In a District 3A-11 battle, the Mariner Tritons defeated the North Fort Myers Red Knights 30-16 at Moody Field Friday night.

Mariner was led by the running of quarterback J.T. Etnoyer, who gained 139 yards on 25 carries. It also capitalized on three Red Knights fumbles, two of which were on special teams.

“Turnovers have been a bug for us, but our kids keep fighting even after we give up the ball,” said North coach Barry Goettemoeller.

The first fumble came on North’s second play from scrimmage. Mariner took over at the Knights’ 29-yard line. It resulted in a 39-yard field goal by John Teeter.

North came storming back, and scored in just five plays with Zane LaPaugh hitting Deovanti Hopewell behind the Mariner defenders for a 35yard touchdown.

On Mariner’s next possession, Etnoyer threw a pass to Tyler Pigott, who went 42 yards to the Red Knights 1-yard line. Etnoyer kept it on the next play and bulled his way in. It was the first of his three touchdown runs.

In the second quarter, the Tritons had three drives, but only scored once. The other two ended in missed field goals. The scoring drive was aided by the second Red Knight fumble. When North held Mariner to three-and-out, the Tritons punted, but the Red Knight punt returner mishandled the ball and Mariner recovered. Etnoyer scored his second touchdown from the 22.

The Knights moved the ball again, but settled for a 37 yard field goal by Evan Sargent. At half, the Tritons led 17-10.

Taking the second half kickoff, the Tritons ran 13 plays and seven minutes off the clock. It was a long, sustained drive. Yet, it almost ended with no points. The key play was the last one on the drive.

Mariner was fourth-and-three from the North 11. The ball was handed to Pigott, who was stopped in the backfield for a loss. If North tackles him there, they get the ball back with some momentum on their side. Instead, Pigott breaks free of the defenders, reverses his field, and runs in for the touchdown.

Then it got worse for the Knights. On the next kickoff, they give up their third fumble. Mariner took over at the 26, and five plays later, Etnoyer added his third touchdown.

The Tritons fumbled the snap for the extra point, and the run for two failed, but they had used more than 10 minutes of the quarter while scoring 13 points.

North was not giving up. They drove to the Mariner 24. In a similar play to Pigott’s touchdown, North quarterback LaPaugh was caught in the backfield for a loss, but broke free from would-be tacklers and scored. The extra point was blocked.

North had two more possessions, but could not get past the Mariner 40-yard line.

“This was a total team effort,” said Mariner coach Chris Siner. “We’re getting better. We have three more games to play, and we hope to win all three.”

Both teams continue in district play next week, with Mariner hosting Fort Myers and North traveling to Bishop Verot.

Mariner 10 7 13 0 – 30

North Fort Myers 7 3 0 6 – 16

First Quarter

M – FG, John Teeter 39

NFM – Deovanti Hopewell 35 pass from Zane LaPaugh (Evan Sargent kick)

M – Jeffrey Etnoyer 1 run (Teeter kick)

Second Quarter

M – Etnoyer 22 run (Teeter kick)

NFM – FG, Sargent 37

Third Quarter

M – Tyler Pigott 11 run (Teeter kick)

M – Etnoyer 1 run (run failed)

Fourth Quarter

NFM – LaPaugh 24 run (kick blocked)