Full house sees a surprise 28-14 Cape win over Milford
A full house of fans rimmed Briggs Stadium Sept. 20 for a game favoring the undefeated Milford Bucs 2-0 versus the winless Cape Henlopen Vikings 0-2.
“This is the game of the year around here,” said Cape assistant coach Haywood Burton before the game. “I can’t go to dinner at Aunt Betty’s on Sunday unless we win.”
Cape sophomore quarterback Hank D’Ambrogi, straight off the state championship lacrosse team, threw for a 29-yard touchdown to Davonte Johnson and added a pair of quarterback sneak scores as the Vikings surprised Milford with a 28-14 victory.
“The boys from the beach found a way to get it done,” said coach J.D. Maull, who went Count Dracula after a player threw water on him after the game.
“We won a game, not a championship,” Maull said. “It’s been a rough road. The kids are a little over the top.”
The Vikings led 21-0 in the second quarter after a 54-yard touchdown run by Jaden Davis.
A late hit along the Milford sidelines, followed by some chirping, gave Milford 30 yards in Cape penalties, setting up an 8-yard touchdown run by Marquis Gillis. The run for two points was no good, and Cape led 21-6 at the half.
“We were getting the ball first in the second half, and we wanted to score first,” Maull said.
Davis and Jordan Baines carried the mail for Cape, each rushing for more than 100 yards in the game, while D’Ambrogi connected on some short passes on the bootleg. The drive ended with a touchdown, as Cape went ahead 28-6. Kicker Austin Carey made all four extra points.
Milford came back to score on a 6-yard run by Aaron Sivels. The Shawn Saxon to Kenny Reed two-point pass on the conversion made the score 28-14.
Milford went for the onside kick on the ensuing kickoff and recovered. A crucial third-down sack in the red zone, followed by an incomplete pass, gave the Vikings possession inside their own 10-yard line.
A first-down pass to tight end Damian McFeaters gave Cape breathing room, as the Vikings rode the bus back to the beach with its first victory of the season.
Cape will host the Dover Senators Friday, Sept. 27, when the 1979 state championship team of coach Jim Alderman will be honored at halftime.
