MICHAEL PISTELLA Island Coast junior quarterback Micheal Dumas finds running room during a rainy third quarter Friday night at East Lee County. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

With several key starters to replace from back-to-back district championship teams, the Island Coast Gators concluded a very important spring football season with a 34-7 victory at East Lee County Friday night.

“We can take a lot from this game,” said Gators coach Joe Bowen. “We got off to a sloppy start, but we pulled together and overall I’m pleased with our performance.”

Returning for the Gators is one of the top players in the area, running back Mario Pender. A heavy rain and hail storm pushed the start of the game back nearly an hour.

It appeared the wet conditions affected Pender as he and quarterback Michael Dumas botched a handoff that ended up in Jaguars hands. Gator linebacker Willie Fleming recovered a fumble a few plays later deep in Jaguars territory to give Pender another chance.

Pender redeemed himself on the very next play, carrying the ball and a few defenders 21 yards for a touchdown.

MICHAEL PISTELLA Island Coast junior Torreon Madison separates East Lee County quarterback Winfred Ward from the football in the Gators’ spring game Friday night against the Jaguars. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

The Gators got the ball back with a little over two minutes left in the half. A penalty momentarily set the Gators back, but Pender’s 17-yard run put the Gators back in Jaguars territory.

Dumas carried the load the rest of the drive, ripping off two long runs down to the East Lee 2-yard line. Dumas scored two plays later on a quarterback sneak, with 10 seconds left in the half.

Strong rain returned during halftime and both teams appeared to be affected as the second half opened with three straight punts. Then Pender struck with a lightning quick 74-yard touchdown run, slipping out of two early tackle attempts.

Dumas scored on another sneak to open the fourth, stretching the Gator lead to 27-6.

As the Jaguars offense continued to struggle, the Gators continued to utilize their powerful running attack. With the ball on their own 16-yard line, Gators Torreon Madison took a counter handoff and broke away to the Jaguars 15, with a horse collar tackle putting the ball inside the 10. Pender added his third touchdown of the night on the next play, walking into the end zone untouched from four yards out.

Pender finished with 127 yards on seven carries.

The Gators’ defense, which lost its entire line from a year ago, including Notre Dame commit Aaron Lynch and Vanderbilt commit Jimmy Stewart, proved to still be a stingy unit, sacking quarterback Winford Ward six times and forcing two fumbles.

Linebacker Willie Fleming led the team in tackles with seven and linebacker Vincent Green claimed two sacks and a forced fumble.

The junior varsity teams played the first quarter. The only score was by the Gators, an 18-yard pass from Alston Williams to Josh Claudio. The score was reset after the quarter ended.

Island Coast0 14 6 14 – 34

East Lee Co.0 7 0 0 – 7

First Quarter

IC – Josh Claudio 18 pass from Alston Williams (Nic Ghigliotty kick)

Second Quarter

ELC – 7 yard pass from Winford Ward to

IC – Mario Pender 21 run (Ghigliotty kick)

IC – Michael Dumas 2 run (Ghigliotty kick)

Third Quarter

IC – Pender 74 run (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

IC – Dumas 3 run (Ghigliotty kick)

IC – Pender 4 run (Ghigliotty kick)