High School Football: Southwest Florida Week 1 playoff previews and predictions
Preview capsules and predictions for Southwest Florida high school football playoff games on Thursday, Nov. 9 and Friday, Nov. 10. All games at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise stated.
Class 3S-Region 4
No. 5 Fort Myers (8-2) at No. 4 Dunbar (8-2)
What to watch for — Fort Myers: This is the first postseason meeting between the Green Wave and the Tigers. The District 3S-15 rivals played an instant classic in a Week 4 regular-season matchup with Dunbar pulling out a 40-39 win in double overtime. The Green Wave tied the game on Madrid Tucker’s 18-yard touchdown catch and subsequent 2-point conversion run with about a minute remaining in regulation. In the first overtime, Fort Myers had a chance to win but Dunbar blocked kicker Vaughn Lennon’s extra-point attempt, sending it to a second overtime. The Tigers secured the win by answering a Green Wave touchdown and then converting on a 2-point conversion pass from Austin Price to TJ Abrams. “The way that first game ended, our kids are looking at this as an opportunity,” Fort Myers coach Sam Sirianni Jr. said. “What more can you ask for after walking off that field eight weeks ago and now you have a chance to go in and get another shot.” This will be the 17th meeting between the Green Wave and Dunbar who have split the first 16 games though the Tigers have beaten Fort Myers four straight times. Sirianni said that for the Green Wave to end that streak, they’ll have to avoid critical mistakes. “The biggest thing is we have to play better,” he said. “They outplayed us that night. We can’t hang our hat on a second chance or revenge, the stakes of moving on in the playoffs have to trump any of that stuff.” One key will be Fort Myers winning the physical battle in the trenches. “I believe we’ve improved in that area and I believe our kids will respond,” Sirianni said. Junior Madrid Tucker, who led all Lee County players with 16 total touchdowns (five rushing, 11 receiving) will be a key player for the Green Wave on both sides of the ball. Tucker and freshman Jyden German will be tasked with limiting Dunbar’s dangerous receiving duo of Eric Fletcher and Abrams. The seniors have combined for 64 catchers, 944 receiving yards and 20 total touchdowns. In their previous win over Fort Myers, the pair combined for five touchdowns, including an 85-yard punt return score by Fletcher. “We definitely have a plan in terms of trying to neutralize that part of their game,” Sirianni said of the Tigers’ explosive return potential. The Green Wave will be making their 30th appearance in the FHSAA state playoff series and have an overall record of 22-29. Dunbar: The Tigers are making their ninth consecutive state playoff appearance and 18th overall since the school reopened in 2001. Dunbar is 12-17 overall in the postseason and is coming off its first-ever trip to the state semifinals. Coach Sammy Brown said having a first-round showdown with their neighborhood rivals adds an extra dose of excitement to an already special time of year. “It’s just a real big deal for the city,” Brown said. “Both teams always come to play. I mean, there’s always going to be one overtime. And if you catch it on the right night, you may get a triple overtime. It’s awesome.” One area of the Tigers’ attack that’s improved significantly since heading into their first meeting with the Green Wave is the consistency of its running game. After averaging less than 75 rushing yards through its first three games, Dunbar has gone for nearly 160 per game against its past seven opponents. Junior running back Chris Singleton leads the team with 691 rushing yards and five touchdowns. “The line’s kind of come together a little better which opens up the passing game,” Brown said. In his first year as a starter, Price has thrown for 1,433 yards and 19 touchdowns with six interceptions. Defensively, Brown said the Tigers will have to limit Fort Myers senior quarterback Chris McFoley, who’s a threat in both the passing and running games. “They’ve got a quarterback that’s very mobile,” Brown said of McFoley, who’s passed for 1,252 yards and 17 touchdowns while also rushing for 686 yards and nine more scores. “He’s accurate and can get the ball in some tight spots and then he can create stuff with his legs. That’s always a pain for any defense. We just hope we can kind of corral them.” Dunbar is coming off an 18-15 win over Lehigh last week that saw the Tigers pull victory from the jaws of defeat, wiping out a 15-12 deficit on Fletcher’s kickoff return touchdown with seven seconds left and then seeing the Lightning’s subsequent return touchdown wiped out by a penalty. “Our kids understand the grit and what it takes to win a ballgame,” Brown said. “We know going into a game that we’re going to have some adversity, we’re going to have to fight for 48 minutes and my team is accustomed to doing that. That’s not our first close win, we win close games.” Brown said his team is pretty much healthy entering the playoffs and that everyone will be available for round two with Fort Myers. “It’s a big ballgame,” he said. “We’re going to tape it up whatever we’ve got to do, super glue it together. We’re going to make sure our best guys are on the field.”
