City rivals kick off campaign
The city’s longest running high school football rivalry continues Friday night when Cape Coral High and Mariner meet in the season opener.
It’s the 23rd edition of the Black ‘n’ Blue Series, and promises to be as heated and action-packed as ever with both teams stocked with high-level talent and experience. The optimism is running high at both schools, as is usually the case at the start of a new season.
Even with all the essentials in place for a knock-down, drag-out contest, the planned pre-game ceremony (6-6:45 p.m.) should offer a certain level of perspective.
Prior to kickoff, Mariner will remember the late Tony McKenna, who once donned the uniforms of both the Seahawks and Tritons.
McKenna, who the Mariner football field is named after, was a former captain and star linebacker for the Tritons. He was struck by lightning and died three days before the teams were scheduled to meet in the opening game of the 1989 season, his senior year.
The game, which was scheduled for Sept. 5, 1989, was postponed. Instead, a memorial service was held that Friday evening with members of both teams in attendance.
“He was at the top, he was outstanding,” said Mariner athletic director Vito Mennona, who was an assistant coach then. “I say that with the knowledge that a lot of times when people pass away, other people say things that blow them up bigger. It’s just impossible to blow him up bigger. He exemplified as a student, a friend, a family person, all the qualities that we try to preach every day.”
The values of hard work and dedication that McKenna carried with him on the football field were present until his final practice.
As players and coaches were leaving the practice field, McKenna and a few teammates decided to head back out to the tackling sled for extra work. That’s when lighting struck, and a tragic accident occurred.
“That’s the way he was,” said Mennona. “He had to hit that sled one more time.”
At the time, McKenna was receiving recruiting interest from several top colleges, including Florida State. FSU coach Bobby Bowden sent a No. 55 jersey to McKenna’s family, who regularly attend Tritons games.
Following his death, Mariner named its football stadium in his honor and started a memorial scholarship in his name.
McKenna started his high school career playing at Cape his freshman year, before Mariner opened in 1987.
Former teammates, classmates, coaches and friends are expected to take part in Friday’s ceremony.
“When it happened 20 years ago, it affected more than just our school. It was the whole city,” Mennona said.
Cape Coral at Mariner: The Seahawks and Tritons now belong to different districts. As the schedule changed this offseason, it brought about the shift in the rivalry game being played at the start of the season, instead of being near the end.
With a full season ahead, both teams feel they have the structure in place to contend for the playoffs – the Seahawks in 4A-12 and the Tritons in 3A-11.
The Seahawks, ranked No. 10 in the preseason Class 4A state poll, are coming off a 7-4 playoff season, but the number of Division I talent on this year’s team is unrivaled in their 30-year history.
The Tritons finished 4-6 last season, but return a senior-laden group. They’re motivated to end their high school careers on a high note.
The Tritons appear to have come a long way in a short period of time, since falling to Gulf Coast 43-0 in the spring game.
“We’ll have to be at our best this week,” Seahawks coach Mike Goebbel said. “It puts a lot of pressure on us. A lot of teams have games that lead into the season, but this game happens right out of the gate.”
Island Coast at North Fort Myers: The hard-fought preseason classic games Island Coast and North Fort Myers were involved in prepared them well for what is expected to be an intense first meeting between the schools at North’s Moody Field.
The Red Knights have experience on their side, including a lineage of past greats, such as Deion Sanders, Jevon Kearse and Noel Devine.
The Gators are embarking on their first 10-game varsity campaign after going 3-3 in six games last year.
Given the location of Island Coast’s campus in the northern Cape, many of the players are familiar with one another, having played on the same or rival teams in youth football.
“This is going to be a nice little rivalry for years to come,” Island Coast coach Joe Bowen said.
North coach Barry Goettemoeller said his team better be ready for a physical, emotional contest against the upstart Gators.
Ida Baker at Lehigh: Many of the key players the Ida Baker Bulldogs are counting on, made their presence felt in a 42-20 rout of Estero in the preseason classic.
Senior running back Joseph Byrd, in particular, rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns and junior QB Sean Francis looked comfortable running the offense against Estero.
They begin this season at Lehigh, and though the Lightning are coming off a disappointing 3-7 season, the talent appears to be in place for a much-improved campaign.
Bishop Verot at Evangelical Christian: ECS featured a potent offense last season, reaching 30 or more points on seven different occasions. Three times the Sentinels surpassed the 50-point mark.
Vikings coach Phil Dorn knows the danger presented by ECS and its spread offense, led by senior quarterback Colton Lynch.
“They’re a very good team this year. It’s going to be challenging,” Dorn said. “They have experience back on offense and defense.”