High school football: Previews, predictions for Southwest Florida Week 4 games
Here are previews and predictions for Southwest Florida football games being played on Thursday, Sept. 14, and Friday, Sept. 15. All games Friday at 7:30 p.m. unless noted.
Collier County Game of the Week
Golden Gate (2-1) at Naples (3-0)
Time: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
What to watch for — Golden Gate: This is a Class 3S-District 16 game. The Titans will look to avoid sitting at .500 after four weeks, aiming to rebound after a 24-13 loss to Bartow. Golden Gate struggled to defend Jaydon Williams, who ran for 141 yards on just seven carries. Nick Bigica's group enters this contest looking to snap a 17-game losing streak to the Golden Eagles since the school opened in the mid-2000s. The closest game was in 2017, a 24-15 decision in which Golden Gate was only outgained 279-266. Naples: The Golden Eagles had their ebbs and flows last Friday, but ultimately came out with a 33-17 win over Immokalee on the road. Shawn Simeon ran for 72 yards on nine attempts, including a 47-yard touchdown scamper to put Naples ahead for good after trailing 6-0 early in the first quarter. Naples ran for 263 yards as a team, with five players logging six or more carries in the backfield. Jack Melton completed 4 of 6 passes for 93 yards, including a pair of passes to Damarion Salters, who made acrobatic catches on both of them. Naples has never lost to Golden Gate, with the closest game being a 24-15 decision in 2017.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Naples 28, Golden Gate 17
LISTEN: The Inside Southwest Florida Football podcast will get you ready for Week 4 action
Bonita Springs (1-2) at Barron Collier (2-0)
Time: 7 p.m. Thursday
What to watch for — Bonita Springs: This is a Class 3S-District 16 contest. The Bull Sharks hung tough with Cape Coral, allowing just seven points over 48 minutes before falling 13-7 in overtime. Bonita Springs' offensive woes continued, as the team's lone score came on a pick-six. Riley DeRemer remained out of the game and has yet to make his debut as the starting running back. Bonita's rough skid dating back to last year has continued, winning just one of their previous nine games. In those nine games, the Bull Sharks' point differential is minus-163. Barron Collier: The Cougars were off last week but are coming off a dominant 49-0 win over Palmetto Ridge in a game that was called at halftime due to the score and the impending inclement weather. Niko Boyce was nearly perfect on the night, completing 14 of 15 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns to Brody Graham (3 receptions, 94 yards), Caden Hudson (6 receptions, 113 yards), and Brady Thomas (1 reception, 13 yards). Jackson Polly was efficient on the ground, rushing for 83 yards on four carries. In last year's contest between the two teams, the Cougars possessed the ball for less than a quarter — 11 minutes and 15 seconds to be exact — and scored 35 points on the road.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Barron Collier 41, Bonita Springs 12
Lake Placid (1-1) at Immokalee (1-2)
Time: 7 p.m. Thursday
What to watch for — Lake Placid: The Dragons won a close battle against Nova 22-18 in a game where the two teams virtually matched each other quarter for the quarter, but Nova came up short on a pair of two-point conversions in the first and third quarters. Lake Placid posted a relatively balanced offensive attack, passing for 142 yards while rushing for 146. DJ Bullard is one to keep tabs on, as he caught both of his passes for touchdowns last week, finishing with 79 yards. Immokalee: The Indians struggled for the second week in a row on offense, posting less than 150 yards of offense for the second straight week in a 33-17 loss for Naples. Immokalee had spurts of success with Justin Compere early and Trannon Villarreal late, but were never able to find their footing in drives that mattered. Redwood was held to just six points on drives that started inside the red zone, as the Naples defense hunkered down. Villarreal completed 4 of 10 passes for 57 yards with a touchdown, while rushing 13 times for minus-2 yards. Expect Immokalee to get right at home to get back to .500.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Immokalee 27, Lake Placid 13
Lee County Game of the Week
Fort Myers (2-1) at Dunbar (2-1)
