Woodbridge runs on to the field for their home opener against Dover.

Woodbridge’s Blaize Rayford (7) runs in to score their third touchdown against Dover.

Woodbridge’s Jamon Kane (8) runs in for their first touchdown in their home opener against Dover.

Dover rallies before the start of their game against Woodbridge.

Woodbridge’s Terrique Riddick (2) breaks a tackle in the second quarter against Dover.

Dover’s Javon Peace (4) fumbles the ball during a kickoff in the first quarter against Woodbridge.

Dover’s John Rodel Castro (28) with a catch in their game against Woodbridge.

Dover’s quarterback Jhalil Mosley (13) is brought down by Woodbridge’s Mike Brewer (10) in the second quarter.

Woodbridge’s Antwain Holden (3) runs with the ball in the second quarter against Dover.

Dover’s Jerry Warren (21) is brought down by Woodbridge’s defense line in the second quarter.

GREENWOOD – The Woodbridge football team came flying out of the gate with a full tank of gas.

The Blue Raiders were running on empty at the end, but built a big enough lead to drive past Dover 33-12 in the season opener for both teams on Friday night.

Matched up against a school more than twice its size, Woodbridge knew a fast start would be critical. The Blue Raiders sprinted to a 20-0 lead in the opening six minutes, built a 33-6 cushion by halftime, then held on despite several players cramping up in the second half.

“We knew we had to get off to a quick start, just because of the size factor,” Blue Raiders coach Ed Manlove said. “I knew we were going to wind down. I envisioned this happening long before the game ever played out.”

But the start played out as well as Manlove could have dreamed. Sophomore Jamon Kane broke a 63-yard touchdown run on the third play of the game to give Woodbridge a 7-0 lead.

The Blue Raiders ran the ball effectively on their next drive, too, then went to the air as Troy Haynes threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Mike Brewer.

Devin Flamer recovered a Dover fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and Woodbridge went deep on the next play as Haynes hit Blaize Rayford with a 30-yard rainbow for a 20-0 lead with 5:52 left in the first quarter.

“We were preparing ourselves for deep passing,” Haynes said. “Their D-backs were a little suspect, we knew it from the jump. So we jumped on it.”

The Senators got on the board with a great individual effort early in the second quarter. Sophomore quarterback Jordan Magee — going down in the clutches of a defender — found the strength to throw a 12-yard scoring pass to Dwight Wilson.

But the Blue Raiders were still flying high. Haynes hooked up with Brewer for a 59-yard gain to set up a 2-yard TD run by Terrique Riddick. Then Richard Massey broke a 46-yard touchdown run to send Woodbridge into the half up 33-6.

“When we were clicking in the beginning, I thought we looked pretty good,” Manlove said. “We looked like a really good football team.”

But then the Blue Raiders, ranked first statewide in Division II, stopped clicking. After racking up 238 yards of total offense in the first half, Woodbridge could only manage 79 in the second half.

And Dover picked up its game, as Magee’s 28-yard TD pass to Wilson made it 33-12 with 9:36 left in the third quarter.

But the Senators’ next drive ended on downs at the Woodbridge 6. Then another Dover drive ended on downs at the Woodbridge 29. Then Blue Raiders lineman Brian Ireland ended the Senators’ last gasp by falling on a fumble at the Woodbridge 29 with 3:32 left.

“We don’t have a lot of depth, so we had to move kids all over the place,” Manlove said. “But we held it together.”

Just barely. Several Blue Raiders left the field with cramps on a hot, humid night.

“We’re in shape,” Manlove said. “I just thought they weren’t hydrated well.”

Still, it was a big win over a Division I opponent. And Woodbridge plays host to another D-I foe next week when Polytech comes to town.

“Nobody expected us to win,” Haynes said. “… Us winning gives us a big confidence booster going into next week.”

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Concord’s Luis Eehevarria (7) runs with the ball down the field in their home game against Caravel.

Concord’s Jared Hill (1) dives after Caravel’s Mandela Montgomery (7) as he runs in to put them on the scoreboard in the first quarter of play.

Caravel’s Noah Taylor (6) is tackled by Concord’s Jared Hill (1) in the first quarter of play.

