Mariner scores late to win annual Black & Blue Bowl, 19-12
The 36th chapter in a decades-long rivalry played out Thursday night at Cape Coral High School.
The annual Black & Blue Bowl — a clash between the Seahawks and cross-town rival Mariner Tritons — delivered a hard-fought (per usual) contest that came down to the wire.
When all was said and done, the road team emerged the victors, as Triton stud Justin Lewis found wide-out Kaelan Davidson for a 55-yard go-ahead touchdown with 45 seconds to play.
The score gave Mariner a 19-12 lead, one the Tritons would hold onto in the final moments.
“In a game like this, versus Cape every year, it’s going to be close no matter what,” said Mariner head coach Josh Nicholson. “It doesn’t matter if one team is loaded and the other isn’t. We came into tonight pretty even. We were confident in our game plan and our athletes. We just knew we had to protect the ball, which we did not. I don’t want to say we’re lucky, but it took some time and took us just doing our job and trusting our teammates to pull this one out.”
Nicholson was referring to the five turnovers the Tritons gave up on the night, though Cape Coral chipped in three of their own.
Mariner (4-3) got the ball to start and both defenses forced punts. On the Tritons’ second possession, a big play from Lewis got into opponent territory and a Seahawk penalty one play later set Mariner up at the 20. Cape (2-4) held its ground, but rock-solid Triton kicker Gabe Chica drilled a 33-yard field goal to give his team a 3-0 lead with 3 minutes to play in the first quarter.
The Tritons again forced a Cape punt but gave it back just two plays later when Cape intercepted Cameron Bennett. The Seahawks, unable to build any offensive momentum off of the turnover, once again punted to the Tritons, and the Tritons once again turned the ball over.
A Bennett pass that floated in the air after taking contact was instinctively caught by a lineman downfield. While that is an illegal reception, the lineman fumbled the ball when tackled and recovered by Cape Coral. The Seahawks declined the penalty and took over on their own 30-yard line.
The Tritons defense once more stepped up to the plate and forced a three-and-out.
“Coach (Derrick) Ransom does a great job with (the defense),” Nicholson said. “We’ll find 11 guys that will fly around and play ball. He’s one of the best defensive coaches I’ve ever worked with. The energy he brings and the way the kids play with heart and do their job, no matter who their opponent is.”
The Tritons offense started rolling on the ensuing possession, working its way down to the Seahawk 15-yard line. Unfortunately, the turnover bug bit again and Bennett fumbled on a keeper.
Next, it was Cape’s turn to feel the bite, as Mariner’s Marcus Kelley Jr. intercepted quarterback Blake Thomas on the first play, setting the Tritons up on the 17-yard line.
A reception by Kelvin Jimenez put Mariner inside the 10, and two plays later a Triton receiver fumbled into the back of the end zone on a near-score for a touchback. The Seahawks took a knee to go into the half.
The turnover plague wasted little time getting started in the second half, as Cape Coral fumbled on the very first play on a quarterback/running back exchange, putting Mariner on Cape’s 17-yard line. On the third play, the Seahawks intercepted a Bennett and this time, they’d make the takeaway it count.
On the sixth play from scrimmage, senior running back Damien Miranda exploded through the hole on third and short for a 66-yard touchdown, giving Cape Coral a 6-3 lead with 8:11 to play in the third quarter.
Mariner came right back and answered the bell, putting together a seven-play, 67-yard drive capped by a Kelley Jr. 38-yard touchdown reception from Bennett. A successful 2-point try made it 11-6 Mariner.
After a few possessions that stalled, the Seahawks worked their way down to the Mariner 25 before another fumble gave the Tritons control.
The Seahawk defense forced a three-and-out and the offense went to work now in the fourth quarter.
Starting on their own 40, the Seahawks’ Thomas hit Matthew Lundsted for a huge 42-yard gain on the first play to put the Cape in the red zone. Working down to the 7, Thomas found 6-foot-4 tight end Maddox Howerton for a touchdown putting the home squad up 12-11.
Mariner got the ball back with less than a minute to play and made magic happen on the first play.
Nicholson slotted Lewis into the quarterback slot for the first time all night, and it paid off in a big way when he hit Davidson in stride for the eventual game-winner.
“It was either get out of bounds or throw a good ball,” Lewis said of game plan in the final minute. “I saw my receiver down field and open, made the play, touchdown. It’s an exciting feeling.”
Of the decision to put Lewis under center on the final drive, Nicholson said, “It’s the Michael Jordan affect. When the game is on the line, you want the ball in your best player’s hands. And it’s nothing against Cam, he does a great job. He’s one of the smartest kids I’ve ever coached. With the game on the line, it’s got to be in (Lewis’) hands.”
The Seahawks were unable to score in the final moments and while they took home the trophy last year, it’s Mariner’s turn to display the hardware until 2023.
“The kids play hard. They always fight hard. And I’m pleased that our offense put up some points,” said Cape head coach Larry Gary. “We put this offense in in two days, and the kids responded to it well. We just made a mental error that cost us. It hurts.”
Of the rivalry, which he has been a part of for a long time, Gary said, “It’s big. It’s huge. It’s going to be close like this every year.”
Nicholson said, “Ever since I’ve been at Mariner, this has been the game. It’s one of the true rivalries in Southwest Florida. It has 36 years of history — that’s hard to find. No matter the record, no matter the teams, you know it’s going to be a dog fight, and that’s exactly what this one was. We’re excited to come out on top.”
The Rotary Club of Cape Coral provides scholarships to one player from each team every year. This year’s recipients were Chica and Miranda.
Mariner will take on Island Coast next week on the road, while Cape hosts North Fort Myers.
— Connect with Associate Sports Editor CJ Haddad on Twitter: @haddad_cj
1 2 3 4 F
Mariner 3 0 8 8 — 19
Cape Coral 0 0 6 6 — 12
1st Quarter
M: Gabe Chica, 33-yard field goal; 3:00
3rd Quarter
CC: Damien Miranda, 67-yard run (kick fail); 8:11
M: Marcus Kelley Jr., 38-yard reception from Cameron Bennett (2-point good); 6:15
4th Quarter
CC: Maddox Howerton, 7-yard reception from Blake Thomas (try fail); 4:30
M: Kaelan Davidson, 55-yard reception from Justin Lewis (2-point good); :45