'Snap out of it!' scrimmage versus McKean closes out Cape preseason

Cape assistant coach Herky Billings, wearing an engineer's cap, was off the rails the entire scrimmage versus the Highlanders of McKean Aug. 28 because he knows high school football players can be their own "out of focus" group that can self-destruct on a Friday night.

"I get after them and challenge them, hopefully getting them to push themselves," Billings said. "And sometimes the better the player the harder you have to push. But they understand I'm just trying to get the best out of them."

The overall final scrimmage of the preseason, still 10 and 10 with no down and distance, and no live special teams, was flat-out ragged as McKean fumbled at least 10 direct snaps to the quarterback.

But the Highlanders' skill people were tough in open space, and although overall smaller than Cape with fewer players would come up and smack the Vikings in the mouth from time to time.

"We gave everyone a good opportunity to show what they can do this preseason, and built some depth and will continue to do so," said coach Bill Collick, who is entering his fifth season as Cape's head coach.

Cape will open the season at home Friday, Sept. 5, hosting the Milford Buccaneers at 7:30 p.m.