Concord’s Jared Hill (1) scores their second touchdown against Caravel.

Caravel’s Jawain Granger (2) breaks up a pass attempt to Concord’s Jared Hill (1).

Concord’s Grahm Roberts (6) is tackled by Caravel’s Mandela Montgomery (7) near the sideline.

Caravel’s Josiah Larkins (5) with a interception in their game against Concord.

Caravel’s Jawain Granger (2) runs down the field with pressure on his back from Concord’s defense.

Concord’s Grahm Roberts (6) carries the ball down the middle of the field in their game against Caravel.

Caravel’s Noah Taylor (6) scores their second touchdown in their game against Concord.

Concord’s Jared Hill (1) tackles Caravel’s Josiah Larkins (5) in the fourth quarter.

Caravel’s quarterback Alex Barker (1) runs with the ball in their game against Concord.

Concord’s Byron Simpson (33) with a fumble recovery in their win over Caravel.

Caravel’s quarterback Alex Barker (1) passes the ball in their game against Concord.

Concord’s Kyle Batch (21) runs through Caravel’s defense to the end zone to make the score 29-19 Concord.

BRANDYWINE HUNDRED – Bam started the season with a bang.

Concord running back Grahm “Bam” Roberts broke a 78-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage and finished with 204 yards and two scores as the Raiders opened the year with a 30-19 home victory over Caravel on Saturday.

“First play, we just had to show them what we’re about, set the tone,” Roberts said.

Concord coach Greg Mitchell had seen it before. Roberts started each of the Raiders’ three scrimmages — against St. Elizabeth, Tatnall and St. Mark’s — with a long scoring burst.

“Unbelievable,” Mitchell said. “We have gone three scrimmages, and now the first game, our first play he’s gone 80 [yards], 80, 80 and whatever he went on that play. We’ve started every scrimmage and game with a touchdown.”

But there was a long way to go, on a brutally hot day that saw at least a dozen players suffer cramps. A marquee matchup between two teams ranked third in the state — Concord in Division I, Caravel in Division II — turned into a test of endurance.

“Both teams were bothered by it. We were pretty beat,” Roberts said. “It was about who was going to push harder and pull it out in the second half.”

The Buccaneers tied it at 7 on a 59-yard touchdown pass from Alex Barker to Mandela Montgomery. The Raiders answered with an 18-yard strike from Dillon Coughenour to Jared Hill, only to see Caravel come back on Barker’s 25-yard hookup with Noah Taylor.

Concord blocked the PAT after that one to keep a 14-13 lead, just 19 seconds into the second quarter. Then Roberts — running behind offensive linemen Jaysen Ellison, Earl Jeter, Malik Wright, Tyler Narvell and William Beaudet — slashed through a crease on the left side for a 61-yard gain. He scored from 12 yards out on the next play for a 21-13 lead.

Then the Buccaneers took advantage of a short punt, with Barker tossing a 20-yard scoring pass to Montgomery. The two-point pass failed, leaving the Raiders with a 21-19 lead with 5:44 left in the second quarter.

Then both teams hit the wall. There was no more scoring in the first half, and the teams combined for just 71 total yards (37 for Concord, 34 for Caravel) in the second half.

The heat was just too much.

“Everybody got slowed down,” Mitchell said. “It was one of the toughest days I’ve been associated with in a long time. And it was a long game, which made it even worse. We were wearing out, they were wearing out.”

A major turning point came with 9:31 left in the fourth quarter. Barker, who transferred to Caravel from Eastern Christian Academy in Elkton, Md., for his senior year, stayed down after keeping the ball for a 1-yard loss on third-and-11.

There was a 26-minute delay as an ambulance was summoned to transport the QB to Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. A Caravel assistant coach said Barker suffered a serious ankle injury. He finished 7 of 12 passing for 126 yards and three touchdowns.

Concord was still clinging to its two-point lead when a Caravel punt snap sailed into the end zone for a safety. Then the Raiders’ Kyle Batch returned the ensuing kickoff for a 78-yard touchdown to push the margin to 30-19 with 4:59 left.

“I don’t even know,” Batch said. “I was tired the whole game, and I just broke one. We needed it. I just kept my feet moving.”

