PORT CHARLOTTE — The opening day of the Florida Veterans football season didn’t start well. The team’s jerseys didn’t arrive, which forced it to borrow North Port High School’s, then the team fell behind by 11 against at halftime.

But it got a whole lot better, especially the defense dominated in the second half, forcing five turnovers as the Veterans came back to beat the Bay Area Pirates 23-21 in the United Football Federation season opener at Franz Ross Park.