Psychologists call it “cognitive dissonance,“ but never envisioned hundreds of normal-intelligence individuals watching a football game while going all Palm Pilot with their smartphones.

Cape football beat a scary Smyrna team 35-7 Nov. 9, finishing the regular season 8-2 for the second year in a row. Amazingly, coaches Bill Collick, Herky Billings and Johnny Parker all claim not to be smart enough to do two things at the same time. And when the game was over and young men began to jump in jubilation, “We’re in the tournament. First time since 1998! CR beat Dover 23-20, gives them seven wins! We get a bonus point so Concord and A.I. can’t catch us!”

Collick doesn’t text or Twitter. He looked at Athletic Director Bob Cilento and asked, “When does the state tournament committee meet? When they tell me we’re in and who we’re playing, that’s when I’ll believe it.”

Early Sunday afternoon, Nov. 11, before the first NFL game kicked off, Collick and connected Cape football people got the word that the Vikings had made the postseason tournament as a No. 6 seed and will play at  7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 16, at Saint Mark's.

Sussex Central will play at Caesar Rodney Saturday, Nov. 17.

The first three touchdowns of the Smyrna game - Justin Lopez of Cape, Tequan Boyer of Smyrna and Andre Flowers of Cape - all came on 54-yard runs. Diaz Nardo would score on a fourth-and-goal sneak from the 1-yard line and Justin Lopez on a 10-yard run to make the halftime score 28-7 Cape.

The only scoring of the second half came in the final minutes when sophomore Bill Gibbs went into the middle of the line and “shaked and baked” his way to a 34-yard touchdown.

Miguel Merino kicked all five extra points.

Cape senior quarterback Diaz Nardo stands in the pocket and hits a receiver for a Vikings first down. (Photo by: Dan Cook)

Justin Lopez runs 54 yards for the Vikings' first score of the game. (Photo by: Dan Cook)

Cape wing back Cody Dmiterchik breaks through the Smyrna defense and runs for a long gain. (Photo by: Dan Cook)

Quarterback Diaz Nardo rolls out behind the block of Garrett Becker. (Photo by: Dan Cook)

Cape's Thomas Ott fights through the hold of a Smyrna lineman. (Photo by: Dan Cook)

Cape defensive coordinator John Parker reviews a play during a time out. (Photo by: Dan)

A tough defensive line awaits the snap of the ball. (Photo by: Dan Cook)

Cape running back Juan Saez blocks for teammate Cody Dmiterchik. (Photo by: Dan Cook)

Cape defensive end John Colucci awaits the Smyrna snap. (Photo by: Dan Cook)

John Colucci is held by a Smyrna back. (Photo by: Dan Cook)

Cape's Justin Lopez makes a interception on the Smyrna quarterback. (Photo by: Dan Cook)

Cape sophomore Jason Wiberg makes an acrobatic catch to keep the Vikings drive alive. (Photo by: Dan Cook)

Cape running back Andre Flowers blast through the Smyrna defense. (Photo by: Dan Cook)

Cape senior lineman Micheal Miller pass blocks for quarterback Diaz Nardo. (Photo by: Dan Cook)

Cape head coach Bill Collick makes his point to Thomas Ott. (Photo by: Dan Cook)