The third-ranked Cougars rolled up 467 yards on the ground and scored all five touchdowns by land in a 38-7 win over the Wilson Rams at Ingersoll Stadium.
“We’re a power football team,” Capital coach J.D. Johnson said. “That’s our presence. When the ground game works and we’re chewing up the clock, that’s what we do best.”
Capital improved to 7-0 overall, 3-0 in the Narrows League 3A. Wilson fell to 1-6, 1-2.
One week after throwing for four touchdowns in a 70-0 victory over Foss, Capital quarterback Alex Everson was hitting the open man again.
Most often, that man was Wilson’s Tre James, who had two interceptions and had another in and out of his grasp. Capital totaled 19 yards passing.
Everson, however, was a key part of the Cougars ground attack, running for 97 yards on six carries, including a touchdown on a slick 33-yard option keeper in the first quarter. He executed the Capital option scheme flawlessly.
“He’s still a great general of our offense,” Johnson said of Everson.
Everson also knew to get the ball in Tyler Sundberg’s hands. The senior running back gained 204 yards on 24 carries and scored two touchdowns, one covering 43 yards on a well-timed option pitch from Everson.
Capital took the opening kickoff, after a good return by Roman Vern, and covered 51 yards in five plays, the payoff coming when Sundberg broke from the grasp of a couple Wilson tacklers and bounced into the end zone to finish a 13-yard scoring run.
James’ first interception stifled the Cougars after Derek Chase recovered a Wilson fumble on the ensuing kickoff at the Rams’ 15. James’ second interception killed another Cougars opportunity at the Wilson 5.
Jay Maiava found the end zone from 15 yards out with less than two minutes to go in the first half, and Jeff Tran kicked a 32-yard field goal as time expired.
Capital scored once in the second half, going 81 yards in 10 plays, with Kai Van Sickle doing the heavy lifting, including the final 12 yards to the end zone.
Wilson had two forays deep into Capital territory, but each time the Cougars held on fourth down.
“Any time you get a red zone stop,” Johnson said, “that’s a good thing.”
Wilson avoided a shutout when Moses Lewis scored on a 19-yard run with three seconds to go .
Wilson’s stalwart was James – a ball hawk on defense and the leading rusher on offense.
