14U to be lone North Pop Warner playoff team
The 14U team will carry the banner for the North Fort Myers Pop Warner football program when it enters the Peace River Conference playoffs next week, with a likely rematch coming against the only team to defeat them.
It was a tough Saturday for the North program as it played Port Charlotte, one of the best programs in the region, with all the teams losing.
But it was the 14U game, the final contest of the day, that many people had on their calendars. It was a battle of unbeaten teams, with the winner earning top seed in the playoffs.
While things started great for the Red Knights, their chances faded like the early evening sunlight as the Bandits completely dominated the second half to score a 28-8 victory at Franz Ross Park in Port Charlotte.
After a scoreless first quarter, Port Charlotte scored first on a halfback option pass from Bruce Blanden to Tyquenius Haynes, who made a great catch on a jump ball in the end zone to make it 6-0 midway through the second quarter.
Port Charlotte got the ball back late in the first half, looking to add to their lead. Instead, a fumble led to a Josiah Batalle scoop and score to give the Red Knights an 8-6 lead at the half following the kicked PAT, which is two points in Pop Warner.
The second half was all Bandits, who made adjustments on the offensive line. With the help of two penalties, they took the lead on a touchdown run by Dylan Szych and converted the two-pointer to make it 14-8.
Port Charlotte broke the game open in the fourth when Szych found Ozias Dorsey with a touchdown pass to make it 22-8, and Blanden scored a rushing touchdown in the closing minutes for the final tally.
North 14U head coach Casey Crowther said he was happy with how the team played, and that the team’s lack of offense is something he’s going to have to correct for the probable rematch.
“There are improvements we can make. The coach has to take responsibility for that, but it was fun to play a team like this,” Crowther said. “We have to go back this week, work hard and try again.”
Port Charlotte coach Les Hassen credited the win to conditioning and discipline, hallmarks of a team that played for a national title two years ago in 12U.
“These kids have been here before in big games. They stuck together and executed, made big plays when we needed it and the defense was lights out,” Hassen said.
As a program, North was in a strange situation this season where every team was young. All the 8U kids were seven, the 10U kids were 9 and so on. That made them a little smaller and less experienced at each level and it showed in their record.
Steve Brown, athletic director and 12U head coach, said they were stuck in that spot.
“All those kids will be coming back at the same level next year, so that should be a good year for us. This year was a season to take your lumps and the wins didn’t come as readily as expected,” Brown said.