Gators eye playoff debut
The Island Coast Gators responded with the biggest win in program history in Week 8, upsetting District 2B-6 favorite Dunbar. The 6-2 slugfest vaulted the Gators into legitimate playoff contention in just their first full varsity season.
Needing to win the last two games to clinch the district title, the Gators did so in style with a pair of romps over Gateway Charter 66-6, and LaBelle 57-0.
As a result, the Gators (6-4) host their first-ever playoff game Friday night against Orlando Lake Highland Prep (9-1) in a Region 3-2B semifinal game.
The Gators are the most surprising of the Cape’s three playoff participants.
The Cape Coral Seahawks (10-0) enter the postseason for the third straight year after winning the District 4A-12 title. They host Lakewood Ranch (6-4) Friday at Dave Warkentin Stadium.
The Ida Baker Bulldogs (8-2), meanwhile, have enjoyed the best season in the program’s five-year history, making their inaugural appearance in the state playoffs. As District 4A-12 runner-up, the Bulldogs go on the road to face state-ranked Charlotte (9-1). The winner of that game meets the winner of Cape-Lakewood Ranch in the Region 3-4A semifinals.
Though a lot happened for the Gators down the stretch, it was much earlier in the season when the young team had to make a serious decision.
“Most teams would’ve folded after the Clewiston game. That was a heartbreaker for us,” Gators coach Joe Bowen said. “We made mental mistakes like a young team. They didn’t like that feeling and they kept everything in perspective.”
The Gators’ turning point came a short time after that long road trip back from Clewiston where they blew a 28-19 lead late in the fourth quarter.
It was their first district game and they let it slip away with some critical mistakes, including a botched snap on a punt that gave Clewiston the ball near the end zone.
Since then, the Gators have buckled down and played their best football, winning five of their last six games, including all three in the district.
“They have bought into (being a team),” Bowen stressed. “That’s the most important thing. You ask any coach and they’ll tell you it doesn’t matter how much talent you have, if they don’t buy into it you’re not going to go very far.”
Friday’s opponent, Lake Highland Prep, lost just once, to Tampa Catholic 25-20. Bowen said they’re explosive and physical.
The Gators are far from flashy in their approach. They run often and with great success.
They enter the postseason averaging more than 250 yards per game on the ground. Sophomore quarterback Mike Dumas leads the way with 638 yards and 12 touchdowns, but it’s been a stable of ball carriers. Louis King, Jordan Reed, Nelson Candelario, Phil Woolbright and Brian Boehm have helped the rushing attack.
“We’re spreading the wealth,” Bowen said. “We don’t have one true game-breaking runningback, but kids that are going to give 100 percent.”
The Gators’ backs have the luxury of running behind a strong offensive line that includes Storm Jackson, Sednal Joanis, Ek Binns, Parker Cauble and R.C. Cauble.
Defensively, junior Aaron Lynch (12 1/2 sacks) and sophomore Willie Fleming (118 tackles) lead the charge.
A large group of Gators players are juniors. They played on the school’s first freshman team two years ago and posted a 7-1 record. The Gators went 3-3 last year in a six-game varsity schedule, before joining a district this year. Clearly, they’ve continued their progression.
“This is something we were hoping for,” Bowen said. “I’m extremely pleased with what they’ve done and the players should be proud of themselves.”
Seahawks in again
In their final two wins to conclude the regular season, the Seahawks (10-0) showed patience. Most of their scoring came in the second half.
The Seahawks led Ida Baker 6-0 at halftime and were locked up with Lehigh 7-7 before outscoring those teams 40-0 in the second half. Seahawks coach Mike Goebbel said he’s not concerned with the slow starts.
“It’s how you finish, not how you start,” he said. “We’re just that kind of team. I have good support from my assistant coaches at halftime as far as making adjustments.”
The Seahawks have displayed an ability to strike quickly all season and have proven to have several different dimensions to their offense.
In their Week 11 win over Lehigh, senior running back/defensive back Jeremy Davis provided the biggest plays with an 85-yard touchdown run and a 70-yard interception return.
Davis leads the team with 14 touchdowns, while senior quarterback Jaylen Watkins has accounted for 10 TDs and 826 rushing yards. Junior Prince Holloway continues to be a threat in the passing game, compiling 526 receiving yards and seven TDs.
The Seahawks entered this season expecting their talented skill players to make a big impact, and they’ve done exactly that, but they’re a confident group heading into Friday’s playoff game because of the growth shown at other areas, including the offensive line and defense.
They’ve also cut down on turnovers significantly since early in the year.
They face an unpredictable Lakewood Ranch team. The Mustangs were routed by Baker 37-8 and Charlotte 49-0, but finished with back-to-back impressive wins over Palmetto 17-13 and Hardee County 35-22.
Goebbel said the Mustangs have a lot to defend and a big offensive line.
“They have a good combination,” he said. “We’ll have to defend the entire field and at the line of scrimmage.”
Friday’s game marks the third straight year the Seahawks have reached the playoffs. In 2007, they defeated Venice and Bradenton Manatee en route to the Class 5A regional finals. They lost in the opening round to Venice last season.
In addition to the playoff games, the Seahawks have been in several other marquee games over the past three years, which they hope works to their advantage. Cape’s seniors are 27-7 the past three years under Goebbel.
Among those seniors is running back/cornerback Spencer Boyd. The Notre Dame recruit suffered a knee injury late in last Friday’s win over Lehigh and is listed as day-to-day.
Baker’s under-Dogs
One of the primary strengths for Ida Baker this season has been the play of the defense, particularly an ability to swarm to the football. The Bulldogs face no greater a challenge than Friday’s clash with District 4A-11 champion Charlotte and blue-chip running back Mike Bellamy.
The junior ranks as one of the top handful of running backs nationally in the class of 2011. He has scored 26 touchdowns this season and already has put together an impressive highlight video of long dashes to the end zone and elusive moves in the open field.
The Tarpons are far more than one dimensional, but the Bulldogs know they must find a way to contain Bellamy to have a chance.
“We have to get off of blocks,” Baker coach Brian Conn said. “He has great speed, a lot of times he’s into the secondary before he has to make a cut.”
To complicate matters for the Bulldogs, the Tarpons have good size and strength on the line, led by tackle Byron Grant and center Antwan Allen. Quarterback Kyle Midgett and receiver Alex Mut provide a balanced attack.
The Tarpons lost once, to 5A power Venice 31-28, but appear capable of making a deep run in Class 4A.
Conn says it’s an exciting opportunity for the Bulldogs in their playoff debut.
“It’s a chance to play a team you don’t get to play in the regular season,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to see how we match up against another great team.”
The Bulldogs have had to deal with some injuries and illnesses late in the season. Senior running back/cornerback Joseph Byrd is out with an ACL injury and Baker played without backup running back Brandon Cruz in last Friday’s 28-21 win over Mariner. Senior Jacob York picked up the slack by rushing for 123 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior fullback Andrew Haynes and senior tight end Jonathan Garcia are two important players on offense, along with junior quarterback Sean Francis, as the Bulldogs try to control the ball against the high-powered Tarpons.