Gators seeking 1st victory
This is unfamiliar territory for the Island Coast Gators, being 0-3 just three weeks deep into a new season of football.
In their previous seven years of varsity football, the Gators lost more than three games just once – in 2009 (6-5).
When the Gators take the field tonight against North Fort Myers (1-2) their streak of five consecutive seasons of three or fewer losses is at risk of being broken. Tonight’s game also is the District 6A-10 opener for both teams, putting even more at stake.
“It (the streak) is what it is. Some kids left, graduated, can’t do much about things out of our control,” said Gators’ first-year coach John Schwochow. “We’re developing younger kids, getting them some playing time and experience on the varsity level. We’re a very young team.”
The Gators lost to two of the very best teams in Southwest Florida, South Fort Myers and Naples, and lost the third game to Sarasota last week.
“I think the rest of our schedule we can compete with most of them,” said Schwochow. “Whether we win or not, competing is the key. I think second in the district (and a postseason appearance) is still within our reach.”
Over the Gators’ six straight seasons of winning records they are 43-14, a winning percentage of .754.
Only Cape High and Mariner can claim to have strung together six-year winning seasons. The Tritons did it once from 1987, their first varsity season, through 1992. The Seahawks achieved it once as well, from 2006 through 2011. The Gators can ill afford to lose any more games in order to keep the winning season streak going.
“We’re still trying to get there as a team,” added Schwochow. “We’re getting better every day. We accomplished some things today practicing indoors due to the rain. We’re better today than we were yesterday.”
In the Red Knights, the Gators face a partially handicapped squad. The Knights are plowing ahead this season without the presence of top scoring threat Zaquandre White, who is serving a six-game suspension handed down by the FHSAA for his part in a brawl on the sidelines of the team’s fall classic clash with South Fort Myers. Teammate Bryan Jobson is unavailable for six games as well.
“We have to use a combination of offense and defense to beat North,” said Schwochow. “We have to contain their backs on defense, even without their star runner. Then when we get the ball we still have some guys who can make plays on offense.”
No matter what happens with the Gators’ winning season streak, the goal in any season in to reach the postseason based on their district record. As play begins tonight, all six teams in District 6A-10 start out with a clean slate at 0-0.
In other 6A-10 matchups tonight, Baker (1-2) hosts Charlotte (3-0) and Cape Coral (1-1) hosts Port Charlotte (1-1).
In District 5A-12, Mariner (2-1) hosts Cypress Lake (0-2) and Dunbar (2-0) hosts Lely (0-3). In District 4A-6, Bishop Verot (2-1) hosts Lake Placid (1-2). Also, Oasis (1-1) entertains Solid Rock at the Storms Complex.
Elsewhere tonight involving Lee County teams: Fort Myers (2-1) hosts (7A) No. 7-ranked South Fort Myers (3-0); Lehigh (0-2) hosts Barron Collier (2-1); Estero (0-3) hosts Palmetto Ridge (3-0); East Lee County (1-1) hosts Riverdale (1-2); SWF?Christian (2-1) visits District 2A-7 rival St. John Neumann (0-2); Evangelical Christian (1-1) visits District 2A-7 rival First Baptist (1-1); and Canterbury (1-1) hosts Ambassador Christian.