It was hard for anyone to move their feet at that point.

“Big,” Mitchell said. “That was the play we needed, because we were struggling offensively. We needed one to put the game away.”

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawaronline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Woodbridge’s Terrique Riddick (2) breaks away from Dover’s Robert Mason (7) and Bradly Anyanwu last Friday. The Blue Raiders opened the season with a 33-12 victory and remained No. 1 in The News Journal’s Division II rankings.

FOOTBALL

THE NEWS JOURNAL/DELAWAREONLINE RANKINGS

DIVISION I

1. Smyrna (1-0) 1

2. Salesianum (1-0) 2

3. Middletown (1-0) 4

4. Concord (1-0) 3

5. Sussex Central (1-0) 6

6. William Penn (1-0) 5

7. Sussex Tech (1-0) 7

8. Appoquinimink (1-0) 8

9. Cape Henlopen (1-0) 9

10. Mount Pleasant (1-0) 10

DIVISION II

1. Woodbridge (1-0) 1

2. Del. Military Academy (1-0) 4

3. Archmere (1-0) 8

4. Wilmington Friends (1-0) 5

5. Milford (1-0) 6

6. Glasgow (1-0) 7

7. St. Mark’s (1-0) 10

8. Caravel (0-1) 3

9. St. Elizabeth (1-0) 9

10. St. Georges (0-1) NR

FOX SPORTS 1290/DIFCA COACHES’ POLL

DIVISION I

1. Smyrna (1)

2. Middletown (2)

3. Salesianum (3)

4. Concord (4)

5. William Penn (5)

6. Sussex Tech (6)

7. Sussex Central (7)

8. Appoquinimink (8)

9. Mount Pleasant (10)

10. Cape Henlopen (9)

DIVISION II

1. Woodbridge (2)

2. Glasgow (5)

3. St. Georges (3)

4. Hodgson (7)

5. St. Elizabeth (10)

6. Del. Military Academy (6)

7. Caravel (1)

8. Wilmington Friends (8)

9. Archmere (NR)

10. Tatnall (9)

VOLLEYBALL

1. Del. Military Academy (0-0) 1

2. Ursuline (0-0) 2

3. Padua (1-0) 3

4. Archmere (1-0) 4

5. Wilmington Friends (1-0) 5

BOYS SOCCER

DIVISION I

1. Salesianum (1-0) 1

2. Charter of Wilmington (1-0) 2

3. Cape Henlopen (0-0-1) 3

4. Appoquinimink (1-0) 4

5. Caesar Rodney (0-1) 5

DIVISION II

1. Indian River (0-0) 1

2. St. Mark’s (1-0) 3

3. Archmere (1-0) 4

4. Caravel (0-1) 2

5. Del. Military Academy (0-0-1) 5

FIELD HOCKEY

1. Cape Henlopen (0-0) 1

2. Delmar (2-0) 2

3. Polytech (2-0) 3

4. Padua (1-0) 4

5. Wilmington Christian (0-0) 5

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY*

DIVISION I

1. Salesianum

2. Charter of Wilmington

3. Sussex Tech

4. Caesar Rodney

5. Newark

DIVISION II

1. Tatnall

2. Newark Charter

3. Del. Military Academy

4. St. Andrew’s

5. Lake Forest

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY*

DIVISION I

1. Padua

2. Charter of Wilmington

3. Smyrna

4. Caesar Rodney

5. Cape Henlopen

DIVISION II

1. Tatnall

2. St. Andrew’s

3. Newark Charter

4. Del. Military Academy

5. St. Mark’s

* – rankings supplied by N5CTA

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: BradMyersTNJ

Mickey Henry, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound offensive tackle at St. Elizabeth, is The News Journal’s Athlete of the Week. The senior has committed to play football at the University of Delaware next fall.

18 year-old Mickey Henry, a senior offensive lineman for St. Elizabeth High School.

18 year-old Mickey Henry, a senior offensive lineman for St. Elizabeth High School.

MICKEY HENRY, senior, St. Elizabeth football

THE WEEK: The 6-foot-4, 270-pound right tackle combined with RG A.J. Holliday, C John Vincent DiSabatino, LG Matt Shields, LT Nick Kindbeiter and TE David Hazelton to pave the way for six rushing touchdowns in the Vikings’ 49-0 victory over McKean.