What to watch for — Fort Myers: This is the District 3S-15 opener for both teams. The Green Wave are 8-7 all-time against the Tigers, but Dunbar has won the past three meetings, by a combined 12 points. That includes last year’s 29-27 overtime win, which saw the Tigers overcome a 14-point deficit in the final three minutes of regulation. “Last year’s game is a tough one to look back on but I give them all the credit,” Fort Myers coach Sam Sirianni Jr. said. “As bleak as it looked in that one, they never quit believing … We’ve won our share of close ones that way but in this series, clearly the last three were all right there for the taking in the fourth quarter.” The Green Wave are coming off a 38-14 win over Riverdale, the 699th victory in the program’s history. Fort Myers rushed for 247 yards in the victory with junior Frank Starks carrying 13 times for a team-best 139 yards and one touchdown. The Green Wave, who also had 266 rushing yards in an opening week win over North Fort Myers, surpassed the 200-yard mark on the ground just two times total in 2021 and 2022. “One of veterans areas is our offensive line,” Sirianni said. “We’ve made a conscious effort with this group to be a better running football team.” Controlling the line of scrimmage will be paramount for the Green Wave to end their three-game losing streak to Dunbar, as will cutting down on self-inflicted mistakes. “I think we have to play a lot cleaner,” Sirianni Jr. said. “Anything less than your best football in a game like this, the outcome’s not going to be what you’re looking for.” Dunbar: The Tigers allowed Bishop Verot to score 28 unanswered points in last week’s 49-14 loss to the Vikings, a defeat that snapped an 18-game winning streak for Dunbar against Lee County opponents. Bishop Verot rushed for more than 500 yards with junior quarterback Carter Smith going for 192 yards and six touchdowns. “We always try to win them all but once you fall short you’ve got to get your eyes on the prize and that’s just focusing on trying to win the district,” Tigers coach Sammy Brown said. “We know it’s going to be a dogfight, we’ve just got to come out and play.” One area Dunbar will be looking to improve is the play of its offensive line, which struggled in both pass protection and in opening running lanes against Bishop Verot. “It’s still a work in progress,” Brown said of the line, which lost of handful of last year’s starters to graduation. “Every week, we’ve got a different combination trying to find the right fit. That’s our job as coaches to make sure we get the best five out there.” Junior quarterback Austin Price has completed more than 71% of his pass attempts this season for 690 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Eric Fletcher, an East Carolina commit, leads the Tigers in receptions (16), receiving yards (342) and receiving touchdowns (6).
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Fort Myers 30, Dunbar 27
SWFL Rankings: Who's atop The News-Press/Naples Daily News Football and Volleyball rankings after Week 3?
First Baptist (2-0) at Bishop Verot (3-0)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for — First Baptist: The Lions have scored at least 40 points in their first two games of the season, including last week’s 42-22 dismantling of American Collegiate. First Baptist sprinted out to a 30-0 lead before the Rough Riders were able to get on the board. Junior quarterback Ethan Crossan threw for 148 yards and 5 touchdowns, including 3 to Jayden Petit, who now has 5 scores to start the season. On defense, Trent Maloney led the team with 11 tackles while Logan Bartley posted 4 tackles for loss. Last season, the Lions battled past the Vikings 56-42 in a back-and-forth battle. Bishop Verot: Vikings brought out the running clock against Dunbar in a statement 49-14 win last week. The rushing attack shined with quarterback Carter Smith running into the end zone 6 times and Deshon Jenkins leading the team with 167 yards on 21 carries. Smith also found Matthew Turner for a passing touchdown. The defense limited the Dunbar running game and came after quarterback Austin Price, sacking him 12 times. The Vikings will be looking to continue their revenge tour against the Lions, aiming for the program's first 4-0 start since 2019.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Bishop Verot 42, First Baptist 30