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Dunbar 33, Fort Myers 31
No. 8 Mariner (8-2) at No. 1 Golden Gate (8-2)
What to watch for — Mariner: To reach the postseason, the Tritons won their district for the first time since 1997. “We’re proud of what we accomplished so far,” head coach Josh Nicholson said. An experienced senior class paved the way with Marcus Kelley Jr. leading the team with 13 touchdowns, followed by Kelvin Jimenez and Justin Lewis with 10 and 9, respectively. Quarterback and linebacker Noah Tolbert (4 rushing touchdowns, 13 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions) has been dealing with an injury, but Nicholson is hopeful the team is “back to 100 percent by Friday.” After an 8-0 start to the season, the Tritons have dropped two of their last three games, including last week’s 42-8 loss to South Fort Myers. “We can’t turn the ball over,” Nicholson said. “We’re going to have to tackle much better than we did last week.” Golden Gate: The Titans closed out a historic season with a 63-14 trouncing of Palmetto Ridge last week. In the process, they earned the No. 1 seed, guaranteeing home field advantage throughout the regional playoffs. “Our team is feeling good entering the postseason,” athletic director Joe Lee Gallegos said. “Every week to this point has been another hurdle or a championship week. Our motto every week is, ‘Job’s not finished.’” After defeating Naples for the first time in Week 4, the Titans haven’t looked back, averaging 39 points a game and limiting opponents to 16 points a game. Junior running back Trayvon Jean is a 1,000-yard rusher for a second consecutive season and has been complemented by John Lee Honorat – the two have combined for 24 rushing scores. Sophomore quarterback Sam Powell has been reliable, throwing just two interceptions against 14 touchdown passes. Javon Pray and Bradley Martino are standout two-way players, and the defense is physical at the point of attack. Senior lineman Micah Fils-Aime has recorded 72 tackles, 9 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. “Our season to this point has been a new challenge every week,” Gallegos said. “Our guys are excited for this next one.”
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Golden Gate 36, Mariner 16
No. 7 Parrish Community (7-3) at No. 2 Naples (8-2)
What to watch for — Parrish Community: Parrish Community ended a two-game losing streak with a rout of George Jenkins last week, giving the Bulls some momentum heading into the postseason. Bulls quarterback Jackson Volz completed 15-of-21 for 158 yards and touchdowns to Lane Tomlinson (3 catches, 44 yards) and wide receiver Kymistri Young (2 catches, 22 yards). Wide receiver Brandon Trucano (5 catches, 66 yards) and running back Jermaine Edwards (5 catches 48 yards) were the leading receivers, while Jerome Turner led the ground attack with 179 yards on 16 carries and two scores. The two sides have never met. Naples: The Golden Eagles have had a relatively strong second half of the season, and will look to carry things into their first-round game against the Bulls. Naples most recently came off a 41-6 win over Bonita Springs two weeks ago in a game where many Naples starters, including starter Shawn Simeon, were benched early on, giving the Golden Eagles a relatively healthy group heading into another home playoff game at Staver Field. Naples incorporated more of a passing attack in their game with Bonita Springs, throwing the ball 13 times, which resulted in eight completions for 146 yards. Jack Melton completed 6 of 10 passes for 107 yards, while Nick Keel caught five of those passes for 87 yards. Naples has been just one and done in the playoffs twice this century, with the last time coming in 2004 against Sarasota Riverview and also in 2000 against Manatee.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Naples 38, Parrish Community 10
No. 3 Barron Collier (8-2) at No. 6 Port Charlotte (8-2)
What to watch for — Barron Collier: The Cougars finished a successful regular season with a 28-21 win against Gulf Coast. It’s the third one-score game where the team has come out on top. The team has also thrived on the road, going 6-0, which could serve them well having to travel to face the Pirates. “I think they’ve earned where they’re at right now,” head coach Mark Jackson said of his team. Junior quarterback Niko Boyce has been a valuable addition to the team this season, throwing 16 touchdown passes and scoring 11 on the ground. His favorite target is junior Brody Graham, who has caught 46 passes for 827 yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior linebacker Josh Guitard is coming off a 14-tackle performance against