Transformer Explosions End Rays Game

Screams and shrieks filled the air at Winterberry Park Friday night, September 19, when two transformers exploded halfway through the third quarter of Marco Island Academy’s game against Babcock Ranch. It was Homecoming for the Rays, who were trailing 13-6 when the explosions occurred; the lights went out and fire filled the sky. The game was called, with Babcock Ranch declared the winner. It’s the Trailblazers’(1-4) first win of the season. The Rays fall to 1-3.

“You can’t believe how loud it was,” said Carolyn Montgomery, who has two grandsons on the MIA team. “Fire shooting up. People screaming. I don’t know why people were screaming, no one got hurt. It was so fast and everything went black. A very loud man yelled, ‘Everyone turn on your flashlight on your phone.' It’s a miracle no one was hurt.”

MIA principal Melissa Scott echoed Montgomery’s sentiments about the end result.

“With no prior warning, it appears that one or two transformers exploded,” Scott said, “and we are extremely lucky that no injuries occurred. I am beyond grateful to those that helped keep our families, students, and athletes calm and safe during what was an unprecedented and unsettling experience. Although we wish we could have completed that game victoriously, being safely together at the end was my personal win.”

Athletic director Jerry Miller was complimentary of the job done by the Marco police and fire departments.

“It was unfortunate the game ended the way it did,” Miller said. "Our boys were playing hard and got robbed of a chance to come back from a one score deficit. Coach Rich Costante and his staff are putting in a lot of work and doing a great job. I feel for them as well. At the same time, everyone walked away unscathed from an alarming event. Marco police and fire departments were quick to secure the scene, ensuring safety for all. We are grateful for them.”

Costante, while sorry his team was unable to attempt a second-half comeback, was thankful everyone left the park unharmed.

"When something out of your control happens and a game has to end prematurely,” Costante said, "it really exposes holes and gaps in the game plan. As a coach, I did not prepare our boys properly for the game, and it showed. I would have liked to have been able to finish the game because I feel we made great adjustments at halftime, but it wasn't in the cards. It has been over 2,800 days since we won a homecoming game, and I am truly sorry to the seniors for not being able to start a new tradition. Never in my coaching career has an electrical fire ended a game, so that was a first. I just hope we're able to play our senior game on October 3. We will have to wait and see the status when the city updates us on the electrical grid at the field.”

For the record, the Rays’ score came on a touchdown pass from quarterback Carter Good to receiver Ryan Winterick. On Friday, September 26, at 7:00 PM, the Rays travel to Bradenton to take on Saint Stephen’s Episcopal (2-4).