Gators crush Cowboys 57-0
Not many first-year high school varsity football programs find themselves with an opportunity to make it to the state playoffs. That was the case Friday night at Gator Stadium.
Island Coast, needing a win to clinch a district playoff berth, left little to chance, dominating the LaBelle Cowboys in a 57-0 romp.
“The guys knew we needed it,” said Island Coast coach Joe Bowen. “It was win-and-you’re-in all week. We have kind of been the Rodney Dangerfield team of the area. All we want is respect, and we went out and got it, and now we have to continue to move forward.”
With Dunbar defeating Clewiston, Island Coast not only made it to the playoffs, they won the District 2B-6 championship.
After a quick three-and-out by LaBelle to open the game, quarterback Michael Dumas lead the Gators on a six-play scoring drive that he capped with a 15-yard touchdown run. Dumas found the end zone two more times on the night, with untouched scoring runs of 13 and 16 yards. The Gators’ other TD of the first quarter came on a 20-yard end around run by Phillip Woolbright.
Island Coast (6-4, 4-1 district) blew the game open in the second quarter, scoring four times and recording a safety. Pinned deep in their own territory, LaBelle tried a toss, but Jimmy Stewart shot in and tackled the runner in the end zone for the safety.
Gators runningback Nelson Candelario claimed two touchdowns, on a run of 18 yards and a dazzling sprint of 69 yards to put the Gators up 44-0 at the half.
The offense benefited from great field position, in the first half, starting five drives in LaBelle’s side of midfield. Dumas and Candelario both finished with three touchdowns and more than 100 yards rushing.
The Gators’ defense was not to be outshined by the offense, holding the Cowboys to a negative seven yards in the first half.
“We worked together and everyone stepped up and did their job,” said Gator defensive back Willie Fleming, the Gators’ leading tackler on the season, who finished with six tackles.
As district champions, the Gators will host a regional quarterfinal game on Nov. 20.
LaBelle 0 0 0 0 – 0
Island Coast 14 30 7 6 – 57
First Quarter
IC – Michael Dumas 15 run (Kyle Fitzgerald kick)
IC – Phillip Woolbright 20 run (Fitzgerald kick)
Second Quarter
IC – Dumas 13 yard (Fitzgerald kick)
IC – Safety, LaBelle runner tackled in end zone
IC – Dumas 16 run (Fitzgerald kick)
IC – Nelson Candelario 18 run (Fitzgerald kick)
IC – Candelario 69 run (Fitzgerald kick)
Third Quarter
IC – Brian Boehm 40 run (Fitzgerald kick)
Fourth Quarter
IC – Candelario 15 run (no PAT attempted)