When rival teams meet on the football field, records and past history often are cast aside. The bigger the rivalry, the higher the chance to stumble.

That could be the case Friday night at Mariner’s Tony McKenna Field when the winless Tritons host the Island Coast Gators (3-1). On paper it looks like a mismatch considering the Gators are coming off back-to-back 55-0 romps past inferior foes.

Runningback Mario Pender has rushed for 585 yards and nine touchdowns in the last two games, giving the Gators a formidable advantage offensively.

“We’ve got to get him (Pender) running sideline to sideline and close the tackles to keep him from turning upfield,” said Tritons coach Chris Siner. “We’ll put as many guys as we can on the pitch to stop him, but if he breaks a tackle we’re in trouble.”

Any other tricks up your sleeve there coach?

“We’re going to leave the grass long this week to slow them down,” Siner said jokingly. “We would rather anyone have the ball but (Pender).”

The Tritons have had trouble, off and on this season, bringing down ballcarriers.

“We threw the ball pretty well last week, made some completions for touchdowns,” said Siner. “We were getting there, but not making plays, not tackling very well.

“We’ve got to force them into third-and-long situations so they have to throw the ball. We have to make them throw the ball to have a chance.”

Ida Baker (0-4) at North Port (1-3): After losing their first four games, confidence has been tough to come by for the Ida Baker Bulldogs as they complete the first half of the season Friday at North Port.

“We’re going to prepare like we do every week,” said Bulldogs coach Brian Conn. “It’s important for us to gain some momentum as we go into district play.”

While dealing with a few more injuries than in past years, the Bulldogs are looking to young players to step in and fill important roles on both sides of the ball.

“We lost a lot of experienced players so we’ve lacked some leadership in the lockerroom,” said Conn. “When things are going bad, guys start to question some things. It’s been an emotional year so far.”

North Fort Myers (2-2) at Estero (3-1): Fresh off a big victory over archrival Fort Myers, the North Fort Myers Red Knights must go back on the road where they have suffered both of their losses so far this season.

The Red Knights face the resurgent Estero Wildcats (3-1) who are riding a three-game winning streak during which they are averaging 33 points per game. By contrast, the Red Knights have yet to put up more than 15 points.

North needs to come up with another stellar bend-but-don’t-break defensive effort like it did in last week’s 14-13 win over Fort Myers.

Bishop Verot (3-1) at Cardinal Mooney (2-2): The Vikings will be trying to right their ship after suffering their first defeat of the season when they journey north to Sarasota to take on Cardinal Mooney.

It could be a difficult assignment for the Vikings, who saw quarterback Jake Kistel knocked out of their game by a hard hit in the second half against South Fort Myers. While his health remains in question, coach Phil Dorn expects Kistel to play Friday night.

Mooney, which started the season with two wins, has staggered in losing its last two in a row.

In other games Friday night, Fort Myers (2-2) hosts unbeaten Charlotte (3-0), Cypress Lake (1-2) entertains Naples (4-0), Evangelical Christian (2-1) hosts First Baptist Academy (2-2), Lehigh (3-1) takes on Lely (2-2), East Lee County(1-2) travels to Barron Collier (3-1), Southwest Florida Christian (1-2) invades Moore Haven (1-2) and South Fort Myers (3-0) visits Gulf Coast (1-3).