Dunbar community turns to football in wake of violence

SOUTH FORT MYERS, Fla. – Friday’s football game between Dunbar High School and South Fort Myers High School came on the heels of one of the most violent periods in recent memory, with Fort Myers police responding to four separate shootings Wednesday in which seven people were injured.

WINK News spoke to two grandmothers at Friday’s rivalry game. One cheering for South Fort Myers, the other for Dunbar.
But both are deeply saddened by what transpired two days ago.

“They just want to kill, kill, kill. I can’t understand it,” said Gerri Ware, whose grandson plays for South Fort Myers.

“We got to learn to live and love one another,” said Ruthie Ward, whose grandson plays for Dunbar.

We asked Ware if she thought the game would help take people’s minds off the recent violence.

“It will, for a couple of hours. But then we gotta go back to our community,” she said.

Ware says she hopes the new partnership between FMPD and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office will have an impact.
For Ward, watching her grandson and his teammates make plays on the field fills her with hope.

“I think sports keep young people out of a lot of stuff, ’cause I got a grandson out there and I love him and I know he’s doing good. I think sports keep a person’s mind focused on other things in their future than crime,” said Ward.

South Fort Myers won the game 23-20.