This was supposed to be an easier night for the Estero High football team.

One rebuilding team facing another — the Wildcats held their breath for a chance to win after 13 straight regular-season losses.

Instead, they were beaten, again, shut out two years in a row by North Fort Myers, this time 54-0 on their home field Friday night.

“We did think (tonight’s game would be closer),” first-year Estero coach Rich Dombrowski said. “They just came out way more physical than we did.”

For the third week in a row, the game seemed out of reach for Estero by halftime. Like South Fort Myers last week, the Red Knights burst onto the field with an opening drive for 76 yards in two minutes, capped by back-to-back 23- and 10-yard runs by Wake Forest recruit Tommy Bohanon.

North Fort Myers looked dominant on offense from the start, needing no third downs on the its opening drive.

Estero would have to punt four times that first half, while the Red Knights continued to dominate the ground game, racking up 208 first-half rushing yards. Bohanon picked up another touchdown late in the second quarter, and Marcus Lewis, Robenson Merci and Mike Becker also scored rushing touchdowns to give North a 34-0 halftime lead.

Estero’s hopes continued to fade as leading receiver John Pencil tweaked his right ankle after making a catch and had to be helped off the field late in the second half. He came back on crutches and sat out the second half.

In the second half, the Wildcats (0-2) didn’t help their cause by losing two fumbles on what looked like promising drives.

And North didn’t let up, scoring its final touchdown as the running clock expired to end the game.

North (2-0) hosts Dunbar (2-0) next Friday night.



North FM 14 20 13 6 — 54

Estero 0 0 0 0 — 0

First Quarter

NFM — Tommy Bohanon 10 run (Trey Yeatter kick) 10:00

NFM — Robenson Merci 16 run (Yeatter kick) 5:45

Second Quarter

NFM — Marcus Lewis 8 run (Yeatter kick) 10:28

NFM — Mike Becker 16 run (Yeatter kick) 4:07

NFM — Bohanon 2 run (kick failed) 2:39

Third Quarter

NFM — Lewis 38 run (Yeatter kick) 7:51

NFM — Becker 26 run (Yeatter kick) 53.2

Fourth Quarter

NFM — Becker 3 run (no kick)