East Lee County (1-2) at South Fort Myers (2-1)
What to watch for — East Lee County: The Jaguars got their first win under head coach Herbans Paul after handling Island Coast 33-7. East Lee gashed them on the ground with Lazaro Rogers rushing for 257 yards and 3 touchdowns. As a team, they are averaging close to 250 yards a game. The defense picked off 5 passes against the Gators, including 2 hauled in by Victor Georges. The Jaguars will be expecting a more competitive contest than last year’s 38-0 loss to the Wolfpack. South Fort Myers: The Wolfpack improved to 2-1 after battling past North Fort Myers 14-7 last week. With less than 5 minutes in the game, as the Red Knights attempted a comeback, South recovered a pair of key fumbles to secure the win. The North front stymied the Wolfpack’s running game, but quarterback Chase Enguita was able to make plays with his legs, leading the team with 48 yards and a rushing score. Justin White has become Enguita’s go-to target, catching 21 passes for 302 yards and 3 touchdowns so far this season.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: South Fort Myers 23, East Lee County 20
Mariner (3-0) at Riverdale (0-3)
What to watch for — Mariner: The Tritons improved to 3-0 after demolishing Ida Baker 46-6 last week. Quarterback Noah Tolbert rushed for 97 yards and 3 touchdowns and also tossed a pair of touchdown passes to Justin Lewis. The Mariner defense has limited opponents to an average of 8 points a game so far this season. The team hosted Riverdale last year and lost 31-13. Riverdale: The Raiders are still seeking their first win of the season after falling 38-14 to Fort Myers. Riverdale failed to get offensive momentum because of consistent holds, illegal blocks, and false starts called against them. The offense went through Cole Hayes, who finished the game with 177 yards on 27 carries. Coby Hayes scored the Raiders’ lone touchdown in the game. Defensively, Riverdale gave up 247 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns to Fort Myers.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Mariner 27, Riverdale 17
Coaches Confidential: Which SWFL coach do you not want to face in a do-or-die game?
Lemon Bay (3-0) at North Fort Myers (0-3)
What to watch for — Lemon Bay: The Manta Rays defeated Gateway 42-10 last week, scoring touchdowns on their first five possessions to quickly wipe out an early 7-0 deficit. Senior quarterback Lorenzo Mauceri rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown and passed for another score. Lemon Bay has won five in a row dating back to last season and has a wealth of experience in both its offensive backfield and on its defensive front. North Fort Myers: The Red Knights remained winless on the season following a 14-7 loss to South Fort Myers at Moddy Field. With senior quarterback Bryce Duross out due to injury, North didn’t manage an offensive touchdown with its only score coming on a 96-yard punt return by senior Andre Devine. The Red Knights got an outstanding effort from its defense, especially up front, which they will again need if they hope to slow down the Lemon Bay running back. Getting Duross back under center should help settle down an offense that lost two fumbles on consecutive fourth-quarter drives that started inside the South Fort Myers 15-yard line.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: North Fort Myers 21, Lemon Bay 17
Cypress Lake (2-1) at Cape Coral (3-0)
What to watch for — Cypress Lake: The Panthers lost 24-0 to Estero last week in a game that saw them commit seven turnovers and muster just 86 yards on offense. Those miscues offset a solid job by the Cypress Lake defense, which limited the Wildcats to 160 total yards. Junior running back Isaiah Livingstone leads the Panthers with 167 rushing yards and three scores. Cape Coral: The Seahawks are off to their best start since winning their first five games in 2018. Last week, Cape Coral edged Bonita Springs 13-7 in overtime. Defensively, the Seahawks did not allow the Bull Sharks to score an offensive touchdown and stopped Bonita Springs on the 1-yard line in the extra session. However, Cape Coral continues to struggle to produce points on offense, managing a total of just 27 the past two weeks after opening with 46 in a shutout win over Ida Baker. The Seahawks can’t keep expecting their defense to hold teams to less than 10 points per game.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Cape Coral 14, Cypress Lake 13
