Leavitt’s Camden Jordan catches a long pass Friday at Cape Elizabeth on Friday (Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald)

CAPE ELIZABETH — The Leavitt Hornets have staked their claim as the team to beat in Class C South so far this fall.

Friday evening at a foggy Hannaford Field, the Hornets drove the field on Cape Elizabeth to start the game and never looked back, racking up 449 yards of offense and pulling away to beat the Capers 42-20.

Leavitt quarterback Wyatt Hathaway threw three touchdown passes and Mark Herman squashed any Cape Elizabeth comeback hopes with a pair of long TD runs in the second half, helping the Hornets improve to 3-0 on the season.

“It was their home opener and we thought if we could weather their best shot early, we’d be OK,” Leavitt coach Michael Hathaway said. “We wanted to start fast, so we tried to come out up-tempo.”

Leavitt set the tone by taking the ball to start the game, driving 71 yards on nine plays to go ahead to stay on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Hathaway to Camden Jordan. Stephen Gray added the extra point to make it 7-0.

After Cape Elizabeth was stopped on downs at the Hornets’ 31, Leavitt drove and added to its lead on a 22-yard Gray field goal early in the second period.

A Capers’ punt gave the Hornets the ball back at their 27, and they drove 73 yards for another touchdown. Hathaway capped the drive with a 3-yard run. Gray’s PAT extended the lead to 17-0.

The Capers then had a golden opportunity to get back in the contest just before halftime, using up 15 plays and driving to the Leavitt 4, thanks in large part to a 19-yard run by Jack Tower and an 11-yard pass from Andrew Hartel to Ethan Convey on fourth down that put the ball at the 5, but after Tower ran for a yard, Hartel three times threw incomplete and the Hornets were in command at halftime.

Cape Elizabeth (1-2) got some life in third period when Hartel hit Matt Conley for a 14-yard touchdown, but two plays later, Herman broke free for a 60-yard scoring run to restore Leavitt’s 17-point lead.

The Hornets added to their lead on another big play, a 49-yard strike from Hathaway to Oren Shaw, but the Capers got back within 30-14 after three quarters on a 21-yard Hartel-to-Conley score.

With 6:45 to go, Hathaway (9-of-16 for 200 yards, three touchdowns and one interception) hit Jordan for a 6-yard score. After Hartel threw a 56-yard scoring pass to Tower, Leavitt again immediately answered, as Herman (four carries, 126 yards, two scores) broke free for a 57-yard TD run, allowing the Hornets to go on to the 42-20 victory.

“We made some mistakes and were a little sloppy in the second half, but the guys did a good job playing the next play,” Mike Hathaway said. “We’re happy where we are, but we’ll keep trying to get better.”

Hartel finished 18-of-47 passing, good for 256 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

“I appreciate how the guys came out and battled in the second half,” Cape Elizabeth coach Aaron Filieo said. “Defensively, we can’t give up those big chunks. We made them earn the field in the first half, but in the second half, they got big plays. We obviously have work to do.”

Leavitt’s Camden Jordan celebrates in the end zone after scoring the first touchdown Friday at Cape Elizabeth. (Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald) Cape Elizabeth’s Zach Stewart takes down Leavitt quarterback Wyatt Hathaway on a run. (Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald) Cape Elizabeth’s Zach Stewart faces down Leavitt’s defense on a running play. (Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald) Cape Elizabeth’s Jack Tower makes a midair catch on Friday against Leavitt. (Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald) Cape Elizabeth’s Matt Laughlin is deprived a touchdown catch when Leavitt’s Damion Calder swats the ball. (Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald)

Leavitt’s Garrett Jabbusch picks up some yards after a handoff Friday at Cape Elizabeth on Friday (Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald)

Cape Elizabeth’s Matt Laughlin is taken down by Leavitt kicker Stephen Gray during a kick return Friday (Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald)

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