Cape Tech Football Runs Past Shorthanded Monomoy

HARWICH – For a second straight year, Cape Cod Tech retains gridiron supremacy in Harwich.

 The Crusaders displayed a dominant running game and a stout defensive effort in a 20-0 shutout of crosstown rival Monomoy on Friday at Cape Tech.

 “It’s our big one,” Cape Tech coach Calvin Castillias said of the Monomoy rivalry. “Everyone gets hyped up for it. They were focused all week and they wanted to correct every little mistake knowing the guys across town were going to give us a hell of a battle. I’m very proud of them.”

 Senior Peyton Morris anchored the Cape Tech (1-1) ground game with 145 rushing yards on 21 carries. He rushed for a seven-yard touchdown and added a 2-point conversion to help the Crusaders build a 20-0 lead over Monomoy (0-2) at halftime.

 “Peyton has come such a long way,” Castillias said. “Peyton was tasked with starting at the varsity level as a freshman, and we had no idea he would rush for over 1,000 yards. And then in his junior year he was asked to take a backseat role to Rovens and there were moments that Peyton wasn’t happy about it. 

 “What was key was we told him to trust us and know that patience is a virtue. He’s done everything right.”

 Morris said it was important for the Crusaders to establish the line of scrimmage with a physical brand of football en route to a signature win.

 “This is a huge milestone for us,” said Morris, a Harwich resident. “We wanted to come back and beat [Monomoy] again. We were able to pound it down the field. Power football.”

 Cape Tech sophomore Tommy Allen returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown, and senior quarterback Sean Gillette threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to junior Kayden Belair.

 Although Morris was the driving force behind the Crusaders’ offense, Castillias credited Gillette for leading the unit with poise.

 “He’s been the leader of this team,” Castillias said. “He’s a second-year captain and he’s carried that weight. He’s the pulse of our team.”

 Monomoy was delivered a blow on its first drive when senior quarterback Chase Yarletts was sidelined after sustaining a thumb injury after he was tackled on a running play. Freshman Drew Chapman replaced Yarletts to make his varsity football debut.

 “He showed a lot of grit,” Monomoy coach Rob Sliney said of Chapman, the younger brother of Dillon, a senior running back. “The first year is always going to be tough — this is when you take your lumps — but it’s going to be tougher for him to hang his head when he has his brother there to pick him up.”

 After earning a 14-12 win over Monomoy on the road last fall and then losing 35-8 to Bourne the following week, Castillias said he expects the Crusaders to have a focused mindset heading into Friday’s rematch against Bourne at 6:30 p.m. in Harwich.

 “Last year, we rode that high and it was cut short against Bourne,” Castillias said. “This year, I think with our experience and knowing that we need to stay more humble, I think the focus is going to be a lot tighter going into Bourne.”