Island Coast (0-3) at Estero (2-1)
What to watch for — Island Coast: The Gators committed six turnovers in a 33-7 loss to East Lee County. Sophomore quarterback Rex Elliott threw for 209 yards, including a 96-yard touchdown to Charles Lombardo, but was picked off five times. After opening with a 40-0 victory over Bonita Springs, Island Coast has scored a combined seven points the past two weeks. Estero: The Wildcats forced seven turnovers in last week’s 24-0 shutout of Cypress Lake. Estero did lose top running back Malik Allen to an ankle injury early in the game. The Wildcats managed to rush for just 84 yards on 35 carries against the Panthers. Senior quarterback Matthew Wilson has completed 55% of his passes this season for 463 yards and four touchdowns.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Estero 27, Island Coast 14
Tampa Catholic (2-1) at Lehigh (0-3)
What to watch for — Tampa Catholic: The Class 2M Crusaders are coming off a 37-10 loss at Clearwater Central Catholic, the defending Class 1M state runners-up. Tampa Catholic features a high-powered passing attack directed by senior quarterback Trey Hedden who has passed for 744 yards and six touchdowns and is averaging 22.5 yards per completion. Senior wide receiver T.J. Moore, a Clemson commit, is the Crusaders’ top offensive weapon with 14 catches for 421 yards and six touchdowns. Tampa Catholic is also averaging a tick under 10 yards per carry behind an offensive line anchored by massive 6-foot-3, 335-pound Eddy Pierre Louis, a UCF commit. The defense also features a pair of big-time performers in defensive back Jameer Grimsley (Alabama) and defensive lineman Xavier Porter (Louisville). Lehigh: The Lightning lost 26-20 at Lake Gibson Friday. Lehigh is seeking to avoid its first 0-4 start since 2019.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Tampa Catholic 35, Lehigh 7
IMG Academy White (3-0) at Evangelical Christian (2-1)
Time: 7:15 p.m.
What to watch for — IMG White: The Ascenders are 3-0 with wins against St. John Paul II, Key West and Southeast, topping 40 points in each contest. Those teams have just one win between them in the early goings of this season. Running back Clay Ash is averaging 145 yards on the ground in addition to scoring 7 touchdowns through 3 games. Evangelical Christian: The Sentinels took their first loss of the season after going on the road to face Cardinal Mooney, falling 37-17. The team has dealt with struggles in the running game lately, and starting running back LJ Blackwell remained sidelined last week. ECS was trailing 10-3 at the half before the Cougars pulled away in the third quarter. However, the Sentinels rallied to score a pair of touchdowns, both passes from Tanner Helton to Seven Bullock, in the fourth quarter.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: IMG White 40, Evangelical Christian 28
Ida Baker (0-3) at Port Charlotte (2-1)
What to watch for — Ida Baker: The Bulldogs are coming off a 46-6 Homecoming loss to Mariner. Senior running back Brendan Donnelly scored Baker’s lone touchdown and led the team with 87 rushing yards on 21 carries. The Bulldogs have been outscored 120-12 through three games. Port Charlotte: The Pirates put together their best performance of the young season last week, blanking visiting Gulf Coast 38-0. Port Charlotte held the Sharks to less than 100 total yards while its offense rushed for more than 200 yards, despite missing top running back Edd Guerrier. The Pirates have outscored their last two opponents by a combined 82-0 after losing to Bishop Verot in the opening week.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Port Charlotte 42, Ida Baker 7
Lely (1-2) at Southeast (0-3)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for — Lely: The Trojans saw their offensive woes continue for a second straight game, falling to Monsignor Pace 41-6. The Spartans got to Lely quarterback Colin Raymond more often than not, as he finished the game with eight rushes for minus-20 yards, including a fumble. Joshua Philogene caught all three of Raymond’s passes for 65 yards and a touchdown, while Jayvian Tanelus posted 83 yards on 19 attempts. Hitting the road to take on a Southeast team that has struggled offensively, consider this game a must-win for Lely if the program wants to make the postseason under first-year coach Ben Hammer. Southeast: The Seminoles have struggled dating back to last year, and Friday’s 49-13 loss to IMG White further proved that. Southeast is 1-11 in their last 12 games with a minus-340 point differential in those contests. IMG White had their way on the ground and through the air against the team, as the team passed for 111 yards and ran for 123, while forcing a pair of turnovers on the defensive side.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Lely 24, Southeast 21
