Tigers run past Bruins to first win

BRADENTON — As the seconds wore down, there were hugs and laughs sweeping through Palmetto’s sideline.

And there was some relief, too.

The Tigers defeated Bayshore 27-9, earning their first win of the season. The timing couldn’t have been better — Palmetto (1-3) opens district play next week at Punta Gorda Charlotte.

“These kids face a lot of adversity. I’m proud of the kids, with the effort they gave,” said Palmetto coach Raymond Woodie, a witness to many victories at Balvanz Stadium during his tenure as the Bruins’ head coach. “But we’ve got to get better quick. We’ve got our first district game, and it’s good we got a win.”

Putting up points had been a problem for Palmetto, which was held to one touchdown during the first three weeks.

Scoring didn’t prove as difficult Friday. Leading the resurgence was Marquis Green, who rushed for two scores and 128 yards.

His third-quarter run was most impressive — he bounced off a scrum, zipped around right end and sprinted 61 yards for a touchdown.

“With him, the last couple of games, he wasn’t in a position to kind of carry us. He had a little injury,” Woodie said. “But he is our guy. We’ve just got to keep him healthy.”

It was a well-rounded effort for Palmetto. Defensive back Brian Ackerman broke into Bayshore’s backfield, stripped the ball from tailback Alex Jackson and ran 40 yards for a touchdown. He also blocked a punt.

And Dallas Jackson had two interceptions for Palmetto.

Special teams was part of the culprit for the Bruins (2-3) — aside from the blocked punt, a bad snap on a second-quarter punt attempt led to Palmetto’s first score of the game.

“Fourteen points on special teams,” Bayshore coach Jean P. Gordon said. “You’re looking at a 13-9 ballgame on the scoreboard, and you don’t know what happens from there — we’re not throwing the ball so much coming down from the end, we’re not trying to come back from three touchdowns.”

Jackson accounted for Bayshore’s lone touchdown when he ran 32 yards on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Bruins resume district play next week when they host Booker.

Woodie is hopeful this win leads to a good district start for the Tigers, who are looking to make the playoffs for the third straight year.

“Charlotte is one of the top teams in the state,” he said. “A win like this at least gives us confidence. ... It’s good for the kids.”