Aside from a failed celebratory backflip after a 29-yard touchdown run by quarterback Mike Kertes, there wasn’t much that went wrong for the Cape Elizabeth High football team this past Friday night against Falmouth.

Make it two games in a row, actually.

The Capers followed up a season-opening, 54-8, win over Fryeburg Academy with another dominating performance against Falmouth. Kertes ran for the one score and passed for another, and tailback Kyle Toot rushed for 125 yards and four scores as the Capers beat the Yachtsmen, 42-6.

“The atmosphere’s a lot better this year on the team as a whole. The team’s getting along very well. Everyone’s been there for each other and that’s what the team’s about,” said Kertes. “I think we came in knowing we were going to have a better team, so it was going to be fun. It’s hard when you’re on the losing side if every game or you’re close with every team and you’re getting beat up. It’s just a lot more fun.”

The change in attitude, according to coach Aaron Filieo’s calculations, began at the end of last season. Part of it had to do with the players finally getting accustomed to Filieo as a coach (last season was his first), but Filieo thinks the transition was more specific than that.

“We took Livermore Falls, who played in the Western Maine Championship, to overtime, and (I) didn’t have enough guts to go for two. We went for the tie, and ended up losing in overtime,” said Filieo. “After that game, I said to them, ‘I’ve never been more satisfied with a loss.’

“It was at that point that I knew that this team and this group of guys, which was pretty heavy on juniors and sophomores, we could play at the level that we need to play at. So it was the end of last season’s momentum going into the off-season – guys were talking about how good we were going to be after last season, so it went all through the off-season.”

During the off-season, the players – most notably the linemen – bought into the strength and conditioning program set up by coach Arthur Jones. And at some point, Kertes approached Filieo about making the switch from wing back to quarterback.

“I said, ‘Well here’s what you have to do: you have to do A, B and C at the quarterback position, but you also have to do A, B and C as far as being a leader.’ And he did it,” said Filieo.

Kertes sought out the advice and mentorship of his friend Jim Bump, last year’s quarterback who is now playing defensive back.

“I worked every week all summer, working on passing routes, running, getting in shape and Jim helped me along the way,” said Kertes.

The results were evident Friday night as Kertes concluded a 35-point first half by scrambling to his left, then back to his right, then faking a throw before planting hard to slither around a defender and slip into the end zone as the clock ticked to zero.

Kertes hasn’t been the only offensive player to benefit from the team’s newfound unity and bulk. Toot, also a senior, has rushed for 328 yards and eight touchdowns in two games so far.

“The linemen have just been unbelievable in the first two games, and I know it’s only going to get tougher from here, but the blocking’s been unbelievable,” said Toot. “We’re just going to have to stay focused. Obviously you can get a little full of yourself after two games like we’ve had. But we’re playing York next week and all we’ve got to do is keep our nose to the grindstone and really work hard over this next week. It’s going to be tough for us, but I definitely know we can do it.”

The Capers host York Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

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