Cape QB, RB issues get settled
The wait is finally over for the Cape Coral Seahawks as they got the football season under way Friday night with a preseason contest at Cypress Lake.
With the game’s outcome not counting in the win-loss column, it was an opportunity for Seahawks coach Mike Goebbel to give everyone a chance to play. In the end, Cypress Lake came out on top 29-21.
For the first three quarters, while the starters played, Cape dominated, allowing only seven points while taking a 21-7 lead .
“It was exactly the way I wanted to play it,” said Goebbel, “Originally, the plan was to only play the starters the first half and then let the rest of the kids play the rest of the game, but we didn’t do well the first half and those types of things so I decided to go with the starters through the third quarter.”
Thirteen penalties gave Goebbel reason to keep his starters in for the extra quarter, but he promised the JV players some time under the lights.
Given this was a throwaway game, Goebbel also had a chance to take a look at all three of his quarterbacks and runningbacks.
“What I saw tonight is that I have a starter and a relief pitcher, which is a luxury I haven’t had here in a long time,” Goebbel said.
Until tonight’s game, Goebbel was undecided who his starting quarterback would be this season. Afterwards, he said he has settled on senior Colin Saring with the athletic junior Jayleen Watkins as his backup.
At runningback, junior Spencer Boyd shared time with freshman Mario Pender and senior Nate Felder.
Goebbel liked what he saw from all of his runners, but isn’t planning on a backfield by committee.
“We play our offense based on whatever (the opposing defense) gives us,” he said, implying he has depth at runningback and will use whoever gives the Seahawks the best chance of winning.
With his biggest questions now settled, Goebbel can get ready for the regular season opener next Friday at Dave Warkentin Stadium against Immokalee.