Prep football: Gulf Coast's New Orleans trip ends early with shutout loss

Gulf Coast vs. New Orleans-Brother Martin

Sharks fall to Crusaders.

Gulf Coast visits New Orleans Hospital

Football team distributes hats, photographs.

Gulf Coast arrives in New Orleans

Sharks ready to battle in football game.

NEW ORLEANS — During the first half of the Gulf Coast-Brother Martin football game, the offensive electricity was off for both teams.

The squads combined for just 42 yards of offense, and it looked as if neither team was going to get on the board. But a surge of electricity that caused the power in the stadium and delayed the game for an hour seemed to energize the home team, and Brother Martin finished strong, winning 17-0.

The Sharks were overrun in the second half by the Crusaders, who finished the game with 243 yards on the ground. Senior running back John West did most of the damage, carrying 30 times for 213 yards and two touchdowns.

"They just took over in the second half," Gulf Coast coach Andrew Miranti said. "John West is a real talent, and he played great tonight."

The loss capped off a tough night for the Sharks, who were forced to cancel the rest of their New Orleans-area trip because of Tropical Storm Lee. The team was scheduled to tour the city on Saturday and return home Sunday morning, but left for Naples following Friday's game.

"We were really looking forward to showing them the city tomorrow, but we have to worry about the safety of the kids first," Miranti said. "Nonetheless, the kids had a great experience, we went to the children's hospital today and all-in-all, it was a fantastic experience."

The Sharks may have had an even better trip if they would have been able to hang onto the ball. Down 7-0 and driving in the fourth quarter, a bobbled snap on the Brother Martin 43-yard line doomed the Sharks' most promising drive of the night.

On the ensuing drive, the Crusaders moved the ball down the field, setting up a 42-yard field goal by kicker Mike McCarthy.

The fumble was one of six in the game for the Sharks, four of which were recovered by Brother Martin. The Crusaders also coughed the ball up six times but only lost one.

"This is our first rain game of the year so those things are expected," Miranti said. "I wish it wouldn't have been that way but that's going to happen in weather like this."

Later in the fourth quarter the Crusaders capped off the victory with a 42-yard run by West with 1:17 left.

The Sharks rotated players at pretty much every position, including quarterback, where senior Charlie Cannaday and Nikko Zuluaga split snaps. Neither had much success and both finished with negative yards rushing.

The Sharks finished the game with 100 yards of total offense, 69 of which came through the air.