As the temperatures soared to nearly triple digits Saturday morning, the offenses felt the heat, as they struggled to score double digits in the resumed high school football game between the North Fort Myers Red Knights and the Fort Myers Green Wave at Sam Sirianni Field.

Storms ruined the Friday night homecoming festivities for Fort Myers, and North was one play away from ruining the whole weekend. The Knights seeked their first win in the series since 2006.

The Wave continued their edge in the series when quarterback Buddy McClendon scored on an 80-yard run in the fourth quarter. The score put the Wave up for good at 12-7.

It was the opener for both teams in District 3A-11.

The Wave (2-2, 1-0 district) gave the Knights (1-3, 0-1) a steady dose of running back Dalvin Battle, who rushed 21 times for 97 yards, including a touchdown run in the second quarter.

It was the fake to Battle that held the defense in check long enough for McClendon to find a hole, sprint past the defense and scored on the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth. McClendon made one last cut at the North 20, then marched in for the score.

Fort Myers led 12-7 with just over five minutes left. McClendon tried to find the end zone again on the two-point conversion, but the Red Knight defense denied him.

The gutsy fourth quarter play of North quarterback Nathan McIntosh put his team in position to win with less than thirty seconds in the game, and the ball inside the red zone at the Fort Myers 19.

Three straight incompletions put the pressure on the Knights offense, and on fourth down McIntosh went to senior Tre Boston in the corner of the end zone, but it was broken up, causing a turnover on downs.

McIntosh finished 11-for-16 passing for 103 yards and rushed for 49 yards.

After trailing 6-0 for most of the game and facing a fourth and 5 at the Wave 17 in the fourth quarter, McIntosh found senior Mauricio Garces, who gained ten yards and moved the chains. Two plays later North running back Clifford Smith found the end zone, giving North the 7-6 lead.

That was followed by two plays and McClendon’s long run.

Boston, North’s versatile threat and Cincinnati recruit, took snaps at running back, quarterback and receiver, but the Fort Myers defense was keyed on shutting him down. He rushed five times for 25 yards and had two catches for 15 yards. He was sacked twice when he took snaps at quarterback.

Defensively, Boston finished with eight tackles and three pass deflections.

“Bottom line is Fort Myers players and coaches got the job done and we didn’t,” North coach Barry Goettemoeller said. “It’s my job to make sure we are prepared and get the job done.”

North returns home to Moody Field Friday and welcomes Estero.

Cross country

n Area cross country runners took part in their first major competition Saturday in the 31st Annual Optimist Invitational at Veterans Park in Lehigh Acres.

Ida Baker’s Darlene Hanlon finished sixth in the girls’ competition with a time of 20 minutes, 13 seconds, and the Bulldogs placed eighth in the team standings with a score of 217. Fort Myers took first with 66. Island Coast placed 16th. The top individual was Katie Fluehr of Community School of Naples, who clocked a time of 17:29.

Hanlon, a senior, had a strong sophomore campaign for the Bulldogs, qualifying for the state meet, but was bothered last year with a leg injury.

In the boys’ race, Baker’s Zach Stackhouse finished ninth with a time of 17:20. The Bulldogs took seventh in the team standings. North Fort Myers placed 11th, Cape Coral 13th, Island Coast 18th, and Mariner 19th.