After letting their team down the entire game, the Ida Baker punt return team came up with the big play in the closing minutes of Friday’s District 6A-11 game at North Fort Myers.

Baker’s Owen Weeks blocked Connor Black’s punt, which led to Dylan Miller’s field goal that iced the Bulldogs’ 17-9 victory at Moody Field, keeping them very much alive in the playoff hunt.

The blocked punt helped ease the pain of three muffed punts that gave the Red Knights prime field position. Baker (4-2, 2-1 district) came up big on defense, forcing four turnovers, including three interceptions of North quarterback Brandon Makar.

They also scored their touchdowns 19 seconds apart in the second quarter, one on a pass and an interception return.

“Not many teams muff three punts inside the 30 and win. The defense was great,” Bulldogs coach Brian Conn said. “It’s a good feeling being 2-1 in the district because it’s so bang-bang.”

The Red Knights (2-5, 0-3) could only muster a field goal off Bulldog turnovers, turning the ball back on their other chances.

Daniel Sylvester, who was the Knights’ go-to guy in the absence of running back Terrell Neal, recovered a muffed punt on the Baker 13 after their first punt, but fumbled it back to Baker’s Avery Thompson two plays later.

North got on the board in the second off another muff that Skylar Saxton recovered at the Bulldogs’ 30-yard line. Black kicked a 39-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

The Bulldogs took the lead moments later when quarterback Reece Attwood found tight end Hunter Urraro on a screen, darting up the middle for a 45-yard TD and a 7-3 lead.

On the ensuing drive, Makar was intercepted by Joe Galewski, who took it 35 yards for six and a 14-3 advantage at halftime.

In the third quarter, Josh Isaac recovered another Baker muffed punt, but T.J. Holloman intercepted Makar in the end zone to end the threat.

North reached the end zone at the end of the third quarter. Sylvester (11 catches, 86 yards) outjumped Holloman for the ball and fell into the end zone. Black missed the PAT to make it 14-9.

North had three chances in the closing minutes, but the blocked punt and Jeremy Betts’ interception denied the Knights.

Makar went 18-of-33 for 145 yards for the Knights, but the Bulldogs held them to 44 yards on the ground.

Alex Febles gained 66 yards on 21 carries. Attwood was 10-of-18 for 156 yards for Baker, with Cecil Fitch catching three passes for 68 yards.

“I’m proud of how we keep fighting, but it’s not enough. We gotta find ways to win games,” Red Knights coach Barry Goettemoeller said. “If winning didn’t matter, they wouldn’t keep score.”

Ida Baker 0 14 0 3 – 17

North FM 0 3 6 0 – 9

Second Quarter

NFM – FG, Black 39

IB – Urraro 45 pass from Attwood (Miller kick)

IB – Galewski 35 interception return (Miller kick)

Third Quarter

NFM – Sylvester 25 pass from Makar (kick fail)

Fourth Quarter

IB – FG, Miller 35

Cape Coral Christian 13, Florida Christian 0: Cape Coral Christian was awarded a forfeit victory Friday that boosts its 6-man football season record to 6-0 with three games remaining.

Two Crusaders seniors were named to the Florida Christian Association of Private & Parochial Schools (FCAPPS) Team USA squad that will play against Team Canada after the season.

Quarterback Miguel Morales has passed for 1,242 yards and 19 touchdowns without being intercepted. He has completed 60 of 77 passes.

Runningback Stephon Saxon has rushed 16 times for 438 yards and five touchdowns while making 17 receptions for 384 yards and five TDs.

Oasis 32, Westwood Christian 8: John Callahan returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown and quarterback Josh Eretter passed for three touchdowns to lead Oasis to victory Friday in Miami.

Will Jynella ran for 33 yards and two touchdowns while Joe Pascale gained 48 yards and one touchdown contributing to the team total of 375 yards of offense. Justin Vaughn caught one of Eretter’s three TD passes. Eretter was a perfect 10-of-10 for a total of 151 yards.

Defensively, Pascale led the Sharks with 10 tackles and Callahan made five tackles.

The Sharks (6-0) host Donahue (5-1) next Friday in their homecoming game at the Storms Complex.