LAST WEEK’S RECAP

Dunbar 40, South Fort Myers 20

South’s nine-game regular season winning streak came to a halt at Dunbar. The Tigers (4-0) used a 28-point second quarter in a wide-open 3A-13 affair to hand the Wolfpack (3-1) their worst loss since a 22-point setback against Barron Collier on Oct. 22, 2006.

In fact, no opponent had hit the 40-point plateau against South since a 51-20 loss to Cypress Lake in September 2006.

"We’ve got to cut down on the mistakes," South coach Grant Redhead said.

This was also an evening the ball didn’t bounce in the Wolfpack’s favor. Case in point came late in the second quarter when a pass from Dallas Crawford bounced off a couple sets of hands and the helmet of tackle Charles Nolan before it was grasped by Dunbar’s Rickey Rogers.

Less than 30 seconds later, Dunbar scored to take a 28-13 halftime advantage.

A pair of South seniors were key in leading a brief rally early in the third. Tackle Tim Zubrycky produced a sack on quarter’s second play from scrimmage. Virginoir Loiseau, who also notched a sack, followed on the next play with an interception that set up a South TD.

"I’m proud of my boys. They never quit. They kept fighting the whole game, no matter what happened," Redhead said.

Redhead said starting the district slate with a loss is no reason to panic.

Indeed, last season South began with a loss to Dunbar. But it was the Wolfpack who claimed the district title in November.

"We’ve got six games left. We’ve got three more district games left. We’ve got a lot of season left to play."

 A pair of sophomores accounted for South’s second TD when quarterback Dallas Crawford connected with wide receiver Sammy Watkins for a 12-yard score. Crawford hung in the pocket before he released the ball just before getting slammed to the ground by defensive end David Paulk.

Watkins, who led South receivers for the second straight week with three catches, hauled in his second TD reception of the season.

"He did a good job. We were proud of him," said Redhead.

Last year Watkins burst onto the varsity scene when he was called-up from the undefeated freshman team and promptly returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the regular season finale against Cypress Lake.

It was more of the same from Watkins in this season’s opener when he returned an interception for a TD early in the first quarter against Estero.

 Friday marked a homecoming of sorts for South defensive end Tray Schley. The 6-foot-4, 185 pound junior is a former Tiger who transferred to South this summer.

"This game meant a lot to me," said Schley. "It was fun. I just wish we could have beat them."

UP NEXT

Lehigh (1-3) AT South Fort Myers (3-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Lehigh has been a slow starter the past few years and this season is no different. The Lightning scored just two touchdowns through the first two weeks, but the offense clicked last Friday in a 33-31 win against Cypress Lake, marking the most points Lehigh has scored in a game since 2006.

Last year South responded to a loss against Dunbar with a win at Lehigh, which started the Wolfpack on a nine-game regular season winning streak.

How will the Wolfpack react this time around against Lehigh?

"They’re athletic. They’re physical. We’ve got to cut down on our mistakes and hold on to the ball, make sure we pick up the blitz and things like that, and we’ll be fine," said Redhead.

South linebacker Alfonso Edwards said the Wolfpack’s defense needs to do a better job than they have the past two weeks.

"The main thing is tackling. We’ve got to gang tackle. Wrap them up and take them to the ground, don’t finish until the whistle," he said.

The teams might be closer than their records indicate. Two of Lehigh’s losses came by a touchdown.

Secondaries will be busy. Lehigh senior quarterback Sharod Morse has thrown seven TD passes while his counterpart, sophomore Dallas Crawford, has rifled five.

 Crawford fired three TD passes in South’s 21-13 win at Lehigh last year.

 Lehigh leads the all-time series, 2-1.

 South won’t have another division game until what will be a pivotal clash Oct. 23 against Riverdale. In the meantime, games against Lehigh on Friday and Ida Baker on Oct. 17 will be sandwiched around a bye week.

SOUTH FORT MYERS SCHEDULE/RESULTS

all games start at 7:30 p.m.

W 56-7 at Estero (9/5)

W 27-9 vs Lely (9/12)

W 28-27 vs East Lee (9/19)

L 40-20 at Dunbar (9/26)

Oct. 3 vs Lehigh

Oct. 17 at Ida Baker

Oct. 23 vs Riverdale

Oct. 31 vs Lemon Bay

Nov. 7 at LaBelle

Nov. 14 at Cypress Lake

2008 LEHIGH RESULTS

Week 1 — L Fort Myers 14-7

Week 2 — L Cape Coral 24-7

Week 3 — L Port Charlotte 26-19

Week 4 — W Cypress Lake 33-31

FRESHMAN/JV

Dunbar blanked South, 14-0, in a freshman game on Thursday night.

"We played harder than the first three games," said South coach Mark Modica. "Both defenses played well all night."

South fell to 0-2-2.

"The kids are progressing and fundamentally getting better. We need to minimize our mistakes and we’ll get that first win," said Modica.

South’s JV squad remained undeated (4-0) with a 25-7 win against Dunbar.

The freshman and JV teams will travel to Lehigh on Thursday night.