The playoff-bound Island Coast Gators ended the season for the Cape Coral
Seahawks with a 42-17 triumph Friday night at Dave Warkentin Field.
The win sends the Gators (8-2) to the Region 6A-3 Quarterfinals next Friday
night at Naples (9-0). The Seahawks (4-6), who havent had a losing season
since 2003, will miss the postseason for the first time after making five
straight appearances.
The Gators were hitting on all cylinders, scoring 42 points before half
time. Everything seemed to go the Gators way. The Seahawks attempted an
onside kick on the opening kickoff, handing the Gators excellent field
position.
Runs of 10 and 20 yards by T.J. Johnson and a 20-yard pass from quarterback
Kurt Benkert to James Washington set up a three-yard TD run by Devon
Calhoun.
Things continued to go wrong for the Seahawks when a botched snap on a punt
resulted in a safety, and a 9-0 lead for the Gators.
A roughing penalty and Benkerts 25-yard pass to Christian Diaz had the
Gators deep in Seahawks territory again, leading to a 10-yard TD run by
Johnson.
After the stout defense refused any Seahawk progress, the Gators scored on a
three-play drive featuring a 40-yard pass from Benkert to Johnson, a 10-yard
run by Zelan Lambert, and a 17-yard TD pass to Washington to put the Gators
up 23-0.
The Seahawks showed signs of life after two 18-yard runs by Eamon Smart that
set up a 35-yard field goal by Mateo Perez.
Benkert completed a 27-yard pass to Quinn Borque and a nine-yard pass to
Torien Thomas. Runs by Johnson and Calhoun put the ball on the Seahawks
10-yard line from where Calhoun ran the ball in for his second TD and a 29-3
lead.
The Seahawks put together a scoring drive as Trey Daniels completed passes
of nine and 14 yards to Rashaan Gaymon, and a 14-yarder to Rasheen Bailey
that set up an 18-yard TD pass to Kyle Fischl to trim the margin to 29-10.
TD passes of 42 and 39 yards by Benkert to Johnson and Thomas, respectively,
closed out the half.
Defenses dominated the second half. Capes first drive in the second half
was aided by two personal fouls on the Gators and set up a 25-yard scoring
pass from Daniels to Fischl. It was the only scoring play in the second
half, leaving the Gators up 42-17.
Two additional offensive drives by the Seahawks were stopped by the Gators
on interceptions by defensive back Austin Turner.
Island Coast 23 19 0 0 42
Cape Coral 0 10 7 0 17
Scoring Summary
IC Calhoun 3 run (Vigne kick)
IC Safety, bad snap
IC Johnson 10 run (Vigne kick)
IC Washington 17 pass from Benkert
CC FG, Perez 35
IC Calhoun 10 run (kick blocked)
CC Fischl 18 pass from Daniels (Perez kick)
IC Johnson 42 pass from Benkert (Vigne kick)
IC Thomas 39 pass from Benkert (kick blocked)
CC Fischl 25 pass from Daniels (Perez kick)
