Add Mario Pender’s name to the growing list of sterling performances on display on Southwest Florida football fields.

Like Earnest Graham and Noel Devine in recent years before him, Pender was unstoppable and almost untouchable Thursday night in Island Coast’s 55-0 victory over shellshocked Ida Baker.

The Gators’ junior ran for a school record 344 yards on just 15 carries (22.9 yards per carry). He scored five touchdowns despite suffering from a case of the flu.

Unlike Graham and Devine, who sometimes ran over and through would-be tacklers, the 6-foot, 190-pound Pender was more elusive than overpowering. He ran tightrope along the sidelines, darted through the middle of the field or simply outran anyone who dared get too close.

Pender scored three times in the first quarter alone – on runs of 34, 31 and 70 yards – as the Gators built a 27-0 advantage over the Bulldogs. He also scored on a 46-yard run in the second quarter and a 33-yard run in the third quarter.

Pender’s first two touchdown runs followed Baker turnovers. The first of five pass interceptions put the Gators on offense at their own 38-yard line. Three plays later, Pender flashed down the home sideline for the initial TD from 34 yards.

The second interception found the Gators on the Bulldogs’ 44. Pender ran the last 31 yards on the third play from scrimmage.

About the only blemish for the Gators was Kyle Fitzgerald missing the point-after kick wide right.

Phillip Woolbright ran 14 yards for a touchdown and a 20-0 lead.

On the Gators’ fourth straight offensive possession, and just their fifth of the night, Pender tacked on his third and longest TD run of the game. On the first play of the series, following a Baker punt, Pender was in the end zone 70 yards after taking the handoff from quarterback Nelson Candelario.

The Bulldogs had no answer for Pender defensively, or offensively for the Gators’ swarming defense.

Bulldogs senior quarterback Sean Francis, who threw two interceptions in the first quarter, switched to wide receiver and junior Reece Attwood took over at QB. Things didn’t change for the better as Attwood’s first pass was intercepted by the Gators’ Bitavious Shannon, his second pick of the game.

Attwood wound up throwing three interceptions in addition to two by Francis.

Pender’s fourth TD run came a 46-yarder early in the second quarter. It was the fifth score for the Gators on five consecutive possessions.

The Bulldogs’ defense finally stood up to the challenge and forced the Gators to punt. Unable to advance across midfield, Baker punted the ball back.

A couple big runs by Pender set up a Torreon Madison TD run from 25 yards. Fitzgerald’s fifth point-after kick of the game put the Gators up 41-0 at halftime.

Then things got a bit crazy at the start of the third quarter. The Gators ran for a touchdown on two successive plays that were nullified by penalties. Not to be denied, Pender scored his fifth and final TD from 34 yards to make it a 48-0 advantage.

Attwood’s third interception set up the Gators’ final score. Madison added his second TD from five yards out to end the scoring at 55-0.

The Gators (2-1) host Clewiston in their first district game on Friday while the Bulldogs (0-3) try for their first win at home against Lakewood Ranch.

Ida Baker 0 0 0 0 – 0

Island Coast 27 14 14 0 – 55

First Quarter

IC – Pender 34 run (Fitzgerald kick)

IC – Pender 31 run (kick fails)

IC – Woolbright 14 run (Fitzgerald kick)

IC – Pender 70 run (Fitzgerald kick)

Second Quarter

IC – Pender 46 run (Fitzgerald kick)

IC – Madison 25 run (Fitzgerald kick)

Third Quarter

IC – Madison 5 run (Fitzgerald kick)

Freelance writer Dominic Carsi contributed to this report.