MICHAEL PISTELLA North Fort Myers senior Terrell Neal (5) outruns the Cape High defense in the Red Knights’ 34-24 win Friday night. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

It’s hard to call a game an upset in the opening week of the season. A team can’t always be judged by the previous season.

The North Fort Myers Red Knights seem determined to prove that their 34-24 victory over Cape Coral Friday night was not an aberration.

The Red Knights overcame a Cape rally, a fourth-quarter deficit, and more than 300 yards passing by Seahawks quarterback Kurt Benkert before putting the game away with defense in the closing minutes.

“I can’t say enough about the senior leadership on this team. When the team was down and needed to be coached up, they did it themselves,” Red Knights coach Barry Goettemoeller said. “I couldn’t be more proud.”

Cape Coral took the lead early in the fourth. After Rashaan Gaymon blocked a punt, he caught a one-yard TD pass, Benkert’s third of the game, to make it 24-21.

MICHAEL PISTELLA Cape Coral senior T.J. Giles (2) angles toward the goal line on his way into the end zone during the Seahawks’ 34-24 loss to the North Fort Myers Red Knights Friday night. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

But North responded. Aaron Alcorn’s 37-yard run set up a three-yard plunge by quarterback Brandon Makar with 6:46 left to give the Knights a lead they would not relinquish at 27-24 after a failed PAT.

The Seahawks got the ball in Red Knights territory late, but North sealed the win when Shawn Byrd picked off a screen pass and went 60 yards to produce the final score.

Benkert completed 18 of 33 passes for 323 yards and three scores, but the interception proved costly.

“We made too many mistakes. We had 100 yards worth of drops. We have to take care of the ball,” said Seahawks coach Brad Metheny. “We didn’t take advantage of breaks in the second half.”

The game was delayed by lightning for more than an hour. Once it started, it was the defense that got North rolling.

Dylan Czerwinski recovered a Seahawks fumble on their first possession and returned it 67 yards to the Cape 15. Two plays later, Alcorn ran it in from six yards to make it 6-0 after the failed point-after.

The Seahawks responded with a seven-play, 80-yard drive that capped by a 27-yard TD pass from Benkert to J.D. Irons. The PAT gave the Seahawks a 7-6 edge.

The Red Knights went on a 14-play drive that ate up six minutes of the clock. Terrell Neal’s five-yard run early in the second quarter and two-point conversion put North ahead 14-7.

After T.J. Giles’ 19-yard TD grab moments later tied the game, North’s Roy Denson took the ensuing kickoff 97 yards to the house for the third TD in 1:30 of playing time for a 21-14 North lead.

Cape’s Johnathan Ramirez added a 38-yard field goal in the third to cut the lead to 21-17.

Cape Coral 7 7 3 7 24

North FM 6 15 0 13 34

First Quarter

NFM – Aaron Alcorn 6 run (kick fail)

CC – J.D. Irons 27 pass from Kurt Benkert (Ramirez kick)

Second Quarter

NFM – Terrell Neal 3 run (Neal run)

CC – T.J. Giles 19 pass from Benkert (Ramirez kick)

NFM – Roy Denson 97 kickoff return (Black kick)

Third Quarter

CC – FG, Ramirez 40

Fourth Quarter

CC – Gaymon 1 pass from Benkert (Ramirez kick)

NFM – Brandon Makar 3 run (kick fail)

NFM – Shawn Byrd 60 interception return (Black kick)