Oasis (3-0) at Community School (2-0)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for — Oasis: The Sharks improved to 3-0 after coming back to beat Canterbury 25-18. Fred Harley rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. Parker Smith and Jonathan Perez also ran for touchdowns, with the latter getting the go-ahead score against the Cougars. On defense, Jacob Hall notched a pair of sacks and a forced fumble. In their last meeting with Community School two years ago, the Sharks lost 41-0. Community School: The Seahawks got their second win of the season after shutting out SFCA 44-0. CSN has yet to allow a point. Cale Austin threw a couple of touchdown passes, including one to Bobby McNamara, who also had a rushing score. The Seahawks also scored off a blocked punt, which helped them build a 23-0 halftime lead. Starting the season 3-0 will bring the squad closer to matching their 6-0 record to start the 2021 season.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Community School 35, Oasis 17
LaBelle (2-1) at Gateway Charter (1-2)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for — LaBelle: The Cowboys are coming off a 26-14 win over St. John Neumann which saw senior Isaac Santamaria rush for 242 yards on just 12 carries and scored three touchdowns. Dating back to last season, LaBelle has won four of its past five games and is above the .500 mark for the first time since 2020 when it finished 6-4. Santamaria leads the team with 402 rushing yards and six touchdowns this season and is averaging 14.4 yards per carry. Gateway Charter: The Griffins picked up their first win of the season with a 45-0 shutout of Trinity Prep. Junior quarterback Juan Ibarra threw for 182 yards and four touchdowns, three to senior wide receiver Justin Campbell. Gateway Charter coach Ben Daley is a 2008 LaBelle graduate and played defensive end and wide receiver for the Cowboys.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: LaBelle 24, Gateway Charter 20
Aubrey Rogers (0-3) at Saint Stephen's (2-1)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for — Aubrey Rogers: The Patriots fell 41-6 on the road against American Heritage Delray. The Stallions saw success through the air, as quarterback Sean Siska posted 135 yards on 10 completions for American Heritage. On the ground, Aubrey Rogers held the Stallions to 123 yards on 3.6 yards per rush. Dominic Ardezzone and Romeo Sararo connected for a 63-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Saint Stephen's: The Falcons grabbed a 21-7 win over rival Out-of-Door Academy, thanks in part to 14 fourth-quarter points. Quarterback Evan Brown was the X-factor, passing for 157 yards on 8 of 11 attempts while rushing for 89 yards and scoring all three Saint Stephen's touchdowns. Caleb Bosek had a strong game out wide, catching five passes for 128 yards from Brown.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Saint Stephen's 20, Aubrey Rogers 17
Canterbury (1-2) at Seven Rivers Christian (1-2)
Time: 7 p.m.
What to watch for — Canterbury: The Cougars went down to Oasis 25-18 despite having the lead in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Austan Cristiaan threw touchdown passes to Griffin Curran and Brenden Daller in the loss. The team also scored off a 90-yard kickoff return by Joe De La Nuez. Curran is averaging 86 yards from scrimmage so far this season. Seven Rivers Christian: The fellow SSAC team is also coming off a loss, going down 70-14 against Oak Hall. Running back Nathan Tidewell is averaging more than 160 yards a game and has scored 6 rushing touchdowns. Containing Tidwell will be key for the Cougars.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Canterbury 27, Seven Rivers 21
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: High school football previews, predictions for SWFL Week 4 games
