Southwest Florida regional quarterfinal roundup: Golden Gate among big winners
NAPLES, FLORIDA – The Golden Gate High School continued to make history, and it did so in a big way in the postseason opener.
In the first home playoff game in school history, and just the program's third playoff game ever, the Titans dominated from the first play.
Golden Gate scored four times in the first quarter on its way to a 48-14 route of Mariner in the Class 3S-Region 4 quarterfinals.
After Golden Gate won its first district title this season and set the program record for wins (9-2), the Titans won their first playoff game since the school opened in 2004. And it was never in doubt.
Photo by Adam Fisher
On the Titans' first play, quarterback Sam Powell dropped an 82-yard dime to Bradley Martino. On their second play, running back Trayvon Jean bolted 53 yards to put the Titans up 14-0.
At the end of the first quarter, Golden Gate was up 28-6. The Titans led 42-6 at the half thanks to four passing touchdowns from Powell, two each to Martino and John Lee Honorat.
Here is a round-up of the other regional quarterfinal games in Southwest Florida:
CLASS 4S-REGION 4
(5) Immokalee 37, (4) Gulf Coast 30:
The Indians squandered a 21-point led, then won on a shocking trick play.
Gulf Coast was down 21-0 at the half. However the Sharks, looking for the program's first playoff win, tied it 30-30 on Jace Seyler's touchdown pass to Cayden Daugherty, plus Chris Jimenez's two-point conversion with 4:15 left.
The Sharks actually had the ball in the final minute with a chance to win, but Gilbert Charles intercepted Seyler with 28 seconds left. Then, with just 2.2 seconds left, Chris Germinal, who was lined up at receiver, threw a pass to Rodenel Anthony. Anthony raced 57 yards for the victory.
Immokalee went up 14-0 in the first seven minutes thanks to a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown from Trannon Villareal. The Indians quarterback had another rushing score in the second quarter to give Immokalee a 21-0 lead at the break.
Gulf Coast scored twice in the third quarter to cut its deficit to 21-14, but Villareal responded with his second touchdown toss to Chandron Pierre.
Immokalee, a former state champion, won its first playoff game in five years. Just two years ago the Indians lost 15 straight games. This was their first winning season in six years.
(2) Manatee 38, (7) Charlotte 0:
Manatee scored all its points in the first half thanks in large part to junior quarterback Andrew Heidel. The junior completed 17 of 18 passes for 185 and a touchdown while running for another score.
The Hurricanes (9-2) were up 28-0 at the end of the first quarter. The entire second half was played under a running clock. Trayvon Pinder scored twice in the first quarter for Manatee.
CLASS 3S-REGION 4
(4) Dunbar 21, (5) Fort Myers 17:
Another epic battle among crosstown rivals who were meeting for the first time in the postseason.
Madrid Tucker caught a ball in the end zone as time expired to seemingly give Fort Myers the win. However, he was ruled out of bounds, and reigning regional champ Dunbar survived. Fort Myers led 17-0 in the third quarter before the Tigers woke up. Dunbar trailed 17-7 with five minutes left before an Austin Price rushing TD then then a 24-yard run by Chris Singleton to take the lead with 1:22 left.(
2) Naples 42, (7) Parrish 0:
No district title, no problem for the host Golden Eagles. For the first time since 2009, Naples failed to win a district title, ending a run of 11 straight. But thanks to a better RPI rating than district runner-up Parrish, the Golden Eagles got to host.
Shawn Simeon had four rushing touchdowns to lead Naples (9-2). He had a 72-yard run to put the Eagles up 28-0 at halftime. Simeon's 44-yard scamper on the first possession of the third quarter gave Naples a 35-0 lead and triggered the running clock.
(6) Port Charlotte 68, (3) Barron Collier 31:
The Pirates rushing attack went ballistic. Port Charlotte led the entire way, but four touchdowns in the second quarter turned this into a blowout.
Edd Guerrier scored two rushing touchdowns in the first six minutes to give the Pirates a 14-0 lead. The senior had 160 yards and three TDs in the first half as Port Charlotte led 42-17 at halftime.
The teams combined for three touchdowns in the first minute of the third quarter, two by Port Charlotte. The game had a running clock with four minutes left in the third.
CLASS 2S-REGION 4
(1) Bishop Verot 47, (8) Mulberry 6: The Vikings had no trouble in their first step toward a repeat district championship, even though they might have had a slow start.
The potent Bishop Verot offense failed to reach the end zone in the first quarter, leading 3-0. But the Vikings made up for it by dropping 28 points in the second. Sophomore running back Deshon Jenkins led the offense with 257 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Known for their high-flying passing attack behind quarterback Carter Smith, the Vikings rushing for 347 yards. Smith, Leroy Roker, Ira Dale and Alec Dusold all had rushing touchdowns.
(4) Estero 26, (5) Hardee 6:
The Wildcats keep building their program, earning their first playoff victory since they went to the state semifinals in 2001. However, Estero's reward is a showdown with juggernaut Bishop Verot.
The Wildcats' defense was strong all night. Estero built a 26-0 lead on the road, and Hardee didn't score until there were six minutes left to play.
Estero (9-2) will now travel to Bishop Verot for the regional semifinals. Verot beat Estero 52-0 two weeks ago to win the district title.
(3) Lemon Bay 39, (6) Frostproof 7:
The Manta Rays took the lead thanks to a punt return touchdown by Andy Wells in the first quarter and never looked back.
Lemon Bay (9-1) then reeled off 26 straight points in the second quarter to go up 33-0 at the half. Joe Scott had a touchdown rush and a touchdown reception in the quarter. The Rays also added two interception return TDs, a 70-yarder by Kaden Keir and a 95-yarder by Amry Wells.
