Tigers hang with Tarpons

PUNTA GORDA — The beginning of district football means the end of moral victories.

Nonetheless, Palmetto was able to extract some positives from Friday’s 29-14 loss to Punta Gorda Charlotte on Friday in each team’s Class 4A-District 11 opener.

The Tigers (1-4, 0-1) played the Tarpons (6-0, 1-0), co-owners of the No. 2 ranking in the state of Class 4A, tough, handing them their closest game yet.

It wasn’t enough to earn a spot in the win column. But with two district games left – against Port Charlotte and Lakewood Ranch – coach Raymond Woodie hopes it was enough to spring Palmetto forward.

“The coaches did a good job, the kids fought hard,” Woodie said. “We’ve just got to keep improving.”

A pair of first-half mistakes put Palmetto in an early hole. Donald Campbell was picked off by Charlotte’s Alex Mut on the first play from scrimmage, which led to a Tarpon touchdown roughly two minutes later.

Early in the second half, a Palmetto fumble gave the Tarpons the ball on the Tigers’ 17-yard line, which Charlotte turned into a score when Kyle Midgett and Nick Stephenson connected on a 15-yard strike.

Consequently, the Tarpons took a 23-0 lead into halftime.

But Palmetto clawed back after the break. The Tigers limited the Tarpons to one more score and got two touchdowns from Marquis Green, including Palmetto’s first passing touchdown of the year.

It came from senior quarterback Rian Kelly, who threw for 44 yards while sharing snaps with Campbell.

“(Coach) just told us to get together and play as a team,” said Green, who added a 34-yard scoring run and finished with 68 rushing yards and 35 receiving yards. “When we click, we click. That’s all we have to do – believe in ourselves and execute every play.”

Mike Bellamy, Charlotte’s talented running back, finished with 115 yards on 18 carries – well below his average of nearly 14 yards per carry he had coming into the game.

But the Tarpons were able to counter with their passing game – Midgett passed for 207 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

“No. 2 team in the state – they’ve got a good team,” Woodie said.

Palmetto is no slouch, either. And the coaches and players are hopeful their strong second half leads to an even stronger second half of the season.

“These kids, like I said, they improved the second half,” Woodie said. “Overall, these kids fought. And you can’t get upset about that.”