Winning is priority No. 1
It would be unwise for the Cape Coral Seahawks and Ida Baker Bulldogs to be focused on anything but the task at hand Friday night.
They are on different fields, playing different opponents on the final night of the District 5A-12 play, but if either team wins they may want to know the other result quickly.
The first order of business, though, is to win.
The Seahawks (6-3, 2-1 district) host archrival Mariner (3-5, 0-3 district) at Dave Warkentin Field in the annual Black ‘n’ Blue Bowl. Though the Tritons are winless in district play, they’ll be looking to spoil the playoff hopes of the crosstown Seahawks.
The Tritons also lead the series 13-8 overall, but the Seahawks have won the last three meetings. The average margin of victory in the 21-year series is 25.0 points.
The Bulldogs (4-4, 2-1 district) travel to Moody Field to take on North Fort Myers (4-5, 1-2). The Red Knights battled hard in both of their district losses, falling to Cape 13-6 and to Fort Myers 18-14.
It’s been customary in recent years for the district race to come down to the very end. That trend continues this season as Fort Myers (5-4, 3-1), Cape and Baker remain in contention for the district’s two playoff berths.
The three teams essentially beat each other. Fort Myers defeated Cape, Cape defeated Baker and Baker defeated Fort Myers, meaning if all three teams finish 3-1 a three-way tiebreaker will take place to determine the district champion and runner-up (both spots earn playoff berths). The third team would be left out, a situation the Seahawks found themselves in two seasons ago.
Fort Myers completed its district slate last week with a victory over North, reaching 3-1. The Green Wave are guaranteed to at least be in the tiebreaker. If the Seahawks and Bulldogs both win Friday it forces the tiebreaker scenario.
From the Seahawks’ perspective, their only way to win the district would be to get in the three-way tiebreaker and win it. If Cape wins and Baker loses Friday, the Seahawks clinch the runner-up spot, but must go on the road for their first regional quarterfinal playoff game.
If the opposite occurs, with Baker winning and Cape losing, the Bulldogs would win the district based on owning the head-to-head tiebreaker (a season victory) over Fort Myers.
BLACK AND BLUE BOWL HISTORY
Mariner leads series 13-8
Average margin of victory: 25.0
2008 — ?????
2007 — Cape 32, Mariner 15
2006 — Cape 48, Mariner 27
2005 — Cape 24, Mariner 23
2004 — Mariner 27, Cape 20 (2OT)
2003 — Mariner 14, Cape 7
2002 — Mariner 50, Cape 7
2001 — Cape 36, Mariner 18
2000 — Cape 45, Mariner 0
1999 — Mariner 30, Cape 14
1998 — Mariner 50, Cape 23
1997 — Mariner 55, Cape 13
1996 — Mariner 56, Cape 14
1995 — Cape 10, Mariner 7
1994 — Cape 23, Mariner 10
1993 — Cape 41, Mariner 10
1992 — Mariner 10, Cape 3
1991 — Mariner 55, Cape 0
1990 — Mariner 34, Cape 16
1989 — Mariner 54, Cape 13
1988 — Mariner 30, Cape 0
1987 — Mariner 48, Cape 6
Bishop Verot (6-2) at Tampa Catholic (6-2): The Vikings may have found an x-factor heading into their huge District 2A-5 game Friday night against Tampa Catholic.
Senior Jesse Kane turned in one of the top performances of the season last Friday in a 27-16 win over Lake Placid when he returned three kicks (two kickoffs, one punt) for touchdowns.
He returned kicks of 85 and 90 yards and added a 39-yard punt return.
The Vikings improved to 2-1 in district play, keeping them in playoff contention.