The next best thing to making the playoffs, which Cape Elizabeth just missed this football season, is to play the consensus number one on the final week of the regular season.

Guess what?

Cape Elizabeth, winners of three straight, will battle Mountain Valley Saturday, at home at 1:30 p.m., and that is enough to fire up the Capers, said head coach Aaron Filieo.

Cape’s most recent win was a convincing 51-6 mashing of visiting Poland, an up-and-coming squad which had won three straight coming into the game.

“The good thing about what happened was that we didn’t get caught up in the hype,” said Filieo after Saturday’s win.

Quarterback Mike Kertes continued to spark his team’s offense, which was still without talented running back Kyle Toot, who broke his ankle last month in a loss to York. Kertes threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Nate Gray to give his team a 21-0 lead still in the first quarter. Then the senior QB started a 47-yard touchdown play with a pass to Sami Chbani, who made a nice juggling catch before hauling it in on a cross across the middle.

Kertes added a 15-yard touchdown pass to Bogie Foden to give the Capers a staggering 36-0 halftime lead.

But just to make sure, Kertes added still a fourth passing TD with a 35-yard scoring toss to Matt McClellan in the third quarter.

Meanwhile linebacker Jim Poulin sparked the defense with 10 tackles and Ben Weimont made an early statement with a fumble recovery on Poland’s first posession of the game. Adam Danielson grabbed another Poland fumble in the third quarter.

Cape got on the board on its first possession when Vinnie Moulton capped a 66-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run up the middle.

For Moulton, his increased playing time from the tailback slot has brought mixed emotions. He stepped in as the replacement for running back Toot, who is expected to return against Mountain Valley.

Moulton gave the Cape offense some backbone Saturday with almost 150 yards rushing on the day.

“It’s great for me,” said Moulton, a senior, “but it’s bad Kyle’s been out. I’d much rather have him in there.”

Moulton said Toot has been one of his biggest supporters since the injury.

“He expects me to do a lot,” Moulton said.

Filieo is hoping Toot can return to his old galloping ways Saturday, and added, “I’ve seen him walking around and he looks fine, but I haven’t seen him in pads.

“Vinnie’s starting to find his groove,” he said. “I feel pretty good with both those guys back there.”

The Capers say they will attack their final game with enthusiasm, no matter who is playing what position.

But it won’t be easy.

Mountain Valley has rolled up 309 points in its 8-0 season, allowing just 25. And the number one seed appears to be peaking at just about the right time, having clicked off big shutout victories over Fryeburg Academy (56-0) and Lake Region (41-0) the past two weeks.

“We’re out of the playoffs already, so we’re just trying to make the best of the situation,” Moulton said.

Filieo believes a strong showing against Mountain Valley would mean a lot to the Caper football program.

“If we could beat Mountain Valley, it would put a huge exclamation point on our season,” Filieo said. “If you can’t get into the playoffs, knocking off the number one team is the next best thing.”

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