Seahawks hold off Knights 28-21
The Cape Coral Seahawks led the series with the North Fort Myers Red Knights 19-13 in one of the longest rivalries in Lee County sports and were looking to their big play offense to extend that lead. Ultimately it was the defense making the difference with a last-minute goal-line stand as the Seahawks held on for a 28-21 victory Friday night.
Following a penalty-ridden first drive and a short Cape punt, North Fort Myers struck first. A powerful run game saw the Knights move to the Seahawk’s 10-yard line before Eric Russaw scored up the middle. Geoffrey Gentile added the extra points and North led 7-0.
Cape was quick to strike back. Using a powerful running game led by Jordan Lewis and some quick scrambling by quarterback Dylan Bontrager, the Seahawks drove to North’s 9-yard line. One play later Bontrager found Rasheen Bailey open in the end zone. Parker Stone’s PAT tied the game at 7-7.
Following a North punt, the Seahawks continued to use the ground game with Isaac Washington as the featured back. From the 19-yard line Bontrager showed his athleticism. Rolling to his left, he threw to the end zone and the ball was tipped and wound up in the hands of C.J. Lewis. Stone added the extra point and the Seahawks went in front 14-7.
North continued to pound the ball with Russaw and Zaquandre White sharing the carries. This time it was White finishing the drive with a powerful run around the left side from 11 yards out. The missed extra point left Cape with a 14-13 lead.
North fought back, driving to the Seahawks’ 10. A big sack by sophomore Kris Reaves and an interception by Franklin Richardson at the 10 put an end to the threat.
Following an exchange of possessions it was Cape’s turn to run the ball, and again it was Bontrager and Lewis doing the damage. The Seahawks ran to the 7-yard line before the defense stiffened and Cape had a fourth-and-goal. Cape coach Larry Gary reached in to his bag of tricks and this time it was junior Hunter Bontrager taking the pitch, rolling to his right and launching a pass to the corner of the end zone that was caught by quarterback and brother Dylan. Stone’s PAT gave Cape a 21-13 lead at halftime.
North came out on a mission in the second half and again it was the ground game in full gear. Heavy doses of White wore down the defense on an 11-play, 96-yard drive finished by Marlon Gonzalez with a two-yard run. The Knights went for the two-point conversion and Gonzalez made a diving catch in the corner of the end zone.
The tie was short lived. Two plays later Jordan Lewis took Bontrager’s pitch and outran everyone 60 yards around the left side for the score. Stone finished the scoring with his fourth extra-point of the night.
The teams traded possessions throughout the fourth quarter before North was able to mount a final drive. Starting from their own 26, the Knights again rode White and Russaw near midfield. Quarterback Quinn Bourque found Russaw deep down the right sideline and North had the ball at Cape’s 11. On fourth down Russaw took the pitch around the right side, but was met with a host of defenders and was stopped short of the goal line. The Seahawks were able to run out the clock and hold on for the close victory.
“We had some opportunities to put the game away, but they fought hard that’s a tribute to that team,” said Gary.
Cape Coral will try to stay unbeaten next Friday when they host another crosstown rival in Island Coast. Meanwhile the Red Knights try to regroup at home against Cypress Lake.
North FM 7 6 8 0 – 21
Cape Coral 7 14 7 0 – 28
NFM – Russaw 10 run (Gentile kick)
CC – Bailey 14 pass from Bontrager (Stone kick)
CC – Lewis 19 pass from Bontrager (Stone kick)
NFM – White 10 run (kick failed)
CC – D. Bontrager 7 pass from H. Bontrager (Stone kick)
NFM – Gonzalez 2 run (Gonzalez pass from Bourque)
CC – Lewis 60 run (Stone kick)