WELLS — In recent seasons, all the Western Class B title talk has been a private, two-team conversation.

As in, “hello Cape, this is Mountain Valley”.

Well, welcome to the discussion, Wells.

The Warriors elbowed their way into the calling circle by handing previously undefeated Cape Elizabeth a rousing14-7 setback, Friday, at Warrior Memorial Field.

“It feels incredible,” said Louis DiTomasso, who made several key defensive stops. “It’s the first time in a while (we’ve beaten them). It’s a huge win, at home. I can’t believe it. It’s incredible. I love it.”

And for the Warriors (5-1), who lost to the Capers twice last year ”“ including the playoffs ”“  there was a lot to love.

Especially in the big play department.

“It’s the best win I’ve ever been a part of,” said diminuitive Paul McDonough (5-8, 155), who created several electric moments at quarterback, and on defense. “We worked really hard, and we want to get them back.”

McDonough struck a blow for revenge with 4:55 in the first quarter, when he intercepted a sideline pass by Capers quarterback Derek Roberts and ran it 22 yards for a touchdown.

“I read it, and I jumped in,” said McDonough. “Everything worked out.”

Said DiTomasso, “He’s a show. An incredible quarterback. An incredible defender. An incredible football player.”

Joey Spinelli booted the extra point to make it 7-0.

The Capers replied in the second quarter with a 2-yard strike from Roberts to Kyle Danielson to make it 7-7 heading into halftime.

That score might have signaled a quantum momentum shift in Cape’s direction, but it didn’t.

The Warrior defense saw to that.

“We tightened up,” said DiTomasso. “They like to run that veer dive, a lot. We figured it out, and jumped all over it.”

Said McDonough, “we’re a big group. We’re one. We’re just one big family. We don’t let anything get to us.”

The stalemate continued into the fourth quarter, until Wells scored on its first possession.

McDonough drove the Warriors down to the Cape 4, when on second down, he rolled to his left, then as he was about to be dragged down for a loss, tossed a pitchout to Michael Moats-Carpenter.

Moats-Carpenter made a bee-line for the flag, and reached it without being touched, to put the Warriors ahead to stay.

Not that the Capers went away without a fight.

Twice in the final 1:37 they drove into Wells territory. Both times the Warriors came up with huge turnovers.

The first of those was McDonough’s second interception of the game.

The second came with 24 seconds to play, after the Capers moved to the Warrior 37 on a strip sack of Roberts by J.T. Sherburne.

“I was chasing him down,” said Sherburne. “He grew and grew and grew the closer I got. I was thinking about popping him. I went for the ball, and he fumbled it.”

Brandon Pridham jumped on the loose ball to seal the win.

The Warriors will play Poland on Friday.

— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com.