Thunderstorms nearly postponed the Mariner Tritons’ home opener Friday night, but the game played on and the North Port Bobcats held off a late comeback by the Tritons 30-24 at Tony McKenna Field.

The Tritons opened the game by receiving the kickoff and using some gritty running by quarterback J.T. Etnoyer to drive the ball down the field and set up a 32-yard field goal by John Teeter.

The Bobcats did not have trouble responding on their next drive with a 24-yard run by junior Brendan Deshields. After a fumble ended the next Mariner drive, the Bobcats found the end zone again, this time on a 14-yard run by Jason Petrone.

A 28-yard field goal by Chris Brenski put the Bobcats up 16-3. With the game slipping away junior receiver and running back Tyler Pigott brought life to the Tritons, with a 69-yard kickoff return, putting them back in the game.

The Bobcats then went to a “wildcat” formation led by sophomore receiver Rod Spears, who had runs of 25, 14, and 11 yards to set up another Deshields touchdown run of 16 yards.

The Tritons, trying to score before the end of the hal,f quickly got on the Bobcat side of the field and called on Pigott again. This time with a 39-yard touchdown run on fourth down.

Both teams came out of the half with fired up defenses causing a scoreless third quarter. To open the fourth the Bobcats appeared to put the Tritons away with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Paul Balcomb to Denzel Daniel.

Pigott was not done scoring though, this time with a 26-yard touchdown catch, bringing the Tritons within six points. A Bobcat fumble gave the Tritons hope and they marched the ball down inside the Bobcat 10-yard line behind nice passing by Etnoyer. A fourth-down pass ended up in the hands of North Port’s Daniel and the comeback bid was over.

North Port 7 17 0 6 – 30

Mariner 3 14 0 7 – 24

First Quarter

M – FG, John Teeter 32

NP – Brendan Deshields 24 run (Chris Brenski kick)

Second Quarter

NP – Jason Petrone 24 run (kick failed)

NP – FG, Brenski 28

M – Tyler Pigott 69 kickoff return (Teeter kick)

NP – Deshields 16 run (run)

M – Pigott 39 run (Teeter kick)

Fourth Quarter

NP – Denzel Daily 13 pass from Paul Balcomb ( kick blocked)

M – Pigott 26 pass from J.T. Etnoyer ( Teeter kick)