PhotosMICHAEL PISTELLA Island Coast defensive end Aaron Lynch (19) reaches for Tampa Catholic quarterback Chivarsky Corbett in Friday night’s regional playoff game. More photos are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

Despite numerous penalties and a sluggish start, the Island Coast Gators prevailed over the Tampa Catholic Crusaders 28-0 Friday night in the Region 2B-3.

Nelson Candelario, who had not been asked to do much this year, scored two touchdowns in the win and showed why having a senior quarterback in these types of games mean everything.

The Gators’ first possession included a long touchdown run by runningback Mario Pender, but it was called back on a holding penalty, the first of 13 penalties called against them.

The teams traded punts in a sloppy first quarter.

The Gators found offense on their first possession in the second quarter using Louie King and Torreon Madison, a change of pace from a Pender-led ground attack. King scored on a 15-yard run to give the Gators the lead and they never looked back.

The Crusaders led by quarterback Chivarsky Corbett tried to answer the the score, but the Gators’ defense forced a 46-yard field goal attempt that fell short.

The first half ended 7-0. The story of the half was defense and both teams hurting themselves over and over with penalties. They combined for eight penalties and seven punts.

Sloppy play continued for most of the third quarter and the large crowd was starting to have doubts until Candelario made the play of the game. It was on the first play after a Crusader punt that backed the Gators deep into their own zone. The play call was an option and Candelario kept it for a fancy 83-yard run to the 1-yard line, bringing the crowd to its feet and seizing the momentum. He punched it in from the 1 and a 14-0 lead.

The Gators’ defense smelled victory with a 14-0 lead and started to attack. Led by senior defensive end Aaron Lynch, the defense preserved the shutout for the entire quarter with two sacks by Lynch and an interception by Micheal Dumas.

The Crusaders had no answers on either side of the ball. Pender, who had been quiet most of the game, finally broke off a 69-yard TD run by reversing field and going un-touched for the score.

This run put Pender over the 2,000-yard mark for the season.

Candelario added his second touchdown late in the fourth quarter with a 23 yard scamper giving the Gators the win and a trip to the second round of the playoffs.

The Gators (10-1) Host Lake Highland Prep next Friday in the Region 2B-3 finals.

Tampa Cath. 0 0 0 0 – 0

Island Coast 0 7 7 14 – 28

Second Quarter

IC – King 15 run (Fitzgerald kick)

Third Quarter

IC – Candelario 1 run (Fitzgerald kick)

Fourth Quarter

IC – Pender 69 run (Fitzgerald kick)

IC – Candelario 23 run (Fitzgerald kick)