the Sharks. The defense will be tested by the Pirates’ physical rushing attack. “We’re going to have to not do things to beat ourselves,” Jackson said. Port Charlotte: The sixth-seeded Pirates will host this game after vanquishing their Parrish Community to earn the district title last month. The team is averaging 45.5 points a game, and their closest game all season was a 31-24 loss to Manatee. The ground game feautring Edd Guerrier and Ike Perry has been successful as they have combined more than 1,400 yards and 27 touchdowns. Eli Manley has stabilized the quarterback position, throwing 14 touchdowns to 4 interceptions – half of those passing scores have gone to receiver Jamal Streeter Jr. A physical defensive line has been key to their success on that side of the ball – they are limiting opponents to 13 points a game.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Port Charlotte 32, Barron Collier 24
Class 2S-Region 4
No. 8 Mulberry (7-3) at No. 1 Bishop Verot (9-1)
Time: 7 p.m. Thursday
What to watch for — Mulberry: The Panthers return to the playoffs under first-year head coach Bradley Metheny. It’s his first head coaching job since leading Cape Coral to the playoffs in 2010 and 2011. The team is more experienced than the one that lost to Verot 42-0 in the first round of the playoffs last year. The ground game featuring quarterback Dyvonique McWilliams and running back DJ Duvalt have been key to the team’s success this year, combining for more than 2,000 yards and 29 touchdowns. Linebacker Timothy Jones has posted more than 100 tackles, plus 20 tackles-for-loss and 5 sacks, while Cedric “Cool” Townsend has picked off 7 passes. The defense has limited opponents to 12.7 points a game. Bishop Verot: The Vikings are coming off a bye week, which head coach Richie Rode described as “much needed and much earned rest.” The team has won by running clock in every victory this season. They have familiarity with this Mulberry team that they defeated 42-0 in the same round of the postseason a year ago. “It will take nothing less than our best effort,” Rode said. Quarterback Carter Smith is putting together a sensational season, with more than 2,200 yards of offense, including 15 rushing touchdowns and 24 passing touchdowns against one interception. DeShon Jenkins has provided a crucial complement in the running game. The defense has improved from last season, giving up an average of 13.5 points a game. Transfer safety Leroy Roker has recorded 6 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries for the Vikings. “It is a special group of young men,” Rode said. “They’ve done everything we’ve asked all year."
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Bishop Verot 54, Mulberry 6
No. 4 Estero (8-2) at No. 5 Hardee (8-2)
What to watch for — Hardee: The Wildcats are coming off of last week’s 48-0 rout over winless DeSoto County behind a 41-point barrage in the second quarter. Hardee’s offense is rolling this year, flipping last year’s 1-7 record and making the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Kellon Lindsey has been the spoon stirring the Wildcat’s drink, averaging over 1,000 passing yards a year since his sophomore year, and has now become a mobile threat with 944 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in his senior campaign. But much like the Wildcats in Estero, Hardee maintains a balanced approach on offense with talent in the backfield. Edner Cherry, who was averaging 6.4 yards per carry before last week’s blowout win, can keep the Estero defense from keying in on their star quarterback. Hardee’s defense is firing on all cylinders as well, allowing just 8.5 points per game through their last four contests, all of which were wins. They now turn to a complete Estero offense that can force opposing teams to pick their poison. “I would anticipate them to try and stop Malik [Allen] so we can’t throw it and run it,” said Estero head coach Darren Nelson. “We’re very similar teams in aspects of we’re pretty balanced, they’re pretty balanced, so they’ve got to figure out what are they going to try to stop first.” Estero: The Wildcats enter the postseason with wind in their sails once again, coming off a 42-10 win over Bonita Springs in the annual Jaws vs. Claws rivalry. Estero is 16-4 through their last 20 games and will lean on their seniors to who have gotten them to this point. Hardee isn’t the only team with a talented quarterback, as Estero will rely on another efficient night from Matt Wilson. Wilson was lights out in the win over the Bull Sharks, going 17-of-22 in the air for 305 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. For Nelson, he’s looking for another prototypical night from his prototypical quarterback. “He is who he is, he’s a very good quarterback,” Nelson said. “ I’m sure [Hardee] sees him on film and definitely is going to have to have a plan on getting after him or how to cover. He can certainly make some throws, even in tight coverage he’s pretty accurate. They’ve got some things they’ve got to worry about and figure out too, the same way we are.” Estero boasts a skilled running back as well in Allen, who tallied 98 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries versus Bonita Springs and is averaging just under 5 yards per carry in his senior year.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Estero 31, Hardee 28
