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VIDEO, PHOTO GALLERY: Cape Henlopen’s fast start dooms Lower Cape May

The Lower Cape May Regional High School football team rushes the field ahead of its game against Cape Henlopen Saturday.

  • The Lower Cape May Regional High School football team rushes the field ahead of its game against Cape Henlopen Saturday.
  • Lower Cape May's Jonas Lumbruno holds the American flag as teammate Khamar Matthews looks on as the National Anthem is played prior to Saturday's football game.
  • Lower Cape May quarterback Brennan Ray is tackled in the end zone for a safety by Cape Henlopen's Kobi Wright in the first quarter of Saturday's game.
  • Lower Cape May quarterback Brennan Ray looks for running room.
  • A pass intended for Lower Cape May's Matthews Jefferis is too far out of his reach in the first quarter.
  • Lower Cape May's Jonas Lumbruno, with help from teammate Darion Lamar, tackles Cape Henlopen's Kobi Wright.
  • Lower Cape May fullback Aaron Cottrell takes a handoff from quarterback Brennan Ray.
  • Lower Cape May's Matt Reilly takes down Cape Henlopen quarterback Nolan Brown.
  • Lower Cape May's Brennan Ray nearly blocks a PAT attempt by Cape Henlopen's Hunter Simmons.
  • Lower's Brennan Ray finds running room.
  • Lower Cape May's Jake Robb turns the corner for a nice gain.
  • Lower Cape May's Dominic Bowman tackles Cape Henlopen's Demetrius Parker.
  • Lower Cape May's Jake Robb is tackled by a gang of Cape Henlopen defenders after catching a short pass.
  • Lower's Dominic Bowman tackles Cape Henlopen's Nolan Brown.
  • Lower Cape May's Jonas Lumbruno (left) and Khamar Matthews team up to tackle Cape Henlopen's Hunter Simmons after Simmons tried to run following a botched PAT attempt.
  • Lower's Jake Robb breaks a tackle attempt.

ERMA – The Cape Henlopen (Del.) High School football team had to endure a short bus ride, a more than one hour trip on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and another short bus ride before arriving at Lower Cape May for Saturday’s game.

That didn’t stop the Vikings from getting off to a fast start.

Cape Henlopen scored four times in the first quarter and limited Lower Cape May to just a fourth-quarter touchdown in a 36-6 victory in the season opener for both teams.

The win gave Cape Henlopen the Delaware River and Bay Authority Commissioners’ Cup for the fifth straight year.

“It’s a fine line because you’re preparing to win all week and then you’re disappointed,” Lower coach Brian Hindle said. “We had to play a very challenging team. We have to get better. But we’re keeping the faith in the system as we go. Our players will keep their heads up.”

It doesn’t get easier for Lower Cape May (0-1), which faces Absegami in its next game on Friday before taking on Holy Spirit on Sept. 22.

“It’s tough for us, especially the seniors, because they continue to work hard as they’ve done for the past four years,” Hindle said. “It’s not for lack of trying. But we need to get better and we need to continue to improve. No one’s quitting around here.”

Cape Henlopen scored before the game was two minutes old when Lower Cape May quarterback Brennan Ray was sacked in the end zone on Lower’s third play from scrimmage. Benjamin Ashby then scored the first of his four touchdowns on the ensuing free kick, racing to the end zone from 72 yards out.

Cape Henlopen was then given a short field after Lower Cape May attempted a fake punt, the Vikings taking over at the Caper Tiger 23-yard line. Kobi Wright raced in from 21 yards out on the second play of the drive.

Lower finally got its first first down on Darion Lamar’s 27-yard run on the team’s next possession but the Tigers again turned the ball over on downs near midfield. Ashby finished off a nine-play, 53-yard drive by running in from seven yards away to extended his team’s lead to 23-0 with 46 seconds to play in the opening quarter.

Lower played a much better second quarter. The Caper Tiger defense stopped Ashby at the one-yard line on a fourth-and-goal play to force Cape Henlopen to turn the ball over on downs. The Tigers also moved the ball better on offense, gaining four first downs in the quarter on two separate possessions.

But Ashby managed to score again on a 30-yard run late in the period to make the score 29-0 at the half.

Ashby got his fourth touchdown on a 43-yard run on the third play of the second half.

Ashby, a senior, ran nine times for 105 yards. Wright added 84 yards on just eight carries.

Lower got its touchdown late in the third quarter on Darion Lamar’s two-yard run. Ray had runs of 14 and 13 yards and Aaron Cottrell had an eight-yard run during the 40-yard scoring drive.

 

CAPE HENLOPEN     23    6    7    0  — 36

LOWER CAPE MAY   0    0    6    0  —  6

 

First Quarter

CH-Safety (LCM runner tackled in end zone)

CH-Benjamin Ashby 72 free kick return (Hunter Simmons kick)

CH-Kobi Wright 21 run (Hunter Simmons kick)

CH-Benjamin Ashby 7 run (Hunter Simmons kick)

Second Quarter

CH-Benjamin Ashby 30 run (run failed)

Third Quarter

CH-Benjamin Ashby 43 run (Hunter Simmons kick)

LCM-Darion Lamar 2 run (pass failed)

Fourth Quarter

No Scoring