THE GAME: “Offensively, we scored on every drive that we had,” Henry said. “Defensively, besides the first series, we pretty much stuffed them. But of course, we still have stuff to work on.”

THE ATTITUDE: “I have a mindset of I’m taking my guy to the dirt every play,” Henry said. “I don’t care if it’s a weaker guy, stronger guy, taller guy, bigger guy, smaller guy, I have the same mindset every play. To me, I can’t take a break.”

THE TRANSFER: Henry transferred to St. Elizabeth from Eastern Christian Academy in Elkton, Md., last fall, arriving in time to play in the Vikings’ final five games. “When I came here, everyone opened up their doors and opened their arms,” he said. “I felt very comfortable.”

THE COACH SAYS: “Mickey was a natural fit here at St. Elizabeth,” Vikings coach Joe Aviola said. “The thing that was really special about Mickey was that he increased the level of intensity on the field for all of the players. That’s what was really nice to see.”

THE ONE-TWO PUNCH: St. Elizabeth expects to run the ball a lot this season, with Henry clearing the way for big junior running back Chris Cropper, who scored four touchdowns vs. McKean. “When you have a 270-pound tackle followed by a 215-pound running back, we tend to come right at you,” Aviola said. “But what’s unique about us is, we do have some other weapons that can get to the edge.”

THE CLASSROOM: “I like learning about history,” Henry said. “I love learning about what people went through back then. I like sometimes comparing it to my life situation now.”

THE FUTURE: Henry was being recruited by William & Mary, Army, Temple, Stony Brook, and New Hampshire. But he committed to the University of Delaware in July, and plans to accept the Blue Hens’ scholarship offer. “I always told my family I’m going away for college,” he said. “But when Delaware came up, I looked around, saw their facilities, and I was like, ‘This is where I need to be. There’s nothing better than playing in front of your family, playing in front of your friends, playing in front of your home state.”

Send Athlete of the Week nominations to Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Caravel QB Alex Barker (1) looks for a receiver against Concord on Saturday. The senior threw three touchdown passes in the first half, but suffered a fourth-quarter ankle injury that will likely end his season.

Alex Barker’s final year of high school football likely ended with 9:31 left in the fourth quarter of his season opener Saturday.

The Caravel senior kept the ball for a 1-yard loss on third-and-11, then stayed down on the field. There was a 26-minute delay as an ambulance came to transport the quarterback to Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children.

Barker underwent surgery to mend a serious ankle injury. The left-hander will work to recover in time for the Buccaneers’ baseball season in the spring, but a return in time for any more football is very doubtful.

“I don’t think so,” Caravel coach John Reed said Monday, when asked if he expected Barker to play again. “Between that recovery time and the therapy on it… But we still want him to be a part of it, be around the team and be a good teammate.”

Barker recently transferred from Eastern Christian Academy in Elkton, Md., to Caravel, where he was meshing nicely with the Bucs. He threw three touchdown passes in the first half of Caravel’s 30-19 loss to Concord.

“We’re going to miss him,” Reed said. “He was a great teammate to the kids. He was a very coachable kid. He was very polished, and he certainly fit in with the kids like he had been there.”

Barker displayed a strong arm on a 59-yard scoring bomb to Mandela Montgomery. He also had a nice touch on the shorter routes, connecting with Noah Taylor for a 25-yard TD and hitting Montgomery again for a 20-yard score.

“I feel bad. We never want to see anybody get hurt like that,” Concord coach Greg Mitchell said. “We’ve had severe injuries like that, and they just break your heart.”

Hot cross country

Tosin Ibironke of Smyrna overcame sweltering temperatures and humidity to win the boys varsity race at the Lake Forest Invitational cross country meet on Saturday at Killens Pond State Park.

Ibironke finished the 5K course in 16:58.2. St. Andrew’s Alex Horgan was second, followed by Polytech’s Bryan Perry. Sidwell Friends of Washington, D.C., took the team title, followed by Delaware Military Academy and Sussex Tech.

