Knights lose PRC title heartbreaker
The North Fort Myers Pop Warner Junior Midget football team narrowly dropped Saturday’s Division 2 Peace River Conference championship game to Fort Myers 12-8.
North coach Chris Reeves knew he left points on the field, and despite the great effort, that’s what cost them the tight game.
“We didn’t capitalize. We got off late and we made a mistake,” Reeves said. “I’m proud of my boys. They went 5-3 and we lost some games we should have won, but it’s been a great ride. They worked their tail off.”
North Fort Myers took the opening kickoff and drove for more than nine minutes to the Fort Myers 3-yard line, only to have the Firecats defense stiffen and keep them off the scoreboard.
On the ensuing possession, Chuck Dawson got around the left end and raced 85 yards for a touchdown to put Fort Myers up 6-0 early in the second quarter.
The Knights twice drove into Firecats territory in the second quarter, but lost the ball on downs and an interception to keep the score 6-0 at the half.
Fort Myers increased its lead to 12-0 on its first possession of the third quarter on a C.J. Smith touchdown pass to Quincy Milhomme and seemed on its way to victory.
Instead, North drove 75 yards with Xavier Cavazos getting the final three yards. Jaiden Brown converted the two-point PAT to make it 12-8 with 6:10 left in the game.
Cavazos recovered the Knights’ onside kick at midfield, and North used its double-wing offense to wear down the Firecats. Eddie Brown converted a fourth-and-25 with a great catch to keep the drive alive.
North drove to the Firecats’ 15-yard line with two minutes left. On third-and-inches, the ball came loose and Adams Jocelyn recovered for Fort Myers to seal the win.
“We were marching it down, we were in better condition, and on any given day a kid can make a mistake and things happen,” Reeves said. “The momentum switch came. We went into the no-huddle offense and Fort Myers got tired.”
The Firecats will represent the Peace River Conference from here on out. Coach Dwayne Mallary was thrilled to get even with the Knights when it counted the most.
“We battled it out and played four quarters of football and made it happen,” Mallary said. “Defense wins championships and that’s why we’re holding the trophy.”