Bishop Verot quarterback Jake Kistel (10) is tackled by the LaBelle defenders in Friday night’s game. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com. Photo by Yunet Holmes.

After taking advantage of a shorthanded LaBelle team, Bishop Verot got off to a fast start Friday night at Viking Stadium and stayed ahead to win 16-6 in the 36th meeting between the two schools. The rivalry is one of the oldest in Southwest Florida.

“We’ve been hit by the flu bug,” said LaBelle head coach Hal Bennett. “Last week we had nine guys out.”

After holding the Cowboys (0-3) to a three-and-out on their opening possession, Bishop Verot (2-1) needed only three plays before senior quarterback Jake Kistel connected with wideout Jamie Alvarez on a corner route for a 30-yard touchdown play.

At the end of the first quarter, LaBelle quarterback Taylor Jordan was engulfed in a sea of Viking defenders on a draw play. Jordan stayed on the ground while trainers were sent onto the field to examine his injury. Jordan was lying flat on his back. Twenty minutes later, it was confirmed he had sustained a concussion. The junior was carted off of the field in an ambulance.

“It is a tough one when you see something like that,” said Bennett. “The biggest thing is to just keep the kids focused, and let them know it’s part of the game.”

Initially, Jordan’s injury appeared to be a serious blow to the neck.

“They said it was just a concussion, not a neck injury,” said Bennett. “That was much better for us, it’s still bad, but it’s much better than a neck injury.”

The severity of Jordan’s concussion is unknown.

“It’s tough because it’s pretty big,” Kistel said of Jordan’s injury. “If there was any momentum, it’s lost.”

After a half-hour delay, play continued with LaBelle losing 24 yards on their next two plays, giving the ball back to the Vikings.

One of the bigger momentum shifts of the night took place midway through the second quarter with the Vikings facing a fourth-and-eight inside the Cowboys’ 40. After looking off a defender, Kistel found senior Jeff Farrell on an up-and-out route that led to a 35-yard touchdown.

“I was just going through my checkdowns and knew the pass across the middle wasn’t there,” said Kistel. “I looked at Jeff, he’s my go-to guy and was open.”

Kistel finished the night 9-of-20 for 122 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, as well as 58 rushing yards.

The Cowboys managed to score early in the second half on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Phillips to Chris Garcia, but LaBelle couldn’t close the gap any farther as two interceptions by the Vikings defense sealed the game.

The Cowboys (0-3) visit Lake Placid next Friday while Bishop Verot (2-1) heads to South Fort Myers (3-0) Thursday.

LaBelle 0 0 6 0 – 6

Bishop Verot7 9 0 0 – 16

First Quarter

BV – Jamie Alvarez 20 pass from Jake Kistel (Max Moore kick)

Second Quarter

BV – Jeff Farrell 35 pass from Kistel (run failed)

BV – FG, Moore 32

Third Quarter

BV – Chris Garcia 39 pass from Jordan Phillips (run failed).