Seahawks deny ’Dogs 26-7
Before running an offensive play Friday night, Cape Coral trailed host Ida Baker 7-0. A muffed punt by the Seahawks, which set up the points, was the first turnover of the District 5A-12 contest.
It wasn’t the last one.
The Seahawks ultimately got the better of the deal, forcing six Bulldogs turnovers en route to a 26-7 victory.
Leading 13-7, Cape’s Jaylen Watkins returned the second-half kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. That sparked the Seahawks (4-2, 2-0 district) to a 19-7 lead, and they never looked back.
“This was one of our more complete games of the six we played,” Seahawks coach Mike Goebbel said. “We got the turnovers we wanted. Our special teams scored, and our offense scored twice.”
Like the Seahawks, the Bulldogs (3-3, 1-1) were looking for their second consecutive victory to begin district play, after defeating Fort Myers 35-28 earlier this season.
They got off to a spirited start when Cape’s Cameron Hall muffed a punt, giving the Bulldogs the ball at the Seahawks 15.
Marvin Riedewald twice ran behind P.J. Shevlin and Trevor Cottrell on the left side of the Bulldogs’ line, the second carry resulted in a five-yard touchdown.
The Seahawks answered immediately on their next possession. Wide receiver Larry Gary took the ball on a reverse and then fired to Prince Holloway for a 57-yard touchdown, tying it 7-7.
“That was something we planned on doing if we had good field position,” Goebbel said. “After they ran the ball down our throats, I thought we needed a spark.”
On the first play of the second quarter, Hall made up for his earlier fumble by intercepting a pass from Sean Francis at the Cape 45. The Seahawks then established the running game on an 11-play touchdown drive.
Spencer Boyd carried eight times for 42 yards, setting up a two-yard keeper by quarterback Colin Saring.
Late in the first half both teams squandered scoring opportunities.
The Bulldogs executed a fake punt that allowed Riedewald to run 38 yards inside the Cape 5. Two plays later, the momentum shifted when Josh Monteagudo picked off Francis and returned it to the Cape 35.
The Seahawks then drove in position for a touchdown, mostly through the air. On second-and-goal from the 2, Boyd lost the handle and the Bulldogs recovered, keeping the score 13-7.
“We felt like we should’ve been up by one point,” Baker coach Brian Conn said. “You get down to the red zone you have to punch it in.”
Watkins provided the lift with his kickoff return, giving the Seahawks a 12-point lead.
The Bulldogs then went on a long drive that ate up most of the third quarter. It covered 16 plays and nearly nine minutes, but the Bulldogs were turned away by the Cape defense fourth-and-three at the Cape 17.
Early in the fourth quarter, Shawn Argoe recovered a fumble for the Seahawks, leading to the final touchdown. Boyd carried for 34 yards, again setting up a short touchdown by Saring.
Boyd led the Seahawks’ rushing attack with 108 yards on 17 carries. Saring was efficient, completing 11 of 12 passes for 95 yards. Holloway was the top receiver with 107 yards on six grabs.
The turnovers played a key factor in preventing the Bulldogs from putting up more points. They moved the ball well, at times. Riedewald gained 84 yards on 15 carries, while Ron Ward rushed nine times for 41 yards. Francis completed 12-of-16 passes for 134 yards.
The Bulldogs host South Fort Myers in a nondistrict game next Friday. Cape hosts Estero at Dave Warkentin Field.
Cape Coral 7 6 6 7 — 26
Ida Baker 7 0 0 0 — 7
First Quarter
B — Marvin Riedewald 5 run (Curtis Dean kick)
CC — Prince Holloway 57 pass from Larry Gary (Kenton Beal kick)
Second Quarter
CC — Colin Saring 2 run (kick failed)
Third Quarter
CC — Jaylen Watkins 92 kick return (conversion failed)
Fourth Quarter
CC — Saring 1 run (Beal kick)