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Vikings football wins Battle of the Capes

Ashby goes ballistic with four TDs
Cape senior Ben Ashby runs back a Cape May free kick 75 yards for the first touchdown of the game in the 36-6 win over the Caper Tigers. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
September 11, 2017
Vikings senior Kolbi Wright plows through the Caper Tigers defense for a touchdown.
Senior Kolbi Wright, right, starts the scoring for Cape as he pulls down Caper Tigers quarterback Brennan Ray for a safety.
Cape senior Ben Ashby leaps from the grasp of a Cape May tackler to score one of his four touchdowns of the game.
Cape quarterback Zach Dale runs away from a Cape May tackler for a long gain.
Sophomore place kicker Hunter Simmons kept the Caper Tigers pinned deep with his kickoffs.
At 6-foot, 270 pounds, Aarin Burton was an imposing force on the Vikings’ defensive line.
Cape defensive coordinator Mike Tkach, right, reviews coverage with linebacker Zach Dale.
Cape’s Aarin Burton welcomes Cape May running back Tony Kapurelos to the Vikings defensive line.
Cape’s Malik Aiken, left, Kenneth Witherspoon, Michael Martz and Curtis Purnell put defensive pressure on Caper Tigers quarterback Brennan Ray.
Cape fullback Ben Ashby takes to the air to touch down in the Caper Tigers’ end zone for his third score of the game.
Cape running back Kolbi Wright left the game after suffering an injury on this play in the third quarter.
The Vikings offensive line opened running lanes for their backfield throughout the game.
Cape’s Jack Dennis, top, and Benjamin Weathersby bring down Cape May’s Jake Robb.
Cape’s Malik Aiken, left, causes a fumble as Jack Dennis tackles Caper Tigers running back Tony Kapurelos.
A classy post-game showing by Cape May head coach Brian Hindle as he sought out and shook the hand of each injured player on the Vikings squad. Cape’s Roy Jones gets a “good game” from the Caper Tigers coach.
Cape senior Patrick Whittam leads a post-game prayer with the two Capes who are rivals on the field, but friends with mutual respect off the field. After the prayer, both teams raised their helmets and yelled in unison “Cape.”
Cape head coach Bill Collick has a post-game talk with his players.
Making the trip across the bay to bring spirit to the sidelines were the Cape football cheerleaders. Shown in back are (l-r) Michaela Booz, Gerry Flowers, Mikayla Thomas, Cadence LePore, Jasmine Mayo, Marley Enright, Claire Lokken, Samantha Voyce, Shauna Brittingham and Madison Ludwig. In front are Megan Erbe, Mar’Janay Brown, Liz Rodriguez-Garcia, Capt. Haley Schnupp, Lilly Barnett, Capt. Lauren Steingrebe and Laura Stremmel.
After a car accident in 2011 where she suffered broken ribs, a bruised liver, collapsed lungs and severe head trauma that left her unresponsive, in a coma and close to death, Lilly Barnett has recovered to cheer for the Vikings with the Cape Henlopen cheerleading squad.
The Cape drum corps leads the Vikings band onto Cape May field for their pregame performance.
Freshman Molly Lingo displays her dance skills as she swirls with the Cape dance team in Saturday’s pregame festivities.

Cape Henlopen senior Ben Ashby scored four touchdowns and Kolbi Wright picked up two to lead the Vikings over the Caper Tigers of Cape May 36-6 in the Delaware Bay rivalry in New Jersey Sept. 9.

Wright started off the scoring on the defensive side for the Vikings. On a third and long, Wright pulled down Cape May quarterback Brennan Ray in the end zone for a safety. On the ensuing free kick, Ashby scampered back 75 yards for his first touchdown of the day. Three minutes into the contest, the Vikings were ahead 9-0.

“Ben’s got speed,” said Cape Henlopen coach Bill Collick. “It’s hard to catch him once he gets started.”

Wright followed up with a 21-yard  touchdown run, pulling the Caper Tigers defense with him to increase the Vikings’ lead to 16-0.

Ashby then pulled out of the grips of the Caper Tigers defense and followed blocks by Tanner Virden and Patrick Tkach for his second touchdown. Cape was up 23-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Ashby was just getting started, as he ended a 29-yard run with a leap over a Cape May tackler to score his third touchdown of the game to put the Vikings up 29-0 at the end of the first half.

The third quarter began with, you guessed it, Ashby sprinting 43 yards for the Vikings’ final score of the game, padding the lead to 36-0.

Sophomore placekicker Hunter Simmons kicked six extra points in the game.

Lower Cape May managed to break up the shutout with a 2-yard run from junior running back Darion Lamar at the end of the third quarter. The Caper Tigers haven’t defeated the Vikings since 2010.

“We’re not exactly where we want to be,” said Collick. “We have some things to work on. We need to pass more. Our receivers have size and can catch the ball.”

Vikings starting quarterback Zach Dale threw just one pass in the win.

The Vikings will be tested Friday, Sept. 15, as they play host to Suitland High School from Forestville, Md. The Rams are 2-0 with a 25-12 win over Great Mills and a 33-6 victory over Bowie High School.

Side note: After the game, Cape May head coach Brian Hindle, his staff and boosters hosted a meal for the Vikings in the Lower Cape May High School cafeteria. The meal included pulled pork, hamburgers, hot dogs, pasta salads, fruits and veggies, and a wide range of desserts and drinks. It was a wonderful meal from the host team for their visitors from across the bay. As the Vikings exited the cafeteria to leave for the ferry ride home, the Caper Tigers team players stood and applauded the Vikings for coming over to play them.

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