Cape-Smyrna shootout goes to the Eagles 42-34

Another chapter in the budding rivalry between Cape and Smyrna played out on the football field Oct. 10, with the Vikings’ comeback falling just short 42-34.

“I've been a part of a lot of football games – more than most coaches out there – and the effort that our guys put out there today … they laid it on the line,” said Cape coach Chip Knapp. “Guys were going both ways, and the fact that they just kept playing and competing was one of the most impressive things I've seen as a coach in any time in my career.” 

Jameson Tingle ended the Eagles’ first drive with an incredible leaping interception on a deep ball thrown into the red zone. Neither team could score in the first quarter. Smyrna struck first when Kahmaj Kearney powered his way to pay dirt, but Cape prevented the two-point conversion. 

The Vikings’ response was an impressive drive that concluded with Tingle finding senior Amari Jackson in the back of the end zone. A penalty took the point-after try off the board, and the Eagles blocked the following attempt to keep things even at 6-6.

In the closing moments of the first half, junior Drew Marks connected with senior Phoenix Henriquez for a touchdown. Then, Kearney, in the wildcat, tossed a pass to Aamir Thomas for a successful two-point conversion to give the Eagles a 14-6 lead.

Tingle doubled his touchdown pass total when he found Ty Handy for a 28-yard touchdown to open the scoring in the third quarter. Cape came up short on the two-point try, leaving Smyrna ahead 14-12. Smyrna’s Chrystian Carroll took the ensuing kickoff the distance and ran what looked like 130 yards total on the 78-yard linear gallop as he dashed from sideline to sideline.

Cape remained poised, putting together a touchdown drive that wrapped up when sophomore Mikiah Jackson hauled in a pass from Tingle. Cape converted the two-point try to make it a 22-20 ball game.

A handful of personal fouls to end the third quarter put Smyrna on the doorstep of another score, which came when Marks found Henriquez for the duo's second touchdown connection of the game. The penalties ultimately doomed Cape.

“Most of them tonight were the aggressive mistake kind, which we just gotta learn when to hold back,” Knapp said. 

Trailing 28-20, the positive consequences of the boys’ efforts played out over the next two drives, and Tingle proved why he is one of the best quarterbacks in the state. The junior linked up with Jackson for the pair’s second touchdown, but Cape failed on the two-point try, keeping the lead with Smyrna at 28-26.

Collecting themselves with the game on the line, the defense got the ball right back, this time keeping the momentum on their side. The Vikings crossed into Smyrna territory before Tingle ripped off a 47-yard run into the end zone. The Vikings collected two points when Tingle scrambled up to the goal line, leaped and flipped between two Eagles and into the end zone to give Cape a 34-28 lead in the fourth quarter.

“Jameson put the team on his back – probably the first time this year he’s had to do that – and, man, he came through,” Knapp said. “ He showed why he's one of the best players in the state.” 

Tingle ended the game with four touchdown passes, one rushing score and an interception for the Vikings.

Smyrna dashed any hopes for a comeback by scoring the final 14 points. Despite the loss, Cape took away plenty of good things from the game.

“The difference between winning and losing is sometimes just a small thing; I think that's what happened tonight,” Knapp said. “The guys see what they're capable of. They see the effect of some of the mistakes we make, and talking to them after the game, I just feel that they are ready to move forward and get better. The feeling on the team is that even though we didn't win, we're gonna walk off the field with our heads held high.”

Cape (3-3) welcomes Sussex Central (3-3) to Legends Stadium at 6:30 p.m., Friday Oct. 17.