Class 4S-Region 4
No. 4 Gulf Coast (5-4) at No. 5 Immokalee (5-5)
What to watch for — Gulf Coast: The Sharks dropped their last two games of the season by a combined 10 points, falling 13-10 to Immokalee two weeks ago before losing 28-21 to Barron Collier in the Catfish Bowl. The Sharks have started to find something at quarterback after being run-heavy, as Jace Seyler threw for 125 yards on just six completions, adding 41 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Javien Altine took advantage of his four touches, totaling 59 rushing yards in the game against Barron. The Sharks will look to their first-ever playoff game in school history, as the program is 0-9 and has lost their first-round playoff game by an average of 26.2 points. Expect Friday’s game to be far closer than a 26-point spread, with Gulf Coast’s roster being healthy and ready to go. Gulf Coast coach Todd Nichols isn’t worried about his defense, as they’ve answered the call multiple times this year. “(The defense) played lights out in the second half here and got the ball back for our offense, and that’s what we ask them to do,” Nichols said of the effort against Immokalee. Immokalee: The Indians will look to recover following a 68-44 loss to Lely after the Immokalee defense surrendered 639 yards of total offense. Redwood is not as healthy going into this game compared to the first time, which means multiple players will need to rise up and fill roles. Trannon Villarreal might be one asked to shoulder a heavier load at the quarterback position, as the quarterback had his best game throwing the football against the Trojans. The senior completed 25 of 42 passes for 459 yards and four touchdowns, adding 24 rushing yards. Chandron Pierre had the best game of his career, catching nine passes for 216 yards, and three touchdowns. The ability to be multi-faceted can benefit the Indians, as the team chewed clock in a methodical touchdown drive that went over 10 minutes against the Sharks, while another was a one-play touchdown drive. Immokalee’s last playoff win came five years ago in a 45-21 win over Dunbar. The two teams have virtually split the last 15 meetings, as Gulf Coast holds an 8-7 edge in the series dating back to 2004. “What was motivation is the fact that these guys know what Immokalee football should be, and they committed to trying to change that,” Delgado said after beating Gulf Coast two weeks ago. “And it was blind confidence. It was on blind commitment into what we’re doing and how we’re doing it, and hopefully tonight helps us to continue to believe.”
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: Gulf Coast 20, Immokalee 17
Independents
North Port (5-4) at LaBelle (6-3)
Time: Noon Saturday
What to watch for — North Port: This is a bowl game. The Bobcats, who finished their first regular season in program history with a winning record, had a 5-1 record before losing their final three games, by a combined score of 75-25. In its 21-10 loss to Lemon Bay last week, North Port got a 30-yard field goal from Caiden Thomas and a 40-yard TD run by RB Peter Kalphat. But the Bobcats had one TD called back on a penalty, and committed a turnover that led to another Lemon Bay touchdown. Kalphat had 61 yards in the game, and backfield mate Colten Eichten had 70 yards, 68 coming on a first-quarter run that set up Thomas’s field goal. LaBelle: LaBelle got just six TD passes from its two quarterbacks, who both played in nine games, but starter Isaac Santamaria did it with his legs, rushing for a team-high 1,036 yards and 12 TDs. Behind him was RB Darian Robinson, who gained 822 while scoring eight TDs. Defensively, the Cowboys finished with a whopping 35 quarterback sacks. Freshman DE Marquay Bradshaw had a team-high eight, while brother DT Jacquay Bradshaw and DL Eric Soto each had six.
The News-Press/Naples Daily News pick: LaBelle 28, North Port 24
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Naples, Cape Coral, Fort Myers area football playoff previews, predictions
