Naples swipes win from Cape 36-35
NAPLES — One of the greatest comebacks and victories in Cape Coral High history wasn’t meant to be Friday night. The scoreboard at Naples High showed the Golden Eagles defeated the Seahawks 36-35.
There was only one way for Seahawks coach Mike Goebbel to sum it up.
“We didn’t decide the game and neither did Naples,” he said. “You can read anything into that that you want to.”
The first half didn’t go as the Seahawks had planned. They entered the locker room at halftime down 14-0.
In the second half the Seahawks decided to switch quarterbacks. Senior Colin Saring suffered a turf toe injury, and junior Jaylen Watkins stepped in at quarterback.
“Colin stuck his foot in the turf and was a little gimpy coming into the second half,” said Goebbel. “It was a relief pitcher type of situation. I stuck Jaylen in there and he got something going for us.”
The move paid dividends immediately for the Seahawks.
With the Eagles having the ball to open the third quarter, Josh Monteagudo forced a fumble, and Watkins recovered. Watkins scampered 22 yards into the end zone to get the Seahawks back into the contest. It was only the beginning of what turned out to be a 28-point third quarter.
After the Seahawks forced a three-and-out on the Eagles’ next possession, Watkins ran a quarterback draw 66 yards into the end zone to the tie the game, 14-14.
The defense came up big, again, and got the ball back when Prince Holloway recovered a fumble. Two plays later Watkins tossed a 31-yard touchdown strike to Holloway.
Naples blocked a Seahawk punt which they converted into a touchdown, but a missed extra-point attempt left them short of the Seahawks 21-20.
Cape answered on its very next offensive play as Watkins hit Cameron Hall for an 80-yard touchdown bomb, giving the Seahawks a 28-20 lead.
Despite the outstanding third quarter, the Seahawks were unable to hang on down the stretch.
With 1:01 left in the game Naples had the ball trailing Cape 35-28. Naples marched to the Cape 22 with just 17 seconds remaining.
With no timeouts and the game on the line, Naples attempted a touchdown pass in the end zone which fell incomplete, but the referees threw a flag claiming pass interference, giving Naples the ball at the Cape 1.
Naples punched it into the end zone, and scored on a two-point conversion with no time on the clock, giving them a 36-35 win.
“I never did get an explanation on (that pass interference),” said Goebbel. “There was a holding call before that and that didn’t get called which the ref told me he ‘hadn’t called one all night so why should I call one now.’ I don’t know what that meant.”
Regardless of the disappointing outcome, Cape (2-1) must rebound quickly and prepare for their first District 5A-12 game next Friday against North Fort Myers (2-1) at Dave Warkentin Field.
“I told the kids we’ll bounce back on Monday,” Goebbel said. “(They) can feel bad tonight and tomorrow, but by Monday we will bounce back.”
Cape Coral 0 0 28 7 — 35
Naples 7 7 6 16 — 36
First Quarter
N — Tay Sanders 43 pass from Juno Prudhomm (Puma Nuredini kick).
Second Quarter
N — Greg Pratt fumble recovery in end zone (Nuredini kick).
Third quarter
C — Jaylen Watkins 22 fumble return (Kenton Beal kick)
C — Watkins 66 run (Beal kick)
C — Prince Holloway 31 pass from Watkins (Beal kick)
N — Prudhomm 1 run (kick failed)
C — Cameron Hall 80 pass from Watkins (Beal kick)
Fourth Quarter
N — Prudhomm 3 run (Pratt run)
C — Mario Pender 1 run (Beal kick)
N — Nelson Saintil 18 pass from Prudhomm (Hyde run).