High school football: Naples special teams finishes off Fort Myers in 6A regional semis

The Class 6A regional semifinal turned into a defensive stalemate between the Naples High and Fort Myers football teams on Friday.

With both offenses struggling to gain ground, Naples’ special teams – as Golden Eagles coach Bill Kramer likes to say – were special. Naples blocked a punt in the fourth quarter of a one-score game, returned it for a touchdown, and held on for a 24-9 victory at Staver Field.

Naples (11-1) beat Fort Myers (9-3) in the second round of the playoffs for the second straight season and the third time in four years. The Golden Eagles will host North Fort Myers, which beat Charlotte 36-20 on Friday, for the 6A-Region 4 championship on Friday, Nov. 23.

“We work on blocking punts; it’s one of the first things we to start the spring,” Kramer said. “We’re known for it. We’ve been doing it for a long, long time. We try to be very technical about it and tactical. When it happens like it’s supposed to, our guys get fired up. It’s a huge momentum switch.”

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Thanks to the return of leading rusher and Clemson recruit Chez Mellusi, Naples went up 14-0 less than nine minutes into the game. However, the Eagles managed just three points in the next two quarters.

Fort Myers had pulled within 17-9 and crossed into Naples territory on its first drive of the fourth quarter. The drive stalled and the Green Wave had to punt. That’s when senior linebacker Marc Viechec pushed his blocker into the punter, sending the ball rolling toward the Naples end zone.

Senior defensive back D’Andre St. Jean, surrounded by three teammates, scooped up the ball and jogged 20 yards to put Naples up 24-9 with 9:44 left.

“(Viechec) told me, ‘I’m gonna get it,’” St. Jean said. “He blocked it and I just got the ball. I told him after the play, ‘I love you, bro.’”

Fort Myers stayed in the game despite its slow start thanks to its defense. Naples rushed for 347 yards, but the Green Wave kept the Eagles offense out of the end zone the final three quarters. Naples had a field goal in the second quarter and no offensive points after halftime.

The Greenies had 225 yards of offense, but nearly 50 of those came on a drive in the final minute with the game decided. Senior quarterback Willie Neal rushed for 72 yards and threw for 113, but before the last possession he was 6-of-16 passing with two interceptions.

Aside from Sias Young’s touchdown run in the second quarter, the Green Wave had two other drives inside the Naples 20-yard line. Fort Myers managed one field goal on the two drives, turning it over on downs once.

“We had our chances,” Fort Myers coach Sam Sirianni Jr. said. “We got down 14-0, but I’m proud of our guys. We got it to one score at halftime. Our guys fought through some adversity.”

Mellusi returned after missing the previous three games with a foot injury. Lacking the burst that earned him 1,364 yards in the first eight games of the season, Mellusi still was dangerous on Friday.

Though he said he was at 70 percent and Kramer said he was around 85 percent, Mellusi rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. He had a 65-yard scoring burst in the first quarter.

Junior running back Elan Sommala, who had shouldered the offensive load without Mellusi, ran for 133 yards on 23 carries. Sommala has 1,472 yards on the season while Mellusi now has 1,558 and 21 touchdowns.

“It was everybody,” said Mellusi, crediting his teammates for his big night. “Work ethic, that’s what pays off. All the work we did this summer. That’s just what we do.

“I had to (play). I wanted to, I had to. I just had to be ready.”

Naples advanced to the regional finals for the 11th time in the past 18 seasons. The Golden Eagles have won seven regional championships, including last season, and two state titles (2001, 2007), all in 21 seasons under Kramer.

The Eagles also get to revive one of their most cherished traditions. When playing in the third round of the playoffs, Naples holds an evening practice on Thanksgiving.

It’s the team’s favorite practice of the year because former players who are in town come out, as well as players’ families. Thanksgiving practice is a reason for the Golden Eagles to celebrate and give thanks.

“We just have an attitude of gratitude,” Kramer said. “We don’t take it for granted. Every year it’s awesome. Every year it’s like Christmas to be able to play on Thanksgiving.”

NAPLES 24, FORT MYERS 9

FM      0          9          0          0          –          9

N         14        3          0          7          –          24

First quarter

N – Chez Mellusi 19 run (Nick Herber kick), 6:33

N – Mellusi 65 run (Herber kick), 3:27

Second quarter

FM – Sias Young 1 run (kick failed), 8:31

N – Herber 40 field goal, 2:14

FM – Sam Heidt 40 field goal, 0:00

Fourth quarter

N – D’Andre St. Jean 20 blocked punt return (Herber kick), 9:44

Playoff pairings

Regional quarterfinals

Class 6A

Naples 24, Fort Myers 9

North Fort Myers 36, Charlotte 20

Class 5A

Tampa Jesuit 31, Immokalee 3

Class 4A

Bishop Verot 45, LaBelle 17

Class 2A

St. John Neumann 55, Belle Glade-Glades Day 14

Naples vs. North Fort Myers tickets

Tickets for next Friday's Class 6A regional final at 7:30 p.m. at Staver Field will go on sale on Monday at the Naples High School Activities Office.

Season-ticket holders can purchase their reserved seats at $10 each on Monday and Tuesday only by coming to the Naples High School Activities Office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

General admission tickets are $8 and do not guarantee a seat. They will be on sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. General admission tickets will also be available for all playoff game online at GOFAN.com. There will be a convenience surcharge when purchasing a ticket online.

On the day of the game, the stadium and the stadium ticket office will open at 5:30 p.m. The only passes accepted are FHSAA State Series Passes with a picture ID at any playoff game.

Remaining reserved seats will go on sale to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. or until all are sold.