Pirates sack Knights 33-27
PORT CHARLOTTE – Zaquandre White was chomping at the bit to get back to action following a five-game suspension. Although the stats weren’t quite there, the North Fort Myers star tailback certainly had a flair for the dramatic Friday night.
Even though White got points on style, it was the head-rattling runs of Port Charlotte’s Brennan Norus that provided the difference, rushing for 184 yards on 24 carries including the game-winner late in the third quarter, as the Pirates recovered after blowing a 17-point lead to hold off the Red Knights 33-27 in a District 6A-10 contest.
Trailing 17-0, North went on a 24-3 run. White scored his first touchdown on the final play of the first half on a jump ball in the corner to draw North within 20-14, then caught another scoring pass from J’Ravien Andersen of 44 yards on North’s second possession of the third quarter to put North on top.
After another North field goal, the Pirates continued to storm up the middle and went on a seven-play, 80-yard drive for the game-clincher late in the third quarter.
Port Charlotte (3-2, 2-0) made it a two-possession game when Ernest Harvey scored his second touchdown. After North’s Max Ferris kicked a field goal with 5:37 left in the game to cut the lead to six, the Pirates ran out the clock, converting on a fourth-and-one by the nose of the football to clinch it.
“We made some big plays, got some big passes and got back in the game, but Port Charlotte is a great team. They went on their run and finished it out,” North coach Ernest Graham said.
The Knights recovered an onside kick to start the game, but the opening drive was thwarted by Ronald Edmond’s interception in the end zone.
Port Charlotte took advantage as Norus’ hard running set up sophomore quarterback Paul Barnes for a two-yard touchdown plunge to make it 7-0.
After a Red Knights (2-4, 0-2) three-and-out, Port Charlotte got its passing game going. Barnes completed all three of his passes, including the final one, a 42-yard scoring strike to Ernest Harvey, to make it 14-0.
North slowly gained the momentum after Andres Fernandez’s 42-yard field goal made it 17-0 Pirates. Austin Watkins ended an 11-play drive with an 11-yard touchdown reception from Andersen to make it 17-7.
After another Hernandez field goal with 1:12 left in the half, North drove quickly down the field before Andersen threw a jump ball in the corner that White came down with.
White gained 47 yards on 13 carries and caught four passes for 55 yards and two scores.
Andersen was 17-of-26 passing for 240 yards and three touchdowns.
The loss all but ends North’s quest for the playoffs, especially with state-ranked Charlotte coming to town in two weeks for another district game.
“We have to take the field in the spirit of winning. That’s the best we can do right now,” Graham said.