Note to readers: This is the first installment in a series of stories analyzing the schedules of area football teams for the 2024 season.
As with most things planned in advance, reality has a way of scuttling one’s vision.
That was the case for Port Charlotte this past year when, on paper, the Pirates’ 2023 schedule appeared to be formidable.
Alas, instead of running a midseason gantlet, Port Charlotte mauled teams such as Gulf Coast (38-0), Braden River (49-16) and Riverdale (62-0), among others. The relative collapse of those traditionally strong programs left Port Charlotte in a weird position as the district slate wound down — should the Pirates for whatever reason fail to win their district, then they could have found themselves on the outside looking in for a regional berth.
Seems inconceivable, considering how good the 2023 Pirates proved themselves to be.
Port Charlotte head coach Jordan Ingman didn’t want to leave any room for doubt in 2024. The resulting schedule could find Port Charlotte battered and bruised by season’s end. Going 8-2 in the regular season as they did in 2023 might be a tall task for this year’s Pirates.
Redistricting set the tone for Port Charlotte, landing the Pirates in a four-team pod that includes powerhouses Dunbar and Naples. Add in the tough non-district slate and a 7-3 or even 6-4 Pirates squad that doesn’t win its district might still be a lock for regionals.
Port Charlotte should be up to the task with talent across the board at all skill positions and the type of depth at some positions that should make the opposition envious. By season’s end, the 2024 Pirates might boast the most D-I commitments in school history, led by Florida State pledge Myron Charles.
Port Charlotte’s compelling schedule features an early stretch where three of four games will be played on the road with the lone home date being the most difficult team on its schedule. In contrast, the closing kick will see the Pirates play four of their final five at home with the toughest game in that stretch being the lone road trip to new district foe Naples — the team that ended Port Charlotte’s 2023 season.
Let’s break it all down:
AUG. 23Island Coast: Expect the Pirates to play everyone in this season-opener against a team they mauled 49-8 in the 2023 regular season finale.
AUG. 30At North Fort Myers: The Red Knights went 3-7 a year ago with seniors at many of their skill positions, so it’s hard to gauge what kind of opponent they will make for Port Charlottes first road date. Historically speaking, North Fort Myers won 38 games in the five years prior to last season’s downturn. Still, an experienced Pirates team should be able to take care of business.
SEPT. 6At Lehigh: The Lightning had a difficult time in 2023 after the graduation of their record-breaking running back, Richard Young. That said, a junior-laden squad that began the season 1-6 seemed to find itself over the season’s final three games, obliterating North Fort Myers and Riverdale before scaring the life out of Dunbar in an 18-15 defeat. Dunbar, of course, went on to dispatch Naples the week after the Golden Eagles ended Port Charlotte’s season. This game sits in a dangerous spot on Port Charlotte’s schedule, coming just before the biggest game of the season.
SEPT. 13Venice: The Pirates and Indians will renew hostilities for the first time in 10 years when they meet at Pirates Cove. Venice needs little introduction after reaching the state championship game in its classification three consecutive seasons, winning once. Venice has reloaded for another deep run with multiple stars back on both sides of the ball. Port Charlotte has lost all seven meetings with Venice, the closest being a 31-7 loss in 2006. In their last meeting (2014), Venice won 35-6.
SEPT. 20At First Baptist: The Naples-based Lions are perennial state title contenders, having won in all in 2022 before falling to state runner-up Trinity Catholic in the Class 1S semifinals. Don’t let that small-size designation fool you: First Baptist punches above its weight and will be a stiff challenge for Port Charlotte after returning the bulk of its playmakers from the 2023 squad. Size should eventually be a factor, though, thanks to Port Charlotte’s superior depth. One thing to watch for: The Pirates have, on occasion, laid an egg after a big game. If there’s a hangover from playing Venice, the Lions could make the Pirates pay.
