An unbeaten season came to an abrupt end for the North Fort Myers Red Knights Friday night at Moody Field.

The Estero Wildcats, a team the Red Knights have dominated in past seasons, did the dominating in a convincing 34-8 victory. It is the first win of the season for the Wildcats (1-2) and ended a six-game losing streak stretching back four games at the end of last season.

Things started off well for the Red Knights (2-1) who took the opening kickoff right down the field and scored on a four-yard run by Johnny Garrow. Following a two-point conversion, North was on top 8-0.

Estero could not get the ball moving in the first quarter on the Red Knights. The Wildcats then put together an eight-play scoring drive that started late in the first quarter and ended early in the second, closing the gap to 8-7.

Both teams were airing it out all night long. North quarterback Brandon Makar, coming off a strong game against Mariner last week, looked to continue his solid play but was outdone by Estero senior Ryan Sides, who threw for four touchdowns.

Sides found Rodolfo Sasso in the back of the end zone following a Red Knights fumble deep in their own territory to put the Wildcats ahead 14-8.

This left the Knights’ crowd quiet and shocked as the teams went into halftime with the winless Wildcats on top.

Ryan Sides continued to throw the ball all over the field against North, yet the game remained close thanks to clutch defense by the Red Knights and a couple of holding penalties that cost the Wildcats on more then one occasion.

Estero was penalized a shocking 11 times, including five holding calls and three pass interferences, but they were not to be denied. They finally broke through and scored their third touchdown of the night, using the Red Knights’ second fumble of the game as its spark. Eric McFadden, the Wildcats junior runningback, scored from two yards out making the score 21-8 with less than a minute to go in the third quarter.

McFadden, who went over 100 yards for the night, could not be stopped. The late touchdown really took the wind out of the Knights.

Makar could not get the ball down field and the running game was completely bottled up by the Wildcats. The Red Knights receivers were not helping the cause as they racked up five drops during the game.

Estero had star power on the defensive side of the ball as well. Jarrett Northrup was everywhere. He ended up with two fumble recoveries and an interception. The Wildcats could do no wrong after falling behind early.

The game was put out of reach early in the fourth quarter when Sides connected with senior receiver Justin Milcetich for a 34-yard pitch and catch.

Milcetich was an absolute monster as he hauled in 12 catches for 115 yards and one score.

The Red Knights were stunned at this point with the Wildcats in complete control.

Estero’s Zach Culvahouse put the exclamation point on the win by scoring his second touchdown of the game on a pass from Sides to seal the 34-8 win.

North Fort Myers travels to Island Coast next Friday to try and get back in the win column while Estero stays home to take on East Lee County.

Estero 0 14 7 13 – 34

North 8 0 0 0 – 8

First Quarter

N – Garrow 4 run (Slyvester pass from Czerwinski )

Second Quarter

E – Culvahouse 34 pass from Sides (Phillips kick)

E – Sasso 11 pass from Andros (Phillips kick)

Third Quarter

E – McFadden 2 run (Phillips kick)

Fourth Quarter

E – Milcetich 34 pass from Sides (kick failed)

E – Culvahouse 14 pass from Sides (Miller kick)