Zach Abey runs wild as Spalding smashes Cape 44-20

A $300,000 digital scoreboard rose high behind the Cape bench, beating down a heavy bass, “Bring 'em out! Bring 'em out!” Cape charged across the turf as NFL music busted the night air. The home stands were packed and there were no stands for visitors, just room for starship scoreboard. Vikings players were hyped and piped.

Cape won the coin toss and elected to defer, which was strange considering the game plan of running the clock and keeping the pigskin out of the hands of quarterback Zach Abey.

Abey went 65 yards straight up the middle on a quarterback trap on the first play from scrimmage and could have run all the way to the Baltimore Beltway. The track meet was on, and by halftime the Crusaders led 37-7 only after D.D. Gooch intercepted an Abey pass in the end zone to stop a drive.

Cape played better in the second half, mounting a pair of touchdown drives as first units stayed on the field. Cape's first-half touchdown was a 78-yard kickoff return by track star Maurice Mills.

Zach Stevenson scored from three yards out in the third quarter and was Cape’s leading rusher in the game with 46 yards on six carries.

Justin Lopez scored early in the fourth quarter from 15 yards out and for the game carried seven times for 33 yards.

Cape quarterback Tavon Scott hung tough and played a solid game, passing for 130 yards on 11 for 20 passing attempts and also rushed for 34 yards. Andrew Grau caught six balls for 46 yards.

The beast of the ballgame was Zach Abey, who rushed for 204 yards and three touchdowns and threw for another 95 yards.

Running back Avery Simmons rushed for 137 yards and scored three touchdowns.

Cape will host Indian River at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20.

Notes: Freshman place kicker Richard Carey was pressed into action and kicked a pair of PATs for his first varsity points. His third attempt was blocked.