Dunedin can’t figure out Tampa Bay

TAMPA- It wasn’t quite like the first matchup but still the same result for the Dunedin  Pirates when they took on the Tampa Bay Thunder.

The Pirates (2-3) played much better, but fell 24-8 to the Thunder at Sickles High School in a divisional matchup. Dunedin will face the Gladiators next week in another tough division matchup.

Dunedin went with Eric Vitale as the starting quarterback and results varied well as the signal caller completed 10-of-22 passes for 167 yards. The issue for the Pirates was actually finding the end zone. A fumble on the 1-yard line in the second quarter stymied a scoring drive for Dunedin.

Vitale ended up going down with a knee injury and would be replaced by Ryan Henson. Wide receiver Michael Minges caught a game-high six catches for 136 yards in the loss.