POP WARNER: Bandits serve Youth by winning 5 of 6

The Port Charlotte Bandits had to move their homecoming operation to Port Charlotte High this past week when the county deemed Franz Ross Park unplayable.

Playing at the home of their future Pirate program, the Bandits took five of six games on Saturday against visiting Cape Youth Storm.

Here’s how it all played out:

6U Bandits 20, Cape Youth 12: Kingston Bowie struck for three touchdowns — two on offense and one via a fumble recovery on defense — as the Bandits held off Cape Youth. Jerrmih Williams had 13 tackles and forced the fumble that Bowie returned. Xaiden Anderson pitched in with five tackles. Akai Archer, Messia Orneas, Lucas Heraux and Weston Waldrop also had good games.

8U Cape Youth 6, Bandits 0: The Bandits’ defense played great with some big tackles by Jaziel De La Cruz, Samual Gaspar and Melquan Kent. The offense was led by Jamarion Floyd running the ball well. Walter Zubritsky ran well and threw some great passes.

9U Bandits 39, Cape Youth 0: The newest Bandits team clinched the No. 1 seed in its division and remained undefeated. Dayton Speek threw a 40-yard td pass to Cameron Jean-Charles. Jaxson Strankowski also had a receiving touchdown. All running backs scored behind great blocking by the offensive line. Jagger Porche, Jayvion Ritchhart, and the entire defense played lights out with another shut out.

10U Bandits 32, Cape Youth 0: The offense was on fire with Chandler Lynch running hard and scoring a 40-yard touchdown run behind key blocks from Kaison Barber, Blake Maddox, Mikerion Cunningham, and Xavier Rayhon. Cunningham broke off a run for 55 yards but was brought down at the 1-yard line. Brady Traw got the score on a QB sneak. Elisha Buthane and Elias Torres both had scores on big runs behind Jahleel Cabrera-Groves, Niko Woolard, Jason Drennen, Daniel Edmonds, and Nick Maue. The defense was dominant, only allowing one first down. Cunningham lived in the Storm’s backfield, recording a sack 4 tackles for loss, 4 solo tackles, 10 total tackles and a forced fumble. Lynch, the homecoming king, was lockdown at corner, pitching in 3 solo tackles, 3 pass deflections, and a pick-six to top it off.

12U Bandits 15, Cape Youth 0: The Bandits won a game that was cut short when Cape Youth decided to forfeit during a lightning delay. Myrico Jackson recovered a fumble on the first play from scrimmage. Gunnar Franzen scored the Bandits’ first touchdown from one yard out. Javvies Jones added the second touchdown after several big plays got the Bandits inside the 5-yard line. Landon Howard added an extra point reception. Denali Gainer also ran the ball well. The Bandits’ defensive line caused problems for a pass-first Cape Youth offense, leading to numerous sacks and turnovers. Max Pumphreys had two interceptions but one that was returned for a touchdown was called back. Jack Hackney, Sylas McNamara, Adam Sease, Jaxson Moretti and Jackson all had tackles in the backfield.

14U Bandits 20, Cape Youth 0: Cassidy Fanor rushed for two touchdowns and Jaheim Jones had one rushing score. The offense was led by the blocking of Jakai Simpson, Mo Williams, Lincoln McNamara, Bryce Palmer, and Wyatt Dickinson. The defense had another shut out. Defensive standouts were D’ahri Evans, Kamdyne Heary, Andre Scott, and Jakai Simpson. Dickinson had a fumble recovery.