Red Knights crush Tritons 48-14
It was a North Fort Myers Homecoming of big plays, returns and even a marriage proposal – promptly accepted – as the Red Knights rode a dual passing attack from two quarterbacks to rock the Mariner Tritons 48-14 Friday night at Moody Field.
With a highlight-reel catch that rivals any reception this season in Lee County, junior wide receiver Brandon King hauled in a one-handed reception that led to a 76-yard touchdown 22 seconds before halftime for a 20-7 lead, but more importantly a healthy dose of momentum for the second half.
“Big plays are contagious and that was a great play,” said Red Knights coach Earnest Graham. “When guys can make electric plays like that, it really spreads.”
The catch was a microcosm of how the Red Knights attacked the Tritons defense. A passing attack spearheaded by the tandem of senior quarterbacks J’Ravien Andersen and Jared Rusnak went for 361 yards combined, as well as a 75 percent completion rate with both going 21-of-28.
“We were getting a lot of good passing looks, so we took them,” Graham said. “We preach all the time about yards after the catch opportunity, to make that positive play. The night came together well.”
The Red Knights started the evening with a heavy dose of running, as junior runningback Luis Alfonso toted the rock nine times in the first quarter alone, racking up 43 yards and keying North’s first touchdown drive capped by Rusnak’s one-yard dive to tie the game at 7-7.
The gears were switched in the second quarter when Rusnak started using a two- or three-step drop and completed high-percentage quick strike passes to his receivers.
King alone snagged five passes for 170 yards. Rusnak was highly efficient by going 14-of-19 for 170 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Andersen followed suit, going 7-of-9 for 191 yards a touchdown, a pick and a healthy 27.3 yards per throw average.
“(Rusnak and Andersen) work very well together, they have been just getting better with each game,” Graham said.
The Knights took their first lead after recovering a Tritons fumble on the Mariner 21. Rusnak hit Alfonso for an 11-yard gain over the middle, then found senior wide receiver Austin Watkins down the left side. The Red Knight receiver broke a tackle en route to six points.
The Tritons answered forcing a turnover when senior outside linebacker Zach Panio jumped a route and picked off Rusnak at the Red Knight 35.
A crucial hold on fourth-and-four at the North 7, put the tide turning touchdown by King in motion.
Andersen came in for his cycle behind center and found King running a seam route. The pass was a tad high, but King reached up with one hand, pulled it in, avoided the safety and rambled the rest of the 76 yards to set up an eventual 28-point second half.
The Tritons’ early 7-0 lead came on the game’s third play of the game, as junior quarterback Cairo Jeunegens hit sophomore wideout Jamel Myers in stride on a slant. Myers avoided all tacklers and went for the 65-yard touchdown.
“We gave up that big play early, but the defense played well for the rest of the game, for the most part,” Graham said.
Things were going so right that a North alumnus, and current mascot, proposed to his high school sweetheart. With the momentum going all in favor of the Red Knights, she accepted.
Back into the game, North continued its onslaught through the air. Andersen was efficient on a 56-yard scoring drive where he went 3-of-3 for 53 yards. He ended the drive with a six-yard run to put the Knights up 27-7.
The Tritons used one more explosive play to put up the rest of their points, that coming on a 46-yard TD burst around left end by speedy junior Chance Reiter pulling them within 27-14.
The Tritons picked Andersen off and were driving into Knights’ territory to potentially pull within one possession, but North’s defense stiffened and forced three straight incompletions and a punt.
That’s where the wheels fell off for Mariner. Rusnak came back into the game, threw five straight completions, including a 44-yarder to King, and ended with Andersen going in from 10 yards out for the 34-14 advantage with 8:12 left in regulation.
A pair of defensive touchdowns on a 55-yard fumble return by senior Lucious Stanley and a 14-yard interception return for a score by senior Hunter Andrews put the final toppings on an already bulging Homecoming win.
There wasn’t much running to be said for either team, as the Knights compiled 87 yards on 23 carries, while the Tritons had 114 yards on 26 attempts. Jeunegens finished the game going 11-of-20 for 125 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Mariner (2-3) visits Lely next Friday while North Fort Myers (2-3), which has scored 40-plus points in three straight games, travels to Port Charlotte.