Cape football defeats Saint Mark’s 22-17
The Vikings and the Spartans met for battle on the muddy natural grass field at Saint Mark’s Oct. 6, and when the final Gjallarhorn sounded, Cape moved to 4-1 with a 22-17 victory.
Cape took a 16-0 lead in the first quarter on a 40-yard field goal by Wilson Ingerski, a four-yard run by Maurki James and a one-yard run by freshman quarterback Jameson Tingle.
Saint Mark’s didn’t give up, though, as the Spartans picked up a one-yard touchdown just before the end of the first quarter to cut the Vikings’ lead to 16-7. The Spartans added another touchdown in the second on a three-yard run. The half ended at 16-14 Cape.
Saint Mark’s hit a 35-yard field goal to take a 17-16 lead with 7:57 left in the fourth quarter.
James took a Tingle handoff and scampered for a 51-yard touchdown run to put Cape back on top. The two-point conversion failed, giving the Vikings a five-point edge with 6:19 left in the game.
After the Spartans got two first downs, the Vikings tightened their armor and stopped them on fourth down when James and Dell Richards tackled Logan Klein just short of the first down. After going three-and-out, the Vikings gave the ball back to the Spartans. Lex Wescott knocked down a fourth-down pass to ensure the Vikings’ victory.
James rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown, and led the team on defense with six tackles and six assists. Tingle went 10-for-19 for 136 yards. Wescott, in his first game back from injury, caught three passes for 85 yards and came up big on defense.
“It feels pretty great,” said Wescott. “When we got down against a great team, all I can say is it was a battle. My teammates came out here before the game and we were quiet, but it was quiet before the storm, baby. We all just came together this week. We had great practices and came out and played. Our defense went crazy.”
On special teams, Ingerski put five kickoffs in the end zone for touchbacks, hit a 40-yard field goal and converted an extra point.
“I’m very happy with the players and their response to the difficult game the week before,” said coach Mike Frederick. “The offense played well with the exception of the penalties. Our defensive coordinator [Jason] Hunt made some nice adjustments at halftime to the heavy formations that were giving us problems in the first half. Football is a game of momentum swings, and the start of the third quarter was very important. We limited their time of possession in the third and took advantage by keeping their offense off the field. The team is playing hard and fast and for each other. It is exciting to watch.
“Wilson Ingerski is Weapon X. His touchback percentage is terrific for high school, and he has yet to miss an extra point or field goal under 50 yards.”
The 4-1 Vikings will travel to Sussex Central Friday, Oct. 13, to face the 3-2 Golden Knights.
