North Fort Myers senior Marcus Lewis drives Cape Coral quarterback Jaylen Watkins (7) out of bounds in the first quarter Thursday night. The Seahawks went on to post their third win of the season 25-20. Photo by Yunet Holmes

Cape Coral overcame five turnovers and a tough North Fort Myers defense to win 25-20 Thursday night.

“With the way we take care of the ball, we should be 0-3 right now,” said Cape Coral coach Mike Goebbel, whose team is now 3-0. “We’ve been talking about turnovers for two weeks.” he said.

Reflecting on the game, he said, “Our team can explode and then implode.”

The Seahawks committed five turnovers in the game. The first came on a tipped pass in the first quarter.

North got the ball in Seahawk territory, and drove inside the 5-yard line. They came up empty by fumbling it away at the 1-yard line.

Cape could not get on track for the first quarter, once having a long gain by quarterback Jaylen Watkins called back because of holding. Consequently, the first quarter ended scoreless.

On the first play of the second quarter Watkins fumbled, and the Red Knights took over on the Cape 20. They scratched their way to the 1-yard line, where they faced fourth and goal. Tre’ Boston, who returned to action this week after not playing last week, carried and just got into the end zone. It took the referees some time to actually signal that he had broken the plane of the goal line.

Cape answered North’s drive with one of its own. It was capped by Jeremy Davis’ eight-yard run with 2:24 left in the half.

That gave North an opportunity to mount a drive before half. Boston and Nathan McIntosh led the Knights down the field as they picked up several first downs. On third down at the Seahawk 23, McIntosh tried to throw a pass out on the flat. Cape’s Larry Gary was there, picked it off, and ran 80 yards for a touchdown with only 15 seconds left until halftime.

The extra point was blocked, and Cape led 13-7. That play was a big momentum swing for the Seahawks.

The Seahawks took the second half kickoff and started at the Red Knight 46-yard line. After a 21-yard gain by Spencer Boyd that put the ball on the 25, Cape gained nine yards on three downs. Faced with fourth and inches at the 15, Watkins took the snap and raced around the pulled-in North defense for a touchdown. The pass for the two-point conversion was incomplete. Cape led 19-7.

Now it was North’s turn. They drove to the Cape 21, and faced their own fourth-and-four. Boston lined up as quarterback and found Mauricio Garces for a 16-yard gain and a first down and goal.

Two plays later, Boston ran it in for a touchdown. With the extra point, Cape’s lead was only 19-14. At this point Cape seemed to let North’s tough defense get to them. On successive drives the Seahawks turned the ball over, the most costly being an interception and return by Boston to Cape’s 8-yard line.

The very next play, Clifford Smith carried it in for North. North also tried for two, but was unsuccessful. With 7:42 left in the game, North climbed ahead 20-19.

Cape took the ball, shook off its turnover ways, and scored when Davis went 34 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, and the Seahawks were clinging to a 25-20 lead.

North had one more chance with 4 1/2 minutes left. Starting on its own 19, the offense got to the Seahawk 35. As the clock wound under a minute, McIntosh tried to find his receiver in the end zone, but the pass was intercepted by Watkins for a touchback to seal the Seahawks’ victory.

“Other than being disappointed in the final score, I’m really proud of the fight that our kids showed in all phases of the game.” said North coach Barry Goettemoeller. “Even though they got behind, they didn’t quit.”

Cape plays at Port Charlotte next Friday while North travels to Fort Myers.

Cape Coral 0 13 6 6 – 25

North FM 0 7 7 6 – 20

Second Quarter

NFM – Tre’ Boston 1 run (Evan Sargent kick)

CC – Jeremy Davis 8 run (Phil Brownson kick)

CC – Larry Gary 80 interception return (kick failed)

Third Quarter

CC – Jaylen Watkins 15 run (pass failed)

NFM – Boston 4 run (Sargent kick)

Fourth Quarter

NFM – Clifford Smith 8 run (pass failed)

CC – Davis 34 run (pass failed)