SEPT. 27South Fort Myers: The Wolfpack was a volatile bunch in 2023, putting together a 6-4 record against a mid-level schedule. They hung tough in a 20-19 loss to Barron Collier at the halfway mark but were no match the following week for Fort Myers and would be routed by Dunbar in the penultimate week of the regular season. South Fort Myers will be replacing its quarterback and leading receiver, but returns its leading rusher and a mix of playmakers on defense. Still, this one looks like a district-opening win that would send Port Charlotte into its bye week on a high note.
OCT. 11Dunbar: This will be the first regular-season meeting this century between the Tigers and Pirates, though the two have met in spring games and preseason play. Therein lies the rub: The Pirates got the better of the Tigers in those scenarios and never had to deal with Dunbar under live-fire conditions. Having the bye week to prepare this year will be helpful, but make no mistake — the Tigers are a top-100 team with significant returning talent from a team that did what Port Charlotte couldn’t do: Beat Naples.
OCT. 18Charlotte: The Peace River Rivalry returns to October, which should create some variables that weren’t present in recent seasons when the two foes faced off early in the season. During the past two seasons, Charlotte has started slow but played significantly better as the calendar turns to October. A big reason for that is the team’s relative youth. The 2024 Tarpons will benefit from a 2023 campaign that saw an extraordinary number of underclassmen gain experience thanks to a host of injuries. Early season position battles will have been resolved by the time the Tarpons see the Pirates and while Port Charlotte will likely enter as a big favorite for a third consecutive rivalry win, this year’s meeting should be tougher than the past two.
OCT. 25At Naples: Two words are all that’s required to send chills down the back of any Port Charlotte fan: Shawn Simeon. During last season’s 63-33 loss at Naples, Port Charlotte never found an answer for the Golden Eagles’ running back. Simeon slashed the Pirates for 387 yards and seven touchdowns in 30 carries. He finished the year with 2,040 yards and 27 touchdowns. He’s back for his senior season. Also returning is Naples’ top defensive playmaker, linebacker Khari Bendolph (23 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, 15 hurries). Though there were some graduation losses, Naples returns a solid nucleus that should be in high gear by the time it hosts the Pirates in a game that could be for the district crown.
NOV. 1Zephyrhills: There are many different ways a team can go with its season finale. You could play the rival. You could play a cupcake. Or if you’re Port Charlotte, you can play a team that’s going to keep you sharp. Zephyrhills is no pushover at the end of the slate. The Bulldogs went 8-4 a year ago against a solid schedule, advancing to the region semifinals in Class 3S. They earned three wins against top-100 opponents and got the job done in a blue-collar fashion. While not particularly flashy in any part of its game, Zephyrhills didn’t display many weaknesses, either. If there was a deficiency, it came while defending the pass, which is not something the Bulldogs faced very often. That could play into Port Charlotte’s hands.
IF ALL GOES RIGHT: Port Charlotte stays healthy, Ike Perry surpasses Edd Guerrier’s rush totals, Logan Flaherty and his receivers have a season for the ages and the Pirates’ bruising defensive line stymies all comers as the Pirates go 9-1.
IF ALL GOES WRONG: Injuries mount and, after getting caught looking ahead while facing Lehigh, a demoralizing loss to Venice creates a snowball effect that costs the Pirates against First Baptist the following week. The Pirates run into Dunbar at the wrong time, then Charlotte stuns with a late win off a turnover. Port Charlotte finishes 5-5 and just misses out on a region playoff berth.
MOST LIKELY: Port Charlotte is too well-balanced — physically and mentally — to ever find itself in that worst-case scenario. Venice is a big ask and there’s probably a loss lurking in there between Dunbar and Naples. Let’s call it a battle-tested 8-2 campaign with a region playoff berth, with or without a district title.
PORT CHARLOTTE 2024 scheduleAug. 23 Island Coast
Aug. 30 at N. Fort Myers
Sept. 6 at Lehigh
Sept. 13 Venice
Sept. 20 at First Baptist
Sept. 27 S. Fort Myers
Oct. 11 Dunbar
Oct. 18 Charlotte
Oct. 25 at Naples
Nov. 1 Zephyrhills
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