History was made Friday night at Corral Memorial Stadium as the Port Charlotte Pirates defeated the Jesuit Tigers in a stunning 22-21 upset to claim the FHSAA Class 4A, Region 3 title.

 

The victory marks the first regional championship in the Port Charlotte football program’s 44-year history, propelling the Pirates to the state semifinal stage.

 

The back-and-forth contest was a defensive battle in the first half, with Jesuit taking a narrow lead just before halftime when Florida commit Will Griffin punched in a 7-yard touchdown run, making the score 7-0 after a mostly scoreless half.

 

The offense finally erupted in the second half. Port Charlotte tied the game when junior wide receiver Elias Pearl scored on a 3-yard run. Jesuit quickly regained the lead with a Hezekiah Davis touchdown run, swinging the momentum back to the Tigers and putting them ahead 14-7. The teams continued to trade blows, and as the game entered its final moments, Jesuit led 21-14.

 

With the clock winding down and the Pirates' season seemingly on the line, the defense made a crucial play, recovering a Jesuit fumble with just 42 seconds left in the game. This turnover set the stage for an unforgettable finish.

 

Port Charlotte’s star duo delivered the moment of the night. UCF commit quarterback Logan Flaherty took the snap and unleashed a 55-yard pass deep downfield to Elias Pearl. Pearl managed to get behind the Jesuit defender and haul in the dramatic touchdown catch, bringing the Pirates within one point.

 

Head Coach Jordan Ingman made the bold, game-defining decision to go for the two-point conversion and the win. Flaherty once again found a target, this time connecting with Mikael Santa for the successful conversion, giving the Pirates a nail-biting 22-21 lead. The defense held firm for the remaining seconds, securing the unprecedented victory for Port Charlotte.

 

Elias Pearl was instrumental on both sides of the ball, scoring an earlier rushing touchdown and then catching the game-tying touchdown pass. The poised execution by Flaherty and the clutch hands of Santa cemented their place in school lore.

 

The Pirates now advance to the Class 4A state semifinals, where they will face the American Heritage Patriots (Plantation) as they continue their historic postseason run.