Cape earns 4A-12 title
Cape Coral High senior Jaylen Watkins has made enough plays in his high school football career to earn a scholarship offer to the University of Florida.
He needed a few more big ones Friday, along with the help from his teammates, in order for the Seahawks to claim their first district title since 1993.
Watkins led the host Seahawks’ 25-0 victory over Ida Baker for the 4A-12 title, but ultimately it was their depth and talent on both sides of the ball that proved to be the difference.
With the victory, the Seahawks (9-0, 3-0) secured a home regional playoff game and celebrated a district title after finishing runner-up each of the past two seasons.
“The seniors that played for three and four years on this team, all week we’ve been talking about how we’ve been right there each time and we can taste it,” Watkins said. “We asked (all the players) can they help us get this district championship.”
Watkins accounted for all four of the Seahawks’ touchdowns. He finished with 126 yards rushing and three scores, including a 56-yard run, and added a 75-yard TD pass to Prince Holloway.
Senior Jeremy Davis sparked the offense with 79 of his 96 rushing yards in the second half. The Seahawks began to find more running room as the game wore on and finished with 282 yards.
It took some time for the Seahawks to get going on offense. The Bulldogs never did.
The Seahawks’ defense swarmed, forced three turnovers and held the Bulldogs to 88 yards rushing on 33 carries. Juniors Edsel Caprice (1 1/2 sacks) and Mark Bailer (1 1/2 sacks) led the charge up front.
When Bulldogs quarterback Sean Francis dropped back to pass, the Seahawks’ secondary trio of Watkins, senior Spencer Boyd and Davis had the receivers blanketed across the field. Francis finished 5-of-14 passing for 15 yards.
In the fourth quarter, Boyd intercepted a pass in the end zone that was tipped by Davis.
“We have a great secondary,” Seahawks coach Mike Goebbel said. “All three of those guys are going somewhere. They allowed our front to play the way that they played – flying around and hitting people.”
The Bulldogs (7-2, 2-1) were aiming for their first district title. As runner-up, they’ll play at Charlotte in a regional quarterfinal game Nov. 20, following next Friday’s season-finale against Mariner.
Baker coach Brian Conn said his team lost some explosiveness with senior running back Joseph Byrd sidelined with an ACL injury. The Bulldogs were unable to string plays together to control the ball.
“I thought our defense played well enough to win,” Conn said. “We just couldn’t keep them off the field. We had a couple of plays here and there, but we didn’t have one good drive all night.”
The game was scoreless until the final two minutes of the first half when the Seahawks mounted an 80-yard drive, all on the ground. Boyd had a key 32-yard run, and Watkins capped it with a 16-yard keeper.
Prior to that, both teams had some chances. The Seahawks turned the ball over on downs inside the Baker 20 twice in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Baker senior Andrew Haynes picked off Watkins at the Seahawks’ 17. The Bulldogs failed to capitalize after back-to-back penalties and a sack by Cape nose tackle Charles Walker.
The Bulldogs had a similar opportunity in the third quarter when they recovered a fumble inside the Cape 25. Bailer charged through on consecutive plays for the Seahawks, including a sack, to end that threat.
The Seahawks conclude their regular season Friday when they host Lehigh. They’ll host Lakewood Ranch in a regional quarterfinals game Nov. 20.
Ida Baker 0 0 0 0 – 0
Cape Coral 0 6 12 7 – 25
Second Quarter
C – Jaylen Watkins 16 run (kick failed)
Third Quarter
C – Watkins 27 run (pass failed)
C – Prince Holloway 75 pass from Watkins (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
C – Watkins 56 run (Phil Brownson kick)