CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) — Two 3-1 teams met, each looking to prove its strong start was no accident.
Golden Gate entered riding three straight wins, while Ida Baker had yet to lose on its home field. The two programs met for the first time in 20 years.
Ida Baker was still searching for what Head Coach Cullen O’Brien calls a complete performance.
“They haven’t played full four quarters, full effort. We get up on teams, we get comfortable. We let them come back. We don’t know how to put them away yet. We want to see us finally play four quarters of full effort, not taking our foot off the gas,” O’Brien said.
The Bulldogs wasted little time. Ida Baker struck first with a rushing touchdown, but the extra point was no good, making it 6-0 Bulldogs in the first quarter.
“They know what everybody feels about us outside of the fences here that we don’t have a shot in this game. So they’re really embracing the challenge this week,” O’Brien said.
Golden Gate arrived with momentum of its own, but Head Coach Nick Bigica said the team was taking it one game at a time.
“We went from a district game that we won in overtime to a game that’s a non-district game, but a very tough opponent. And next week we have a district game again, so this can be one of those trap games for a lot of teams. And we’re trying not to overlook anybody and play hard and do our job every single place,” Bigica said.
The Titans quarterback broke free on a long run, putting Golden Gate on the doorstep. The Titans finished the drive on the ground and converted the kick to jump in front, 7-6 in the first quarter.
Golden Gate took the win 35-33. The Titans improved to 4-1 on the season while giving the Bulldogs their second loss of the season and the first one at home.