CAPE ELIZABETH — Stout defense and timely offense led Wells to a 15-0 football victory over Cape Elizabeth, spoiling the Capers’ senior night Friday in a regular-season finale at Hannaford Field.
Although Wells entered ranked third in Class C South and Cape Elizabeth was second, the result didn’t change anything heading into the postseason.
Cape Elizabeth (6-2) didn’t use regular quarterback Jack O’Rourke because the game had no bearing.
“We didn’t want to really take a chance,” said Chris Mims, the assistant head coach for the Capers. Junior Jeb Boeschenstein and freshman Andrew Hartel alternated possessions at QB.
Hartel completed 6 of 12 passes for 70 yards and an interception.
“It was good to see him throw the ball. He threw it pretty well,” said Mims.
Wells (6-2) was led by running back/defensive back Nick Hansen, who broke off a 53-yard run that set up a 25-yard field goal by Keegan Reidy, the only points of the first half.
“That was all set up by our line up front,” said Hansen.
After Sam Hazlett scored on a 10-yard run to give Wells a 9-0 lead, Cape started a drive that ended when Hansen intercepted a Hartel pass at the Warriors’ 29 with 9:14 left in the game and returned it to the Cape Elizabeth 33.
“Our coaches do a great job of preparing us every week. We run a lot of their plays so we knew what was coming,” said Hansen. “It was a little underthrown, but (I) just made a good play and was able to help seal the win.”
It set up a 17-yard pass for a touchdown by Owen Berry to Deandre Woods. The 2-point conversion failed but Wells led 15-0 with 6:02 left.
“Hansen is an athlete. He’s one of those kids that’s been under the radar and we love him,” said Wells Coach Tim Roche. Hansen ran for 123 yards.
“It was great. Got switched to halfback late in the season,” said Hansen. “We fought a lot of adversity, losing our big center and our great fullback. All of us had to step up. It was a great win.”
Wells played without linebacker/running back Reid Chase, who was sick last weekend against Gray-New Gloucester and became worse during the week.
“(Chase) tried. He came to practice Tuesday and didn’t feel good,” said Roche. “He was out of school Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. He tried – he went to school today, got about halfway through the day and didn’t feel good.”
Roche is optimistic about Chase returning for the playoffs.
“He’ll be over it next week,” said Roche. “You get these flu bugs.”
Wells also played without center Matt Healey.
“We lost Matt Healey to a bad knee injury Wednesday at practice. We didn’t know what we were going to do,” said Roche. “We took this Conor Collins, who is just a sophomore, and said: ‘You need to learn how to snap in one day.’ And he did it.”
Ben Ekedahl played a solid game for the Capers, with five receptions for 60 yards and an interception.
Trailing 3-0 just over two minutes into the second half, Nate Ingalls of Cape Elizabeth blocked a punt attempt, which was recovered by teammate Justin Guerette at the Capers’ 27, but the team failed to get a first down.
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