The Vikings are coming off a 4-3 record last season with four of their wins coming in their last five games. Led by fourth year head coach JD Maull, the Vikings have increased their win total in each of Maull's first three seasons roaming the sidelines.
Senior quarterback Henry D'Ambrogi is expected to be back under center. He played seven games last season completing 47% of his passes for 530 yards. He tossed five touchdowns with just two interceptions.
The supporting cast around D'Ambrogi will have to fill the void of Cape's leading rusher Jaden Davis and top wideout Ja'Vaughn Burton. Both will be playing at Salisbury University. Davis, a 1,000-yard rusher, averaged 156 yards per game and scored 14 touchdowns. Burton led the Vikings receiving corp in receptions (17), yards (217) and touchdowns (2).
Senior Jordan Baines is expected to be a big contributor in the backfield. On the Delaware top 100 watch, Baines averaged nearly seven yards a carry last season and scored a pair of touchdowns. He also caught nine passes for 53 yards and a touchdown.
Senior wide receivers Chancelor Johnson and Daniel Saez look to make an impact as just the only two retruning players who caught a pass for the Vikings a season ago. The duo combined for 18 catches for 162 yards.
Defesnively, the Vikings will be without Kurtis Wells who graduated and was second on the team with 49 total tackles. However, Cape has a young nucleus of players who have seen time as underclassman. Junior LT Messick returns as the leading tackler for the Vikings. He paced the team in total tackles (51), solo tackles (32) and recovered three fumbles.
Rising junior Nathan Horn was third on the team with 44 total tackles and tied for first on the team with six tackles for loss. Sophomore Maurki James had a strong freshman campaign posting 38 tackles which was tied for fourth on the team. Johnson looks to anchor the defense as a two-way player with his experience. He had 35 total tackles and an interception for the Vikings a season ago.
The Vikings open up their season at home against Salesianum on Sept 2.