Cape football saddles Riders with 42-7 loss
Cape football displayed a dominating force Oct. 18, with a total team effort, racking up a running-clock 42-7 victory at Caesar Rodney on the Riders’ Senior Night.
The Vikings showed a balanced attack with 147 yards passing and 150 rushing, garnering a commanding 297 total yards on 42 plays. They scored on six of eight drives and called on punter Navin Duffy just once in the game.
Senior running back Jayden Messick rushed for 115 yards on seven carries and scored touchdowns of one, eight and 20 yards.
Dell Richards scored on a one-yard plunge. He finished the game with 21 yards on four carries.
Sophomore quarterback Jameson Tingle went 10-for-14 for 135 yards and two touchdowns. He hit a wide-open Amari Jackson for a 22-yard score and Mikiah Jackson for a five-yard strike. It was Jackson’s first career varsity touchdown. He also rushed 47 yards on eight carries.
“It felt great pulling that pass in and scoring,” said a smiling Jackson. “I didn’t know how to celebrate it. It didn’t feel real. This is going to motivate me to do my very best every single time I get on the field. I just thank God every single day for the day and for the position that he puts me in.”
Senior Jayden Dukes pulled in three receptions for 53 yards.
“This was a great team win,” said sophomore linebacker Oz Batson. “Our defense played great.”
Sal Sartori, AJ Mosley and Zane Coulbourne each had four tackles in the game. Richards and Robbie Payton had three tackles. Coulbourne and Richards were also credited with tackles for a loss.
Jayden Messick and Anthony Francis each picked off the Riders quarterback.
“We came into this game knowing we were going to dominate it,” said Quardell Richards. “We just have to stay humble and give all glory to God.”
Holder Mikey Thompson and place kicker Trent Kauffman were flawless as they converted six extra points.
“All phases of the game played well,” said head coach Mike Frederick. “The offensive line and defensive line are playing very well.”
The special teams were also praised by Frederick.
The 5-2 Vikings will travel to Smyrna Friday, Oct. 25, to face the 3-4 Eagles.
Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs.
