Cape’s run over 24-16
As the final minutes ticked off the clock at Dave Warkentin Field Friday night, the host Cape Coral Seahawks were trying to figure out a way to get the ball back from the Charlotte Tarpons.
If only the Seahawks had been more careful when they had it.
Senior quarterback Jaylen Watkins fumbled three times – twice as the Seahawks threatened to score – and there were other costly mistakes that proved to be too much to overcome.
The Tarpons (11-1) prevailed 24-16 in the Region 3-4A semifinals game, advancing to face Seffner Armwood.
“When you’re playing a team as good as Charlotte you can’t turn the ball over,” Seahawks coach Mike Goebbel said. “That’s been our bugaboo all year and it raised its ugly head tonight.”
The Seahawks (11-1) cut the lead to eight with 4:43 left in the fourth when senior Jeremy Davis scored his second touchdown on fourth-and-goal at the 1.
They weren’t able to get the ball back, though, as the Tarpons picked up some key first downs. Junior Mike Bellamy ran up the middle for six yards on a third-and-four, which was the Seahawks’ best chance to make a stop.
Bellamy scored all three of Charlotte’s touchdowns and finished with 168 yards on 27 carries.
The Seahawks and Tarpons played in front of a rare overflow crowd at Dave Warkentin Field, which helped set the stage for the two teams that finished the regular season ranked No. 5 and No. 4, respectively, in the state poll.
The Tarpons took the opening possession and moved right down the field with eight rushing attempts that covered 59 yards. Bellamy scored to make it 7-0.
The Seahawks looked to answer with a methodical drive. A 26-yard run by Davis helped advance the ball inside the Charlotte 25, but Watkins lost the ball on a run at the 17-yard line.
A second fumble midway through the second set the Tarpons up at the Cape 32, and they cashed in to make it 14-0.
Needing a spark, the Seahawks used Davis out of the shotgun on the ensuing drive and moved quickly across midfield. Watkins hooked up with Larry Gary Jr. on a 34-yard pass and Davis scored on a seven-yard TD run, cutting it to 14-6.
Both teams put up points in the final two minutes. After the Tarpons struck quickly to make it 21-6, the Seahawks hurried and got a 28-yard field goal by Simon Perez to make it 21-9 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Seahawks had several chances to make it a one-score game.
Junior Prince Holloway intercepted a pass near midfield and returned it inside the Charlotte 20, but an unsportsmanlike penalty moved it back near the 40. That scoring chance ended when Watkins fumbled the ball inside the 20.
After Chris Johnson recovered a Charlotte fumble, the Seahawks drove to the Charlotte 17, but a holding penalty pushed them back to the 45. They lost the field position on a short punt.
“We did a good job choking it off a little bit (defensively) but it seemed like every time we had some offensive momentum going we either turned the ball over or had a penalty,” Goebbel said.
Trailing 24-9 in the fourth, the Seahawks put together a clutch 60-yard drive to make it a one-possession game. Watkins connected with Holloway on a 21-yard pass to advance the ball to the Charlotte 4, setting up Davis for the touchdown.
Davis led the Seahawks with 93 yards on 15 carries.
Charlotte 7 14 0 3 – 24
Cape Coral 0 9 0 7 – 16
First Quarter
Char – Mike Bellamy 2 run (Austin Taylor kick)
Second Quarter
Char – Bellamy 2 run (Taylor kick)
Cape – Jeremy Davis 7 run (kick blocked)
Char – Bellamy 12 run (Taylor kick)
Cape – FG, Simon Perez 28
Fourth Quarter
Char – Taylor 28 FG
Cape – Davis 1 run (Perez kick)