Knights steamroll Tritons 47-0
North Fort Myers coach Earnest Graham returned to his alma mater Friday night for the fist time as a visiting coach and saw his Red Knights quickly take control of the game. Mariner had no answer for the visitors’ big play offense and suffered a 47-0 defeat with all the scoring coming before halftime.
Mariner coughed up the ball multiple times in a 43-6 loss to Charlotte last week, and on the first play from scrimmage the trend continued. Tailback Jacob Ward took the handoff and promptly put the ball on the ground with North on the recovery.
Two plays later quarterback Quinn Bourque found Eric Russaw wide open down the left side for a 16-yard touchdown. A two-point conversion failed and North led 6-0.
Mariner’s punt was mishandled by North sophomore Zaquandre White, but he quickly recovered and was off to the races in a 75-yard TD return. Senior David Vogel took a direct snap around the left side for a successful two-point conversion and a 14-0 lead.
North forced another Tritons punt and again it didn’t take long for the Knights to strike. On the first play of the drive Russaw burst through the middle of the defense ran it in on a 63-yard run and a 20-0 lead.
Mariner sophomore Cairo Jeunegens threw under pressure only to have senior linebacker Kenneth Kersey pick it off and return it 37 yards to the Tritons’ 3. Russaw scored on the next play and with the two-point conversion the Knights led 28-0.
The next North possession White turned in another big play running around the left side untouched 68 yards for his second touchdown. The lead was up to 34-0.
Bourque found senior wideout Jacob Duff down the left sideline. A couple of key blocks and a cutback later Duff was in the end zone for a 72-yard score to make it 40-0.
The scoring was completed as North’s second string offense took to the field. Junior quarterback Jared Rusnak rolled to his left and lofted a perfect pass to senior Shannon Sims for a 56-yard strike. The extra point made it 47-0.
The star of the second half was the weather. A torrential downpour and a running clock gave each team limited possessions and an uneventful and scoreless half.
Graham praised his team for their effort while quickly getting them on the busses and out of the wet conditions. The Knights (2-2) host Cape Coral (4-0) next Friday. Things don’t get any easier for Mariner (0-4) as they travel to Island Coast (3-1).
North FM 28 19 0 0 – 47
Mariner 0 0 0 0 – 0
NFM – Russaw 16 pass from Bourque (failed)
NFM – White 75 punt return (Vogel run)
NFM – Russaw 63 run (failed)
NFM – Russaw 3 run (White run)
NFM – White 68 run (kick failed)
NFM – Duff 71 pass from Bourque (kick failed)
NFM – Sims 56 pass from Rusnak (Gentile kick)