Call it a learning experience.

The Cape Coral Seahawks had more than they could handle Friday night, falling 41-13 to the Fort Myers Green Wave in the teams’ kickoff classic.

“Traditionally they know how to win,” Cape Coral coach Larry Gary said. “That’s a habit of theirs. What a team to play, though. This gives us an opportunity to go back and iron out a few mental mistakes. You’d be amazed how small things create big things.”

Fort Myers had its way with the Cape defense, putting up three touchdowns in the first quarter. A long opening drive was capped by Xavier Perez’s three-yard run. The other two scores came on long gainers. Edwitch Merisier hit Sean Searman on a 35-yard touchdown pass play, and Darrien Felix ran 63 yards for a TD.

Randy Smith scored from 14 yards out and Felix added a five-yard run for a 34-6 Fort Myers lead at the half. Felix rushed for 110 of his 135 yards in the first half.

“Good first half,” Wave coach Sam Sirianni Jr. said. “We made some plays, had some things go our way. I was real impressed with their intensity. Muggy night, both teams hit the wall a little condition-wise. Still a work in progress, you know. It’s still early.”

Brandon Cochran added a 14-yard touchdown late in the game for Fort Myers.

“We had some bright spots,” Gary said. “We’ve just got to iron out some things, and get it fixed.”

Cape’s first score came after Fort Myers fumbled a punt in its own end in the first quarter. Maurice Flournoy connected with Craig Small on a 25-yard scoring pass.

A 40-yard Flournoy run sparked a Cape drive late in the third quarter. C.J. Lewis scored from two yards out to cut the margin to 34-13.

Flournoy, a transfer from Island Coast seeing his first action as Cape’s quarterback, passed for 156 yards and ran for 48 more.

“We actually played better in the second half,” Gary said. “We were shutting them out (after halftime) going into the fourth quarter.”

Three other Cape scoring opportunities were missed.

The Seahawks were turned away on fourth-and-two at the Fort Myers 15 in the second quarter. Cape was set up with a first down on the Fort Myers 30 in the third quarter after a bad snap on the Green Wave’s first punt of the night. However, Cape couldn’t cash in, losing ground on a fourth-and-short just outside the 10. A fumble on the Wave 15 thwarted a fourth-quarter drive.

“We had opportunities,” Gary said. “We didn’t cash in. This is a pre-test. We’ll go back and evaluate the film, and go from there.”

The Seahawks start playing games that count next Friday when Sarasota comes to Dave Warkentin Stadium.

Cape Coral 6 0 7 0 – 13

Fort Myers 20 14 0 7 – 41

FM – Xavier Perez 3 run (Jeff St. Louis kick)

CC – Craig Small 25 pass from Maurice Flournoy (kick failed)

FM – Sean Shearman 35 pass from Edwitch Merisier (kick failed)

FM – Darrien Felix 63 run (St. Louis kick)

FM – Randy Smith 14 run (St. Louis kick)

FM – Felix 5 run (St. Louis kick)

CC – C.J. Lewis 2 run (Ryan Doran kick)

FM – Brandon Cochran 14 run (St. Louis kick)