Red Knights demolish Charlotte 41-0
What a turn of events. Two touchdowns in 22 seconds, and the North Fort Myers Red Knights were on their way. Big time.
North, ranked seventh in the state in Class 6A, turned a 7-0 lead into a 20-0 advantage in the blink of an eye Friday night, demolishing Charlotte 41-0 at Moody Field.
The win leaves the Red Knights (6-0, 3-0) the unquestioned favorite in District 6A-10.
Joe Wilkins Jr. returned a partially blocked Kenny Scribner field goal 95 yards to turn a potential 7-3 North edge into a 14-0 advantage with 42 seconds to go in the first half.
Then the Red Knights picked up a Tarpons fumble on the ensuing kickoff. That set up Toby Noland’s 28-yard toucdown pass to Clayton Savinsky with 20 seconds before halftime.
“I thought we did very well as far as making plays and turning momentum in the game,” Red Knights’ coach Earnest Graham said. “We did that in the first half on special teams, and then we carried that momentum into the second half. We finished the game really well.”
Perennial powerhouse Charlotte (3-3, 2-1) outplayed North for most of the first half. Just not where it counted.
“We came out, played out butts off in the first half,” Charlotte coach Binky Waldrop said. “Two mistakes, and we gave them 14 points.”
Scribner’s 35-yard blocked field goal attempt was the second one the Red Knights blocked against him in the second quarter.
Star running back Fanajae Gotay got North Fort Myers started by making a big play on defense. He intercepted an Muse pass and ran it back 52 yards. That set up Noland’s 1-yard run.
“Charlotte’s still a very good team,” Graham said. “They came out to play in the first half, blocked well and ran the ball down our throats. That’s a great program, and it was good to get a win against them.”
Muse and the Fightin’ Tarpons spent nearly the entire first half, and had less than northing to show for it. Gotay’s interception, Wilkins’ kick return and a second blocked field goal attempt stung Charlotte.
Wilkins and Noland hooked up on a 57-yard bomb in the third period, and Terry Lindsey scored on a 25-yard run for the Red Knights. Chris Lucas added a 49-yard run before the third ended, kicking in a running clock the rest of the way.
“Hats off to them,” Waldrop said. “They’re undefeated. They beat some great teams this year.
“They’re a veteran football team. They don’t make mistakes. They play some good football, and sit back and capitalize on other peoples’ mistakes. That’s what they did to us tonight.”
Friday’s game didn’t officially clinch the district title for North Fort Myers.
The Red Knights have two more district games. Ida Baker comes up next Friday, and Cape Coral the week after that.
“It’s not over,” Graham said. “We’ve still got two tough district matchups left.
“We’re out to improve every single week, so that’s our goal.”
Charlotte still has Cape Coral and archrival Port Charlotte on its district schedule.
CHARLOTTE 0 0 0 0 – 0
NORTH FORT MYERS 7 13 14 0 – 41
First quarter
* Toby Noland 1 run. Ethan Bennett kick. 3:36.
Second quarter
* Joe Wilkins Jr. 95 blocked field goal return. Bennett kick. 0:42.
* Clayton Savinsky 28 pass from Toby Noland. Kick failed. 0:20.
* Terry Lindsey 25 run. Bennett kick. 7:52.
* Wilkins 57 pass from Noland. Bennett kick. 4:58.