After being bottled up for short-yardage runs all night, junior Mario Pender broke one of his longest runs on a 26-yard touchdown dash in the third quarter to seal Island Coast’s 10-6 victory over Dunbar Friday night on the Gators’ field.

After a surprising scoreless first half in which they were guilty of five turnovers, the Gators (7-1, 3-0 District 2B-6) finally got the break they needed on Dunbar’s first drive of the second half. Michael Dumas intercepted a Dunbar pass and returned it to the Tigers’ 15-yard line.

The Tigers (2-5, 2-1) stuffed the Gators on three plays forcing them to settle for a 32-yard field goal by Kyle Fitzgerald.

On the ensuing kickoff, a pooch kick, Dunbar fumbled and the Gators recovered. That led to what proved to be Pender’s game-winning TD run.

The Tigers scored on a 40-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, but did not get another chance.

The tone of the first half was set on the Gators’ first possession after the opening kickoff.

The Gators ran two plays, picked up a first down at the Tigers’ 45-yard line, then quarterback Nelson Candelario fumbled the center snap and the Tigers recovered. That was the only time the Gators crossed into Dunbar territory in the half.

The Gators mishandled the snap two more times in the first quarter with the Tigers recovering both times. The third turnover came on the Gators’ 7-yard line.

The Tigers advanced the ball to the 2, but failed to take advantage as quarterback Cory Jackson was stopped trying to go for it on fourth-and-goal.

The Gators came up short of a first down and gave the ball back to the Tigers on a punt. After the Gators’ defense held on three-and-out, Dunbar’s punt bounced and hit a Gators blocker and the Tigers recovered at the 31-yard line.

The Tigers’ drive stalled at the Gators’ 15-yard line. The Gators still weren’t finished setting the Tigers up with good field position.

Pender made his best run of the half, picking up 20 and giving the Gators some breathing room. A holding penalty two plays later, though, left them facing a second-and-20.

Candelario’s second pass attempt of the night was intercepted by the Tigers at the Gators’ 38, but the Tigers failed to advance the ball and the half ended a few plays later.

The Gators host winless Gateway Charter and Dunbar hosts Lake Placid next Friday in District 2B-6 games.

Dunbar0 0 0 6 – 6

I. Coast0 0 10 0 – 10

Third Quarter

IC – FG, Fitzgerald 32

IC – Pender 26 run (Fitzgerald kick).

Fourth Quarter

D – Bronson 40 pass from Jackson (run failed).