Rays Win Historic First District Game, Play FBA Friday in Another District Matchup

By Roger LaLonde
roger@coastalbreezenews.com

It was a sweet and overwhelming win for the Marco Island Academy (MIA) football team on Friday, September 25.

They outplayed St. John Neumann in every aspect of the game, winning their first Class 2A-District 7 game in school history, 49-17.

The Manta Rays go for a second district win when they travel to First Baptist Academy (FBA) in Naples for a 7:30 PM game on Friday, October 2.

FBA downed a district

opponent, Southwest Florida Christian Academy, 14-7, on September 25. The perennial district leader is 2-0 and 3-1 on the season. The Rays are 1-1 and 2-3 on the season.

St. John Neumann, 0-2, 0-4, are at Community School for another district matchup on October 2.

“FBA is a well-coached team and very disciplined,” MIA coach Greg Fowler said. “Our defensive line and linebackers will have to step up against a very good offensive team.”

MIA

is no slouch on offense either. Against St. John Neumann, the Rays rushed for 370 yards and 173 yards passing. Patrick Michel led in rushing with 241 yards on 17 carries.

Tyler Gresham rushed for 67 yards and hauled in four passes for an astounding 162 yards. He returned a kickoff for a 76-yard touchdown, and made good on a screen pass for a 74-yard score.

Tyler Wallace scored on a two-yard run and

intercepted two passes. Linebacker Eddy Ludwigsen sacked Neumann quarterback Julien Tirado in the end zone for two points. Austin Gross caught two passes, good for 52 yards.

Quarterback Andrew Fowler completed 6 of 16 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. He also hooked up with Wallace on a two-point conversion.

The only negative was that MIA was penalized 100 yards, ironically all coming on 10 holding calls.

“We limit our mistakes and control turnovers we can win,” Greg Fowler said.