Cape unified flag football honors 14 seniors before IR game
Before battling Indian River on the field in Legends Stadium, the Cape unified flag football team celebrated the careers of 14 members of the Class of 2025.
“They’ve been great,” said coach Drew Messick. “And they’ve all become better citizens; they’ve been great leaders, and they’re great partners.”
Cape senior Sophia Adams played an important role to get the game started in more ways than one. Announced second, just behind her brother Randolph, Sophia walked the tunnel of teammates and cheerleaders before singing the national anthem. Although they could not complete the pass, Sophia was also the first target on the Vikings’ offense on a pass thrown by Randolph.
Trailing 6-0 on their opening drive, the Vikings turned to junior Ronnie LeRoy, the longest-tenured athlete on the team, who hauled in a pass and took it the distance to tie things at 6-6. IR responded with 23 straight points before Cape turned to one of its most dangerous deep threats late in the second quarter – Zane Richardson. The junior made it 29-14 after catching a deep post for a touchdown and throwing the pass on the two-point conversion.
IR freshman Heysler Chilel Escalante caught his fourth touchdown pass of the game before Richardson grabbed his second receiving touchdown of the afternoon. Chilel Escalante struck again to wrap up the first-half scoring and give IR a 42-20 lead at the break.
Cape freshman Michael Anthony caught his first touchdown of the game after IR opened the second half with two scoring drives, to make it 55-28 in the closing moments.
The visitors struck again but could not keep the momentum to end the game. That’s because freshman Luke Archer stole the show when he scored the final touchdown and celebrated with a peace sign in the air, a smile on his face, and his attention on his teammates and fans.
Although they lost 61-36, the Vikings did not keep their heads down after the game, with some players realizing how far they’d come from the start of the year. Sophomore Austin Hastings, usually the center, chipped in with a few clutch catches on offense.
“I guess you could say that practice just makes perfect,” Hastings said. “Without having to practice a lot, I would never be able to do something like that.”
Hastings is new to flag football and played tackle in the past before making the jump for his high school career. He prefers snapping but is willing to do whatever his team needs him to do.
“I love all of the positions, but I love snapping the most,” Hastings said. “I don't mind doing a little bit of out-of-position stuff if I have to, like I did today playing receiver, which I've never done before.”
The Vikings (3-3) will try to finish above the .500 mark when they wrap up the season against Dover at 3:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 1, in the state’s capital.
