Cape has old score to settle
It’s become an annual spring game – the Cape Coral Seahawks and the Charlotte Tarpons.
Though the scores of those scrimmages played in late May can be deceiving, and largely insignificant, the Seahawks and Tarpons have won once each over the past three years with the other game ending in a tie.
Needless to say, that won’t be the case Friday night as the unbeaten Seahawks (11-0) and Tarpons (10-1) cross paths in a Region 3-4A semifinal game at Cape’s Dave Warkentin Field.
Both teams entered this season loaded with big-game performers and have developed outstanding depth over the course of the season, creating a matchup full of luster and one quite rare in Southwest Florida. The Seahawks ended the regular season ranked No. 5 and the Tarpons No. 4 in the Class 4A state poll.
“I think it’s going to be real emotional,” Seahawks junior Prince Holloway said. “Everybody is going to come out and play as hard as they can.”
“High intensity, a lot of hard hitting and a lot of big plays,” Seahawks senior quarterback Jaylen Watkins said of his expectations for the game. “It’s going to be crazy.”
The Seahawks ran the table during the regular season, captured the District 4A-12 title and cruised into Friday’s semifinal with a 27-0 rout of Lakewood Ranch last week.
This is one of the most talented teams in Cape’s 30-year history with four players already committed to major Division I colleges, and others receiving interest.
Making a deep playoff run was a goal for the Seahawks, regardless of which teams they potentially have to face, but the matchup with Charlotte brings added flavor.
The Tarpons whipped the Seahawks 44-0 in the spring game in May, emerging as a clear favorite in the 4A region. The tension escalated more when the teams played in the summer in a 7-on-7 game.
“We were getting into it then, too,” Watkins said.
Several of the top players for each side have been part of successful teams the past few years. The Seahawks reached the Class 5A regional finals in 2007 and this is their third straight trip to the playoffs.
The Tarpons advanced to the 5A regional finals last year and returned this season with many of the same pieces in place, including a strong offensive line and defense, a game-breaking runningback in junior Mike Bellamy, and the clutch passing tandem of quarterback Kyle Midgett and receiver Alex Mut.
Senior Dee Shine is another key two-way performer for the Tarpons, who captured the District 4A-11 title.
With the caliber of players on the field Friday, it’s difficult to determine which team will create the turnovers, big plays and seize the momentum.
Seahawks coach Mike Goebbel hopes his team can continue their recent trend. After struggling early in the year with turnovers, the Seahawks have cut down on that number late in the season, and have created more on defense.
The Tarpons, meanwhile, turned the ball over four times in their only loss, a 31-28 defeat to Venice, and had four fumbles in last Friday’s 27-7 win over Ida Baker.
“We obviously have to take care of the ball,” Goebbel said. “In a game like this, it’s a matter of who turns the ball over.”
Holloway, who sparked the Seahawks with a 40-yard punt return for touchdown in their win over Lakewood Ranch, said another key is not getting too down if they do make a mistake.
“We want to try not to make any mistakes, but play as a team and even if we’re down, stay together,” Holloway said.
The Seahawks hope to have senior running back/defensive back Spencer Boyd available Friday. The Notre Dame recruit missed last Friday’s playoff game with a right knee injury and his status remains uncertain.
The Seahawks have won two playoff games twice in their history. The first time was in 1993 when they reached the 4A semifinals, losing to Deerfield Beach 12-10.
The second time came in 2007 when they defeated Venice and Bradenton Manatee, before losing to Largo in the regional finals.
Watkins said the Seahawks have made it this far because of the commitment made as a team.
“Early in the year we were kind of a wild team. I want to say everyone was kind of doing his own thing. Now the chemistry is good,” he said.
In other playoff games Friday night involving Southwest Florida teams: Lehigh hosts South Fort Myers in Region 3-3A; Evangelical Christian travels to Sarasota to take on Out-of-Door Academy in a Region 3-1B final matchup; and Hardee County invades Tampa Robinson in a Region 3-2A final contest.