Pirates fall 24-7 in Gladiators rematch

BRADENTON- After taking a brutal 54-6 beating at the hands of the Southwest Florida Gladiators last weekend, something had to give.

Dunedin (1-3) played much better in the rematch with Southwest (4-0), as the Pirates were within 10-7 at the 2-minute warning mark at the end of the game. The Pirates gave up two touchdowns and lost 24-7.

The Pirates held the Gladiators to 304 yards of offense, well down from the 634 yards they gave up a week ago. Wide receiver Manny Higgins found the endzone again when quarterback Tim Dallaire connected with him for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Dunedin led briefly 7-0 before the Gladiators answered back with a score of their own to notch the game up at 7-7. Southwest took a 10-7 lead late in the third quarter and never relinquished the lead. Pirates travel to Jacksonville this Saturday to face the River City Commandos (4-0).