Ida Baker broke its losing streak by defeating the Cape Coral Seahawks 21-18 Thursday night in the spring football classic, giving Bulldogs fans a ray of hope for the fall season.

Baker had one of the worst seasons in school history in 2010, finishing 0-10. After a comeback victory that overcame a 12-0 halftime deficit, next season is a bit brighter for Bulldogs faithful.

The Bulldogs operated junior first-year starter Reece Attwood, who had a solid game for the run heavy offense. He threw for more than 100 yards and didn’t turn the ball over other then a Hail Mary pass attempt at the end of the first half.

Attwood is replacing long-time starter Sean Francis, who graduates this month. Attwood was solid, but this night belonged to runningbacks Justin Johnson, Jeremy Betts and Alex Febels. The three-headed rushing attack led the Bulldogs to victory by combining for three touchdowns, and more than 200 yards rushing.

Betts ended up with close to 75 yards rushing and scored all three touchdowns. Johnson and Febels both ran up and down the field all night.

Cape Coral’s new starting quarterback, Kurt Benkert, will have a harder job this season replacing all-star QB Bryan Greenwell. Benkert had a good game throwing one touchdown pass and going over the 150-yard mark, but threw an interception late.

The stars of the spring game no doubt were the Seahawks’ running backs. T.J. Johnson was electrifying with more than 150 yards rushing and two touchdowns. He was the fastest player on the field and showcased it early and often.

Johnson scored from 54 yards out late in the first quarter to put the Seahawks ahead 6-0 after the two-point conversion attempt failed.

Despite moving the ball, the Bulldogs could not find the end zone during the first half. The Seahawks added another score on Benkert’s only TD pass of the game, hooking up with standout playmaker T.J. Jiles.

After a missed field goal and another missed two-point conversion, the Seahawks led 12-0 at the half.

Baker fans might have been thinking “here we go again.”

But the Bulldogs started strong in the second half on both sides of the ball. The defense forced Cape to punt on its first possession and the Bulldogs finally got on the scoreboard.

It took 12 plays, and some tough runs, but Betts pounded it in from three yards. The PAT made it 12-7.

T.J. Johnson answered the Baker score with a score to put the Seahawks in front 18-7. This time, Johnson ran it in from 25 yards out.

Betts, a sophomore, scored from seven yards in the fourth quarter, keeping the Bulldogs in the game.

Baker’s defense needed a stop and they got one, courtesy of a Cape fumble. Baker’s bench got a warning for the celebration, but they got the ball back in Cape territory with just under six minutes to go.

Attwood came up big with a third-and-five completion to Betts. Betts later took the ball in for his third touchdown of the game from five yards out giving the Bulldogs the lead with 2:24 left.

Cape’s own comeback was derailed as Baker’s Justin Johnson made a diving pass interception to end the game to seal the Bulldogs’ first win in over a year.

Cape Coral 6 6 6 0 – 18

Ida Baker0 0 7 14 – 21

First Quarter

CC – Johnson 54 run (run failed).

Second Quarter

CC – Jiles 20 pass from Benkert (run failed).

Third Quarter

IB – Betts 3 run (Miller kick)

CC – Johnson 25 run (run failed)

Fourth Quarter

IB – Betts 7 run (Miller kick)

IB – Betts 5 run (Miller kick).