Under the lights in Punta Gorda, the Pirates surged past the Charlotte Tarpons 35–7, owning the fourth quarter and the rivalry, closing out a statement win in the Battle of the Peace River.

 

On a clear October night that felt made for football, the Port Charlotte High School Pirates marched into Cooper Street and left with a convincing 35–7 win over the host Charlotte High School Fightin’ Tarpons.

 

What looked like a grind early turned into an emphatic rivalry result as Port Charlotte found rhythm on both sides of the ball. The Pirates’ offense settled in with a balanced script—patient runs to set up play-action and quick hitters to the perimeter—while the defense compressed space and erased explosives.

 

When the game’s tempo tilted late in the third, Port Charlotte leaned on depth and field position, stacking back-to-back scoring drives that stretched the margin beyond doubt.

 

Charlotte had its moments. The Tarpons’ athletics group flashed speed on the edge and forced the Pirates to earn red-zone yards, but Port Charlotte’s answer was consistency: keep the chains moving, win special teams, and flip the field when the chance appears.

 

The signature sequence arrived after a sudden-change stop by the Pirates’ defense—a short field, a decisive burst through the A-gap, and a sideline that never sat down again. From there, Port Charlotte used clock and confidence to finish the job, a veteran road win in a stadium that rarely makes it easy.

 

For the visitors, it’s another data point in a strong fall. Rivalries don’t award style points—just results. On this night, the Pirates earned both: the number on the scoreboard and the feeling that comes with taking a tough road game and making it look routine by the end.