CFNN Reporters AbbiKate Daughtry and Natalie Mitchell

Cape Fear Football capped off the regular season Friday night with a home game against the Gray’s Creek Bears. 

As it was the final home game of the regular season, the Colts honored their seniors before the game, and then they went Bear hunting, posting a 45-0 shutout win. The win capped off a remarkable season for the Colts. 

The win moved the Colts to 9-1 overall, good for the second best record the Colts have ever had in football history. It also secured their position with a second place finish in the United-8 Conference. 

“Throughout the season, we have focused on the things we can control, and we did a good job executing plays. If we continue this we can make a deep run into the playoffs,” said Quarterback Geronimo Sanchez. 

The Bears won the opening toss and elected to defer, giving the Colts the ball. The Colts were unable to do much on their opening drive, and went 3 and out, forcing a punt. The Bears took possession at their own 30 yard line. 

The Colt defense was up to the task and forced the Bears to a quick 3 and out. The defense would be stingy all night, holding the Bears to 21 total yards for the game. 

“I really just played my role; I made sure I knew where I needed to line up. I really studied film and made sure to know what type of play was coming based off of the formation,” said Senior Linebacker Bryan Charles. 

On the next possession, the Colt offense found their footing and drove straight down the field, scoring on a 3 yard run from quarterback Geronimo Sanchez. Cape Fear would not look back from that point, putting their foot on the gas and scoring almost at will. 

The Colts defense held again on the next possession forcing a punt from Gray’s Creek. This gave the offense great field position, and they were able to capitalize with a 27 yard field goal from Kicker Fransisco Rodriguez. This put the  score at 10-0 in favor of the  Colts at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Colts scored twice more, once on a 13 yard run from star running back King Faison, and an electrifying 85 yard punt return from junior Ja’keal Williams. This left the score 24-0 in favor of the Colts at the break. 

“My punt return was on the right side, wide open field. I saw Manny (Damien Gary) on the right side. He was blocking, so I took his lead and scored,” said Williams after the game. 

The Colts kicked off the Bears to start the 3rd quarter, and it was more of the same from the Cape Fear defense. The Bears offense could find no footing as they went 3 and out and were forced to punt to the Colts. 

On the ensuing possession, Sanchez was able to connect with Senior Wide Receiver Jackson Edwards on a 31 yard pass as he rolled out to his right and hit a wide open Edwards for his second receiving touchdown of the year. 

“I think it was big for me with it being senior night and me being the only senior in the receiving corps. It’s also big for the team in showing that we have threats everywhere on the offense no matter who’s getting the ball,” said Edwards. 

After Edwards’ touchdown, the Colt defense held the Bears yet again, forcing another punt. This time, though, Gray’s Creek faked a punt, attempting to get something going offensively. Cape Fear’s defense was up to the task, stonewalling the Bears short of the line to gain.

“Gray’s Creek runs a wing-T offense, so it’s a lot of misdirection. We call it smoke and mirrors. You get your eyes in the wrong spot; you get ‘dirty eyes.’ You try to do somebody else’s job, and you won’t do your own. Having clean eyes, being disciplined and reading your key, and then of course once you’re in position; you have to make the play. Those are the keys to stopping a wing-T offense,” said head Coach Jake Thomas. 

Cape Fear would answer with another Sanchez run, this one from 16 yards out and another Faison run from 17 yards. At this point the rout was on, and the clock would continue running for the remainder of the game. 

“I think it’s very important to show the seniors that this was a great way to end the season going into the playoffs, and it was a great way to get our morale right,” said Senior Linebacker Will Wicklin. 

The 9-1 Colts now wait to see who they  will play in the playoffs. They will be off this week and eagerly await their playoff seed and opponent. Their record ensures at least one home playoff game and a possible 12 or 13 seed. 

“This week is a bye week, so we are trying to get healthy with some guys that are banged up. We are focusing on fixing some of our mistakes; focusing on us. We say ‘You vs You,’ and work on being better than the day before; once we move on to the next week and find out who we are playing, it’ll be the same approach. Survive and advance,” said Thomas.

Stay tuned for more information about the Colts’ opponent in the NCHSAA State Playoffs!

Be sure to check out our slideshow from the game! All Photos courtesy of @itsWavyvisuals, for all your athletic photography needs!