Photo by YUNET JOMOLCA Mariner High QB Gabriel Rojas (11) gets off a pass before being hit by Baker’s Rafaelito Palazzolo (9) Friday night. More photos from the game are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

In a must-win District 5A-12 football game Friday night, the Ida Baker offense let the “Wild Dog” out.

After three straight losses, the Bulldogs used their bye week to regroup and added a new wrinkle, putting senior fullback Rafaelito Palazzolo in the shotgun. A look similar to the “Wildcat” formation used this season by the Miami Dolphins.

It provided a much-needed lift in the Bulldogs’ 17-0 victory over Mariner. Palazzolo rushed for 51 yards on the opening drive of the game, leading to a touchdown, and finished with 118 yards on 22 carries.

“This game was all or nothing for us,” Palazzolo said. “We lost our starting quarterback and we needed to add a spark to our offense.”

Palazzolo had help in making up for the loss of sophomore quarterback Sean Francis, who suffered a broken collarbone two days before the Bulldogs’ loss to South Fort Myers Oct. 17.

Photo by YUNET JOMOLCA Baker High’s Rafaelito Palazzolo (9) finds a crease Friday night against Mariner. More photos from the the Bulldogs’ 17-0 victory are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

During the bye week, the team decided to use a variety of players at quarterback.

Seniors Dallas Petrovich and Jake York saw the majority of snaps against Mariner, and each scored on one-yard touchdown runs. Palazzolo gave the offense another dimension.

“They all give us something different,” Baker coach Brian Conn said. “Dallas is a rock-solid leader and he knows the offense the best. Jake is a good athlete, he’s played a lot of defense for us. Palazzolo is just a hard-nosed kid and he’s tough to bring down.”

The Bulldogs (4-4, 2-1 in district) needed to defeat the rival Tritons to remain in the district playoff race.

They took an early 7-0 lead after a 12-play, 61-yard drive to open the game. It lasted six minutes.

The Tritons (3-5, 0-3) appeared to have the Bulldogs stopped three-and-out, but on fourth-and-two the Bulldogs ran a fake punt and Palazzolo gained 12 yards into Mariner territory. He then carried the ball six straight times off the direct snap, setting the Bulldogs up inside the 10. Petrovich eventually capped the drive with a short sneak.

The defenses dominated the remainder of the first half, but each team had opportunities at field goals.

Baker’s Jonathan Garcia intercepted Mariner quarterback Gabriel Rojas, setting the Bulldogs up inside the Mariner 25, but Curtis Dean’s 42-yard field goal try sailed wide left.

The Tritons’ best chance came with 1:32 left in the half when Renato Proia missed from 36 yards.

The Tritons’ offense was dealt a huge blow early in the game when senior fullback Ryan Schneider left with a leg injury. The Bulldogs defense also did their job, holding the Tritons to 108 total yards.

The Tritons began one possession at the Baker 47 midway through the third quarter, but a holding penalty forced them into a long yardage situation. In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs defense made a key stop on a fourth-and-two near midfield.

“We’re not doing the fundamental things,” Mariner coach Chad O’Brien said. “On offense we have to make plays when we have the opportunities.”

The Bulldogs travel to Moody Field next Friday to face the Red Knights. If the Bulldogs win and Cape loses to Mariner, the Bulldogs win the district title based on a head-to-head tiebreaker over Fort Myers.

Ida Baker 7 0 0 10 — 17

Mariner 0 0 0 0 — 0

First Quarter

IB — Dallas Petrovich 1 run (Curtis Dean kick)

Fourth Quarter

IB — FG, Dean 23

IB — Jake York 1 run (Dean kick)