It started off the way the North Fort Myers Red Knights wanted, but didn’t end the way they wanted as the Charlotte Tarpons came to Moody Field and pinned a 37-17 defeat on the Red Knights Friday night.

“We played real physical, which makes me happy, but we made way to many mistakes against a good football team,” Red Knights coach Barry Goettemoeller said.

North got off to the start they wanted with a 15-play, 67-yard drive that ate up 9:35 of the first quarter. Trey Yeater capped it off with a 34-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.

North made it 10-0 heading into the second quarter after a 17-yard touchdown run by Carlton Huggins. That proved to be as far away from the Tarpons as North would get.

With sophomore running back Mike Bellamy leading the way with two touchdowns in the second quarter, the Tarpons came charging back, tying North at 17-17 heading into halftime.

The Red Knights were unable to establish the running game in the first half, which was one of the things Goettemoeller pointed to as part of his team’s downfall.

“When you can’t run the ball when your opponent is only putting seven guys in the box, you know you’re going to have a tough time winning,” he said.

As a result, North relied more on its passing game in the second half, but with little success. In the end, the second half would belong to the Tarpons who, with the help of three Red Knight turnovers — two by starting quarterback Mike Nelson — would score 20 unanswered points to close out the game.

“We made a lot of mistakes in the second half,” said Goettemoeller, “We just didn’t make plays and they did.”

Nelson finished the game completing 14 of 27 passes for 174 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the fourth quarter, which Charlotte returned 25 yards to go up 30-17, and a fumble.

Offensively, North’s only highlight came on a 58-yard touchdown completion to Tre Boston in the second quarter.

North heads to Mariner next week as they finish the season with three straight district games.



Charlotte 0 17 7 13 — 37

North Ft. Myers 10 7 0 0 — 17

First Quarter

NFM — FG, Yeatter 34.

NFM — Huggins 17 run (Yeatter kick).

Second Quarter

NFM — Boston 58 reception (Huggins kick.)

C — Bellamy 59 run (Masters kick).

C — Bellamy 27 run (Masters kick).

C — FG, Masters 37.

Third Quarter

C — Bellamy 35 run (Masters kick).

Fourth Quarter

C — Mut 25 interception.

C — Bellamy 1 run (Masters kick).