First Baptist, Bishop Verot, Dunbar claim regional titles for Southwest Florida

First Baptist, Bishop Verot, Dunbar claim regional titles for Southwest Florida

History has been made in Southwest Florida.

For the first time, three teams from the area (Collier, Lee, Charlotte counties) have won regional championships in the same season. Bishop Verot (Fort Myers), Dunbar (Fort Myers), and First Baptist (Naples) all earned titles on Friday.

Here’s a look at how each Southwest Florida team won in the regional finals, as well as what’s awaiting them in the state semifinals:

CLASS 1S REGION 4

First Baptist 49, Moore Haven 24: The Lions’ stars showed out, especially in the first half, ensuring FBA wasn’t upset on its home field again.

Back in 2019, Moore Haven came to FBA and beat the undefeated Lions in the first round of the playoffs. Not this time. The Lions (8-2) led 28-0 at halftime thanks to big plays by its trio of Division I recruits.

First, Jaden Booker (12 scholarship offers) scored on a 3-yard run. Then Olsen Henry (committed to Clemson) outjumped a defensive back and took a reception 65 yards to the house. Then Rich Mellien (six offers) scored a pair of rushing touchdowns.

The Lions started the fourth quarter with a 42-8 lead thanks to two long scores in the third quarter — a 55-yard reception by Henry and a 54-yard run by Booker.

First Baptist, which started its football program in 2009, won its second straight regional championship and its fourth in school history.

SB First Baptist Football 02

CLASS 2S REGION 4

Bishop Verot 39, Frostproof 21: The Vikings’ high-powered offense came to life late in the second quarter, and Bishop Verot dominated after halftime to win its first regional championship in 28 years.

The Vikings (10-2) average 40 points and 400 yards a game, but it was a defensive play that provided the spark Friday. Frostproof (10-3) led 14-13 with two minutes left in the half when the Bulldogs had a bad snap on a punt deep in their own territory. The result was a safety that gave Bishop Verot a 15-14 lead and the ball.

The Vikings’ scored on the next play, a 55-yard touchdown pass to Tookie Watts from Carter Smith.

It was a record-breaking night for Smith, the sophomore quarterback. He threw for 213 yards, giving him 2,878 for the season, which is a single-season Lee County record.

Bishop Verot freshman Deshon Jenkins rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns. In his first varsity season, Jenkins now has 1,107 yards and 12 touchdowns that year.

CLASS 3S REGION 4

Dunbar 14, Naples 7: The Tigers earned the biggest win in program history. Not only did Dunbar (10-1) win its first regional championship, but it did it by beating the most prestigious program in Southwest Florida for the first time ever.

Dunbar did it with defence. The Tigers forced two turnovers in the first half, both leading to touchdowns and a 14-0 lead at halftime. Naples (9-3), which came into the game averaging 322.6 rushing yards per game, had just 145 on the night.

The Tigers offense only gained 114 yards, but they scored when it mattered most. They got a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown from senior quarterback Landon Winterbottom to knock off two-time state champ and nine-time region champ Naples.

State semifinals

Friday, Dec 3

All games start at 7:30pm

Class 3S

No. 3 Columbia at No. 1 LakeWales

No. 4 Mainland at No. 2 Dunbar

Class 2S

No. 1 Bishop Verot at No. 1 FSU high

No. 2 Cocoa at No. 1 Bradford

Class 1S

No. 3 Munroe at No. 1 First Baptist

No. 1 John Carroll at No. 1 Trinity Catholic

SB First Baptist Football 01

SB First Baptist Football 04

SB First Baptist Football 05

See similar https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMif2h0dHBzOi8vbmV3cy5zY29yZWJvb2tsaXZlLmNvbS9mbG9yaWRhLzIwMjIvMTEvMjYvZmlyc3QtYmFwdGlzdC1iaXNob3AtdmVyb3QtZHVuYmFyLWNsYWltLXJlZ2lvbmFsLXRpdGxlcy1mb3Itc291dGh3ZXN0LWZsb3JpZGHSAYQBaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNjb3JlYm9va2xpdmUuY29tLy5hbXAvZmxvcmlkYS8yMDIyLzExLzI2L2ZpcnN0LWJhcHRpc3QtYmlzaG9wLXZlcm90LWR1bmJhci1jbGFpbS1yZWdpb25hbC10aXRsZXMtZm9yLXNvdXRod2VzdC1mbG9yaWRh?oc=5

The post First Baptist, Bishop Verot, Dunbar claim regional titles for Southwest Florida first appeared on Daily Florida Press.

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