Cape football falls to Dover 27-24

Penalties, lack of execution doom Vikings

The Cape football Class of 2025 includes in back (l-r) Brendan Staggs, James Truitt, Colby Jester, Tyler Cohen-Kreis, Zane Coulbourne, Blake Frye, Bodie Frederick, Daniel Bila and Tanner Wyshock. In front are Jayden Messick, Joshua Thomas, Andree' Mosley, Gawain Curtis, David Schulze, Trent Kauffman and Javian Wise. DAN COOK PHOTOS

Dan Cook

November 4, 2024

The Cape football team celebrated 16 seniors in a pregame ceremony Nov. 1, at Legends Stadium, and wanted to get back on the winning track after last week’s loss to Smyrna. A combination of penalties, questionable calls and lack of execution in the red zone doomed the Vikings to a 27-24 loss, dropping them to 5-4 on the season.

The Vikings led in every aspect of the game except on the scoreboard. They held an advantage in time of possession, total first downs, yards rushing and yards passing.

The Senators jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a 42-yard pick six by Nehemiah Coston. Two minutes later, they struck again on an Alex Starling 32-yard pass to Jaheim Cole.

The Vikings scored with just three seconds left in the first half, as Dell Richards plunged into the end zone from three yards out, making the score 14-6 at the halftime break.

The Vikings would not be denied, as Richards snagged a 27-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Jameson Tingle. Tingle scored on the conversion to tie the game at 14-14.

Then the game took a twist. Dover’s Cole appeared to have been tackled by the Vikings’ Gawain Curtis, but the wide receiver popped up and ran 45 yards for a touchdown. The refs assembled a legislative session in the middle of the field and determined that it was indeed a score, making the tally 21-14 in favor of the Senators.

Cape got within five points after a safety, then took the lead when Tingle dove in from one yard out, making it 24-21 after the conversion from Tingle to Brendan Staggs.

Coston pulled in a nine-yard TD pass from pass from Starling to finish the scoring, with Dover garnering a 27-24 victory. The win improved the Senators’ record to 3-5.

“We made too many mistakes tonight,” said Cape head coach Mike Frederick. “It shouldn’t happen this late in the season. Our two turnovers led to Dover scores. We had too many penalties, a couple of false starts when we were in position to score. We have to quit with the self-inflicted wounds if we expect to come out on top. When we get in position, we have to get touchdowns.“

Tingle went 15-for-23 for 129 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed 16 times for 49 yards. Richards had 18 rushes for 85 yards, while Jayden Messick ran seven times for 58 yards. Messick pulled in six passes for 40 yards, while Jackson (35 yards) and Staggs (20 yards) garnered four and three receptions, respectively.

Tyrone Handy led the Vikings’ defense with nine tackles. Zane Coulbourne and Oz Batson were credited with seven and six tackles, respectively. Navin Duffy and Robbie Payton each had five.

In a pregame scare, senior Bodie Frederick was taken to Beebe Healthcare, where he was treated for anaphylaxis caused by a peanut allergy. The doctors cleared him in time to make the Senior Night celebration during pregame and play in the game.

“I left the ER to come back for Senior Night, and turned around and Bodie was there with his uniform on,” said Mike Frederick, his dad and the Vikings’ head coach. “I’m proud as his coach that he was able to come back, but I’m even more proud as his dad.”

The Vikings will finish the regular season Friday, Nov. 8, at home against St. Georges Tech.

Cape’s Gawain Curtis pulls down Dover’s Jaheim Cole.

Cape quarterback Jameson Tingle throws downfield to Amari Jackson.

Quarterback Jameson Tingle receives the snap from center Robbie Payton.

Cape’s Jayden Messick takes on a Dover tackler and fights for more yardage.

Cape’s Liam Ramsey and Gawain Curtis block for Jayden Messick.

Cape lineman Gawain Curtis, center, celebrates a touchdown.

Dover freshman Nehemiah Coston runs for a long gain.

Cape junior running back Jayden Messick puts a move on a Dover defender and runs for a first down.

Dover freshman Alex Starling has the style of Los Angeles Rams quarterback Roman Gabriel.

Cape head coach Mike Frederick stands with his son Bodie, who just arrived to the game after a stay in the Beebe emergency room for a peanut allergy anaphylaxis.