The Cape Tech football team's QB was injured early Saturday. So Dylan Campeau stepped up
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct a photo caption that incorrectly identified a Cape Tech player. The player's name is Peyton Morris.
Football has a funny way of never going to plan.
The Cape Tech football, which played its third game of the season Saturday afternoon, is no stranger to adversity.
"First week we lost a running back, second week we lost the quarterback, so then we're finally at full strength (then) first drive we lose the quarterback again." Cape Tech football coach Chris Leonard said.
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On Saturday against Bourne, Cape Tech was forced to adjust and did so successfully. The Crusaders defeated the Canalmen, 28-21, to earn their first win of the season.
Junior quarterback Aidan Choukri went down early in the game after absorbing all of his body weight onto his left shoulder while being tackled. He left the game in the first quarter and never returned.
So for the third straight game, Leonard and the Crusaders were forced to change their plans.
QB duties fell to senior Dylan Campeau, who's listed on the roster as a wide receiver. Though he rarely was asked to throw the ball, thanks in large part to the rushing success of senior Cameron McCormack and sophomore Peyton Morris, (they both scored two touchdowns), he ran the offense effectively.
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"The fact that we scored 20 points after the starting quarterback left the game is pretty impressive and pretty good on Dylan Campeau for going in there and steadying the offense," Leonard said.
"Next man up" is a phrase thrown around constantly in football, but it's applicable for Cape Tech this season. Already the second game in which Campeau has lined up under center this season, Leonard said the message to his backup was simple.
"It was really just let's get it going," Leonard said. "Give him all the confidence in the world to go in there and believe that he can make those plays, and that's what he did."
For Bourne, the loss is the second in a row after the Canalmen fell to South Shore Tech last week.
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Bourne coach John McIntyre isn't getting discouraged. Ultimately he felt a slow start was what his young team on Saturday. The Canalmen allowed two first-quarter touchdowns before holding the Crusaders to just two scores the rest of the game.
Bourne started four freshmen on Saturday.
"They're improving, they listen in practice, it's just with them right now, a physicality issue. It's a physical mismatch. " McIntyre said. "However, they're where they need to be, they're making tackles when they can, so they're getting better every time."
Junior quarterback Ty Kelley threw for one touchdown to junior Cooper Gobeil and ran for another as he tried to lead the comeback attempt. Ultimately, the game came down to Kelley being tackled out of bounds while looking to convert a fake punt late in the fourth quarter.
Cape Tech will look to make it two wins in a row next Friday when the Crusaders travel to face Holbrook/Avon. Bourne returns home looking to bounce back when Fairhaven comes to town Friday night.
Contact André Simms at asimms@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: that1guyandre.
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Tech football team defeats Bourne as Dylan Campeau steps up
