Cape sizzles Smyrna on Senior Night 21-6
Smyrna completed a short pass on the first play of Cape’s Senior Night game Oct. 27 at Legends Stadium. The ball was ripped loose by Maurki James and fell into the arms of Jackson Cunningham, who rumbled down the sideline 21 yards for a Vikings touchdown. The Wilson Ingerski point-after kick made the score 7-0 with 11:48 left in the first quarter. That is all the points Cape needed in a 21-6 win, the first over Smyrna since 2016.
“Our best overall game on both sides of the football against a quality opponent,” said coach Mike Frederick.
On the offensive side of the ball, James finished the night with 158 yards rushing and two touchdowns. He scored in the second quarter on a 12-yard run. The Ingerski kick made the score 14-0.
Smyrna responded by driving the field, but time ran out in the second quarter with the Eagles on the Vikings’ 3-yard line.
“That was a big stop we made to close out the half,” Frederick said. “Going into halftime up two scores gave us a little cushion.”
The Eagles scored with under five minutes left in the fourth quarter to close the gap to 14-6, but the two-point attempt failed.
The Vikings recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt. James got a pair of first downs, then on a crucial third and 4, he busted loose over the right side for a 32-yard touchdown.
Lex Wescott intercepted the ball on the Eagles’ next possession. The Vikings went to victory formation to close out the game and put themselves in the middle of the Group 3 playoff picture. The top eight teams make the tournament.
Cape will play at Dover Friday, Nov. 3. The previously unbeaten Senators lost to Sussex Central Oct. 27 14-13.
Notes: Cape outrushed Smyrna 152-35. The Eagles, using two different quarterbacks in Drew Marks and Jacob Tiberi, amassed 161 passing yards to Cape’s 53. Sophomore Tyrone Handy had a big fourth-quarter interception to thwart a Smyrna drive. Dell Richards, Brenn Scott, Wescott and Jukai Payne led the defense in tackles. Ingerski pushed a 41-yard field goal attempt wide left in the second quarter. Ingerski’s punts were the best of the season in terms of hang time and distance. Smyrna was the 2023 Group 3 state champion. The Eagles beat Cape 50-0, Middletown 48-0 and Dover in the final 52-7 in last year’s playoffs. In 2023, the Eagles lost to those same three teams – Middletown 14-12, Dover 18-14 and Cape 21-6. Jason Hunt is Cape’s defensive coordinator.
