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Cape unified football falls to Indian River

Vikings host Seaford Oct. 21
Showing great sportsmanship, the Indian River and Cape squads get together for a picture after the Indians’ 68-38 victory. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
October 16, 2025

The Cape unified flag football team moved to 2-2 on the season with a 68-38 loss to visiting Indian River Oct. 15 on the Legends Stadium turf. The Indians are now 2-0. 

The Vikings got on the scoreboard first when Grant Conway connected with Mason Trench for a 12-yard touchdown. Indian River’s Gavin Grove caught a 35-yard touchdown to knot the score at 6-6.

After a pair of interceptions, IR’s Tre’Zhon Weston pulled in a 25-yard touchdown catch, then a safety gave the Indians a 14-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. 

Conway hit Jaxon Benton to cut into the IR lead. Conway found Mason for the two-point conversion. 

The Indians took a 28-14 lead thanks to a pair of scores, but it didn’t last long, as Cape’s Harley Jones took a handoff and scampered 35 yards for a score to cut the halftime lead to 28-20. 

The second half was all IR, as Grove scored his second TD and Kyle Bennetch added another to increase the lead to 40-20. 

Trench scored his second TD for Cape, but IR’s Austin Carter added two touchdowns before Xavier Zimmer broke free for a 35-yard Cape touchdown run to close the gap to 54-32.

Carter and Mason Daraio added the last scores for IR.

Cape’s never-give-up attitude resulted in Julian Puente scoring one last Vikings touchdown on a 30-yard catch to reach the final score of 68-38. 

“It was a great game,” said Cape’s Puente. “We never gave up and played tough til the end.” 

“We played tough,” said Cape coach Drew Messick. “Everyone contributed and played their hearts out. We just came up short.”

The Vikings will host Seaford Tuesday, Oct. 21. 

 

Cape sophomore Luke Archer does a spin move and runs for a first down.
Cape senior Zane Richardson, left, congratulates Harlan Jones on his touchdown.
Cape’s Jaxon Benton just misses a great catch.
Cape senior Zane Richardson, left, congratulates Julian Puente on his touchdown.
Julian Puente runs past IR’s Landon Steininger and scores for the Vikings.
Indian River’s Tre'Zhon Weston makes a great defensive play on Cape’s Jaxon Benton.
Luke Archer runs for a long gain for the Vikings.
Cape’s Aiden Curran avoids the flag pull by IR’s Brayden Bennetch.
Cape quarterback Jackson Williamson looks for a receiver downfield.
Austin Hastings puts pressure on the IR quarterback. He had three sacks in the game.
Cape’s Jaxon Benton snags a pass for the Vikings.

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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. 

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