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Cape unified team stages late comeback to topple Mount Pleasant

Jaxon Benton starts game with safety, ends came with TD grab
Cape sophomore Jaxon Benton picked up a safety on Mount Pleasant’s first possession during the Vikings' 40-34 comeback win Oct. 2 at Legends Stadium. AARON R. MUSHRUSH PHOTOS
Aaron R. Mushrush
October 7, 2024

The girls and boys on Cape’s unified flag football team have begun 2024 with a win streak after coming from behind to topple a courageous Mount Pleasant team Oct. 2.

Cape struck first when Grant Conway converted a long fourth down by finding Mason Trench on a deep post pattern. Jaxon Benton kept the momentum going by recording a safety on the Green Knights’ first play to give the home team an early 8-0 advantage. 

While the numbers were on the Vikings' side, the close-knit group of Green Knights made a series of splash plays to take the lead, riding it late into the game despite Cape’s best efforts to spark a comeback.

With the score 34-32 late in the game thanks in part to Trench picking off a pass while catching another touchdown pass, Zane Richardson nabbing two scores through the air, and Benton’s pass-rushing prowess, the Vikings tied it up when Conway connected with Trench on a two-point conversion. 

Unable to answer back, Mount Pleasant turned the ball back over to Cape with well under a minute to play. On the Vikings’ final offensive play, Conway scrambled to his left, to buy time and found Benton near the goal line, tossing him a jump ball. The sophomore grabbed the ball at the highest point he could, came down in front of the defensive back and scampered into the end zone for a 40-34 Cape lead.

“I felt like I had to do it; I had to lock in,” Benton said.

For good measure, Trench sealed the game with an interception in the end zone. 

Conway finished with four touchdown passes, while Benton registered a safety, sack, rushing touchdown and receiving touchdown in the winning effort.

Coach Andrew Messick had high praise for Benton and Richardson.

“They've never played football before,” he said. “They're just learning the game, so they will be better and better with each game. They mean a lot to the team because the team knows that they make us or break us on offense.”

Cape unified’s next home game will be its Morgan’s Message Game against Indian River at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 29.

 

Cape junior Mason Trench catches the first TD of the game to cap off the Vikings’ opening drive.
Vikings junior Ronnie LeRoy races down field with the ball as his teammates Austin Hastings, left, and Stephen Hart look on.
Cape junior Ronnie LeRoy watches sophomore Austin Hastings snatch a catch.
Vikings senior Sophia Adams takes a short pass and picks up a few yards after the catch.
Cape junior Zane Richardson watches the ball into his hands.
Vikings sophomore Jaxon Benton is a blur as he runs into the end zone.
Cape freshman Xavier Zimmer was eager to get on the field and kept that energy on his first carry.
Vikings senior Laiya Ward dives for some extra yardage close to the goal line.
Cape junior Zane Richardson scores his second receiving TD of the game.
Although his coaches would like him to secure that ball, Jaxon Benton is fast enough to avoid being stripped.
Cape sophomore Austin Hastings tries to split two Mount Pleasant defenders.
Vikings senior Sophia Adams makes a defender miss and starts to turn, but he’s forced out of bounds.
Cape senior Randolph Adams carries the ball on the Randolph Special.
Cape junior Grant Conway surveys the field before throwing the game-winning TD pass to Jaxon Benton.
Vikings sophomore Jaxon Benton snatches victory from the jaws of defeat to break a 34-34 tie with seconds left on the clock on this TD grab, his second overall TD of the game.
Cape junior Mason Trench dug deep to end the game with an interception in the end zone on the final play. It was his third of the game.

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