player or browser plugin that supports Windows movie files (.wmv), such as Windows Media Player (installed on most PCs). </font></p></td></tr></table> <hr><br></p><p></p><p>The team was without head coach Lance Martin and three assistants -- all of whom were suspended Friday due to what was deemed excessive celebration following the 21-14 victory over the Conchs.</p></p><p>Freeman credited his offensive line and wide receiver with opening holes for him against the Lions. He scored twice on touchdown runs of more than 60 yards. </p><p>“I just try to hold on to the ball and try to see the end zone on every play,” he said.</p><p>“It was a good game coming off the hurricane and only having like two days of practice. We came out pretty good today,” quarterback Nyran Ross said after the game. </p><p>Assistant coach Mac Childress said he found out Thursday he’d be calling the plays Friday.</p><p>“In the second half, I thought we got into a nice rhythm. We put the ball on the ground once, but we scored on both of our drives and then we put our subs in,” he said.</p><p>The Dolphins led 21-12 at halftime and extended that margin to 35-12 in the fourth quarter before playing younger players.</p><p>Childress said the combination of Freeman and the Dolphins solid offensive line made for a potent rushing attack. </p><p>“We powered the ball straight ahead. Any time you can run the ball like that — run it,” he said.</p><p>The Dolphins opened the scoring midway through the first quarter after stopping the Lions on downs to open the game. Ross threw a touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Hector Vicoiso to give the Dolphins a 7-0 lead. </p><p>After stopping the Lions on downs twice more, Freeman broke off his longest run of the game, a 73-yard touchdown to give the Dolphins a 14-0 lead. </p><p>The Lions responded by putting together a long scoring drive and trailed 14-6 after a failed two-point conversion attempt. </p><p>Marathon looked to have answered back immediately when Ross rolled out to his right and hit senior receiver Angelo Hidalgo in stride for an apparent touchdown. But the play was called back on a holding penalty. </p><p>The Dolphins defense forced a Lions punt, after which Freeman immediately ran for another long touchdown to give the Dolphins a 21-6 lead. Marathon led 21-12 at the half. </p><p>Senior Kenny White scored on a short touchdown run to open the second half for the Dolphins, extending their lead to 28-12. White scored again with nine minutes remaining to seal the victory for the Dolphins.</p><p>The Dolphins travel to face University High School Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.</p><p>KEY WEST, CORAL SHORES</p><p>It was the first victory of the season for the Conchs, who improved to 1-1. Coral Shores dropped to 0-2.</p><p>"We had to get this to make up for Marathon," said junior receiver/defensive back Phillip Young, alluding to last week's 21-14 loss to the Dolphins.</p><p>The farthest Coral Shores advanced into Key West territory was the 46 yard line.</p><p>"The defense did a hell of a job," Conch coach Jerry Hughes said.</p><p>Key West has now shut out its opponents in six consecutive quarters.</p><p>Plagued by penalties, the Key West offense managed only two touchdowns -- a 2-yard run by Michael Sohi with 3:55 left in the first quarter, and an 8-yard run by Alfred Rahming early in the second quarter.</p><p>Rahming, who constantly shook off tacklers, gained almost 90 yards and had more than 100 in total offense, an effort that often had him limping off the field. "I'll say I did OK," he said.</p><p>Cale Hartle added a 37-yard field goal with 9:21 left in the game.</p><p>Coral Shores quarterback Chris Rini was pressured throughout the game. He was sacked twice for big losses by Michael Sohi.</p><p>Mistakes kept the Conchs from winning by a greater margin. Sohi fumbled as he went into the end zone early in the game, and in the fourth quarter an apparent 20-yard punt return for a touchdown by J.P. Malott was nullified because of an illegal block.</p><p>It was one of many penalties called against the Conchs, prompting Hughes to say, "If we do something good I have to look to see if there's a flag on the ground."