YORK - On Monday evening, Nov.5, with the unusual starting time of 5 p.m., the senior-laden, undefeated Cape Elizabeth Capers (10-0) dominated the young York Wildcats (6-4) in the semi-finals of the Western Maine Conference.
The heavy rains from the weekend had subsided but the high winds persisted as both teams tried to adjust to the unusual conditions. Cape opened with the wind at their back and senior kicker Ian Wallace boomed the kickoff deep in York territory. Wildcat QB Evan Wallace opened with a "no huddle, shot gun" pass formation, trying to surprise the Capers, but after "three and out" York was forced to punt.
Cape returned to the York 46 and Dylan Merritt, Tony Ciampa and Jack Radke all made key stops but Cape made three first downs and had a first and goal on the York seven yard line with 6:54 left in the first period. Then senior QB Jim Bump completed a pass to left tackle (#54 Conor Lawler) and the officials first ruled it a touchdown.
After York Head Coach Randy Small requested a timeout and complained that the pass was thrown to an ineligible receiver, the five officials got together and finally made the correct ruling - five yard penalty plus loss of down. This was the last thing that went the Wildcats way.
Two plays later, Cape scored on a pass from Bump to Tom Foden. Wallace boomed the point after and Cape led 7-0. York was only able to return the kickoff to their own 18 and after three running plays they were forced to punt. QB Wallace punt into the wind was fielded by Foden and returned 40 yards to the York 18. Two plays later. senior fullback Andrew Moulton, dove into the end zone and Cape led 14-0 with 2:54 left in the first period.
The Wildcats let the windblown kickoff go into the end zone for a touchback and started a drive from their own 20. York picked up a first down on a pass from Wallace to Sonny Sala, but Cape intercepted on their 48 as the first period ended.
The Wildcat defense stiffened and Cape was finally forced to punt. But after Dylan Merritt picked up two first downs on the ground, Tom Ray intercepted an errant York pass and returned it to the Wildcats 13 yard line. Then Ray scored on a pass from Bump and the Capers had a 21-0 lead at the 9:53 mark.
Wildcats never quit and Dan Petruzella returned the next kickoff to the York 30 yard line. Wallace fought his way for 17 yards on a QB draw and Zach Prugar and Merritt combined for another first down at the Cape 43. The York offense stalled and Cape took over near midfield with just 4:25 left in the first half. This time Cape was forced to punt on fourth down and the Wildcats came scrapping back. Wallace completed a pass to Sala for a 47-yard gain and the Wildcat fans were still hopeful. But a Wallace pass intended for Dan Sheehan was intercepted by Cape and then Merritt returned the favor by intercepting for York at the Cape 35 with just 3:01 left in the half. York fans were hoping for a score to narrow the gap but Ray intercepted for the Capers on their own 21 yard line. Then with time running down, QB Bump threw a screen pass to Foden, who cut to the outside and raced 79 yards for another Cape TD to make the score 28-0 at half time.
The Capers would score again in the third quarter and York paced by the running of Prugar and Wallace were able to gain a first down at the Cape 11 yard line late in the fourth quarter but were unable to convert.
York fans should look forward to next year with many under classmen returning, and for the seniors who have played their last game, perhaps they will remember what their grandparents may have told them: "When the one Great Scorer in the sky comes to write against your name, it matters not who won or lost but how you played the game" - apologies to Grantland Rice.
