Sallies scores late to beat Cape football 28-21
The large Salesianum student section dressed in white T-shirts on a beautiful summer's day at Abbesenio Stadium chanted “Where is Cape? Where is Cape?”
The Vikings emerged quietly, minutes before game time, walking two-by-two following four captains down the Cape sidelines. There wasn't a banner to run through, no tumbling cheerleaders and no band. Cape usually travels well, but on the Thursday of Labor Day weekend, not many seaside muppets are punching Broom Street into their Google Maps tracker.
New head coach Mike Frederick’s team showed a quiet confidence from the first snap throughout the entire game.
Salesianum bounced back twice in the game after Cape took the lead, and finally got off the turf with a 28-21 victory.
“My heart hurts for the kids,” Frederick said after the game. “We certainly are proud – our kids played so well – but disappointed because we were so close to a win.”
Joe Coveleski found Maurki James for a 35-yard touchdown pass to give Cape a 7-6 lead just before halftime. But the ensuing kickoff by Wilson Ingerski, who was 3-for-3 on extra points, was returned by Nick Strusowski 85 yards for a touchdown. Sallies led 13-7 at halftime.
James Collins kicked first-quarter field goals of 33 and 37 for Salesianum.
The game accelerated in the fourth quarter, as Sallies took a 20-7 lead with 9:32 remaining on an Andrew Ransome touchdown.
Cape responded with a pair of touchdowns, the first by James on a 21-yard blast up the middle after he turned a screen pass into a 59-yard gain. Then L.T. Messick’s 13-yard cutback off a sweep and the ensuing extra point gave Cape a 21-20 lead with 4:37 left to play.
Salesianum scored on its final drive, icing the 28-21 victory.
James went off with 113 yards rushing and another 125 receiving. Coveleski was 10-for-12 for 212 yards.
Sallies freshman quarterback Ryan Stoehr was 12-for-21 passing.
Notes: Cape will host Woodbridge on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. The Blue Raiders defeated Cape last season 35-21 en route to a perfect 10-0 season. Salesianum travels to Sussex Central for a Friday night game. Sallies beat the Golden Knights 42-13 last season.
