NORTH PORT – With last week’s 38-0 thrashing at the hands of Sarasota gone but not forgotten, the North Port Bobcats’ mission was to make a statement that they were better.

They did, too, as the Bobcats defense stood strong and the offense found a rhythm in defeating the Ida Baker Bulldogs 34-14 Friday night.

Bobcats linebacker Brandon DeShields intercepted Baker quarterback Sean Francis on the second play of the game, giving the Bobcats great field position at Baker’s 27-yard line.

Just five plays later, DeShields found his way into the end zone on a 10-yard run, giving North Port a 7-0 lead.

The TD run was set up by DeShields’ second big play, when on fourth-and-six the junior busted a 13-yard gain through the middle of the Bulldogs defense, putting North Port on the 10.

After stopping the Bulldogs on their next possession, the Bobcats began their finest drive of the season. Quarterback Paul Balcomb led an 18-play, 74-yard drive that was capped by a two-yard TD run by fullback Tyler Griffith to make it 14-0.

The drive spanned 9:50 as the Bobcats gained five first downs, one less than the total number the offense earned the previous week.

North Port received the ball to start the second half, and for the first five plays used the legs of Jason Petrone for 32 yards, until Balcomb hit Dave Dorgelus for a short pass. Somehow the senior wide out got through the Bulldogs defense and spun into the end zone for the third score of the night. Despite the two-point conversion being unsuccessful, the Bobcats led 20-0.

Their lone mistake of the night came midway through the fourth quarter when Balcomb was pressured and threw an interception into the arms of Justin Johnson.

The Bulldogs turned it into an 18-yard TD catch by Cecil Fitch from backup quarterback Reece Attwood, cutting the Bulldogs’ deficit to two scores, 20-7.

Balcomb made up for his mistake on the next drive. The senior led the Bobcats on a 53-yard drive, calling his own number from the 1-yard line, plunging his way through to extend the lead to 27-7.

The Bulldogs wouldn’t go down without fighting. On the very next play, Attwood found a hole in the defense and hit Frankie Wilson down the middle for a 78-yard touchdown pass, edging within 27-14 with just 1:24 left to play.

North Port (2-3) intended to run out the clock, but the offense couldn’t be stopped. Devonte Bailey ran it 54 yards down the left sideline, adding one more touchdown to the margin of victory 34-14.

Bailey lead the way with 111 yards on 12 carries, followed by DeShields, who finished with 104 yards on 16 carries.

Balcomb finished 7-of-10 passing for 83 yards and the lone interception.

Linebacker Brandon Engell picked off two of the three Bulldog interceptions. The Bulldogs were held to just 215 total yards and just 56 on the ground.

The Bulldogs (0-5) visit Gulf Coast next Friday.

Ida Baker0 0 0 14 – 14

North Port7 7 6 14 – 34

First Quarter

NP – DeShields 10 run (Borensky kick)

Second Quarter

NP – Griffith 2 run (Borensky kick)

Third Quarter

NP – Dorgelus 33 pass from Balcomb (conversion failed)

Fourth Quarter

IB – Fitch 18 pass from Attwood (Cody Kluesner kick)

NP – Balcomb 1 run (Borensky kick)

IB – Wilson 78 pass from Attwood (Kluesner kick)

NP – Bailey 54 run (Borensky kick)