After a rocky start to its season in 2023, North Port turned things around with a big win against IMG Academy Blue.
History appears to be repeating itself.
The Bobcats roared out of the gate on a rainy Thursday night in Bradenton and walloped the Blue Ascenders in record-breaking fashion, 55-17, for their first win of the 2024 campaign.
“It was needed,” Bobcats coach Garon Belser said. “Much, much needed.”
Belser said the Bobcats’ offense had been a little too run-heavy during the team’s first two regular-season games — a 24-3 loss to Parrish and a 31-0 defeat at Charlotte.
While running the ball remains the goal for North Port, the Bobcats on Thursday used their passing game to open up the running playbook.
Senior running back Peter Kalphat got North Port on the board with a 39-yard touchdown reception, then Bobcats quarterback Gino DiBene found sophomore receiver Lee Camel followed in short order with a 75-yard hookup for a 13-10 lead.
Just as North Port lined up for the extra point, the teams were forced to clear the field for what would prove to be a one-hour weather delay.
No matter — the Bobcats came out, converted the extra point and continued to pour it on.
Kadyn Palmer ripped off a 76-yard touchdown run on the Bobcats’ next play from scrimmage and Kalphat scored again as North Port took a 28-17 halftime lead.
“We had a pretty good point swing right there rather quickly,” Belser said.
The second half saw Isaac Smith rumble for two touchdowns and DiBene for one, as well, as North Port turned the game into a running-clock affair.
In all, North Port set a school record with 640 total yards of offense. Of that, 417 came on the ground, led by Kalphat, who amassed 167 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. Palmer totaled 117 yards on 12 carries while Smith finished with 96 yards on 16 totes.
DiBene didn’t go to the air often, but it proved plenty effective. He was 6 of 9 passing for 173 yards. Camel was the primary target, gathering in four passes for 114 yards.
The 55 points were the most at North Port in 20 years, dating back to a 55-28 win against Nature Coast Tech on Sept. 24, 2004.
After a couple of big plays by the Ascenders in the first half, the Bobcats’ defense stepped up and took command on that side of the ball, as well.
“They played great,” Belser said. “Their passing game was pretty solid, but once we started getting pressure on them, that’s when it started to shut everything down.
“They couldn’t get anything going with their run game, so we really had them in a box.”
Next up for North Port (1-2) is a home date with Bonita Springs on Friday.
Local News
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