Maryvale Prep of Brooklandville, Md., placed three runners among the top six on the way to the girls team title. Smyrna’s Naomi Bowser (20.22.2) finished second individually, with Caitlin Cobb of St. Andrew’s fourth and Naomi Dawkins of Newark fifth.

Upstate wins soccer challenge

Upstate schools won four of the seven games to narrowly take the title as 14 schools kicked off their boys soccer seasons in the Delaware Association of Athletic Directors’ Downstate-Upstate Challenge on Saturday at Dover High.

Salesianum and Charter of Wilmington – ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in Division I – won easily as the Sals downed Sussex Tech 8-2 and the Force dispatched Caesar Rodney 4-0. The other upstate winners were Appoquinimink, 6-3 over Milford, and Newark Charter, 3-2 over Dover.

Downstate schools scored three victories, as Lake Forest edged Dickinson 1-0, Polytech got past Middletown 3-2 and Seaford blanked the Delaware Academy of Public Safety and Security 1-0.

Football highlights

Plenty of big performances around the state on the opening weekend, including:

— Daniel Bark rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns as Archmere, ranked eighth in Division II, dominated preseason No. 2 Howard 44-16.

— Corahn Alleyne racked up 239 all-purpose yards, including a 70-yard punt return TD, in Delaware Military Academy’s 42-7 win over Charter of Wilmington.

— Will Knight, who scored 51 two-point conversions last season, started 2016 with five two-pointers in No. 1 Smyrna’s 56-0 dismantling of Delcastle. Nolan Henderson threw three touchdown passes, with Leddie Brown catching two of those and running for two more scores.

— Justin Beneck passed for two touchdowns and ran for another in Wilmington Friends’ 27-7 win over Perryville (Md.).

— Sean Carroll got touchdowns in three different ways – passing, running and returning an interception – as Mount Pleasant topped Brandywine 41-6.

— Kenyon Yellowdy fired three long touchdown passes – two to Emmanuel Kenion – as Appoquinimink rolled past Polytech 54-14.

— Tower Hill’s A.J. Falco threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more in a 38-22 victory over Harford Tech (Md.).

Rounding it up

— The next Heart in the Game events – which offer free EKG screenings for all Delaware students ages 8-19 – will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 17 at Woodbridge High School and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Siegel Jewish Community Center, 101 Garden of Eden Road in Wilmington. The events also feature CPR/AED training, along with other health offerings. Walk-ins are welcome, but online registration is preferred at www.heartinthegame.org.

— Delmar and Polytech, ranked Nos. 2 and 3 statewide in field hockey, struck a dual blow for Delaware in the Bi-State Challenge on Friday and Saturday in Pocomoke City, Md. Delmar downed Washington (Md.) 8-1 and Pocomoke 7-0, while Polytech dropped Pocomoke 4-2 and got past Washington 5-2.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Caravel goalkeeper Jarret Mastro does his best to keep Salesianum’s Casey Kurley (22) from scoring.

Caravel’s Austyn Hamilton (24) tries to keep Salesianum’s Aiden Kelly (23) from gaining control of the ball in the Sals’ 7-0 win over Caravel on Tuesday.

Salesianum’s Taylor Witherell (7) tallies another point on the board for the Sals in their 7-0 win over Caravel on Tuesday.

Caravel’s James Baxter (10) defends the ball against Salesianum in the Sals’ 7-0 win over Caravel on Tuesday.

HOCKESSIN – With an 8 a.m. Thursday flight to Denver on the horizon, it would have been easy for the Salesianum soccer team to be looking ahead on Tuesday.

Not a chance. The Sals were clearly focused on the task.

Sallies cranked out five early goals in a 12-minute span and cruised to an easier-than-expected, 7-0 rout of Caravel at the Hockessin Soccer Club.

Now it’s off to Colorado. The Sals (2-0) — ranked fourth nationally in the latest USA Today/NSCAA boys soccer Super 25 — will meet Fairview High of Boulder, which is ranked fifth nationally, at 4 p.m. Friday. Then Sallies will take on Boulder High, ranked second in Colorado behind Fairview, at 11 a.m. Saturday.

But first, the Sals had to get past a team that gave them fits last year. They passed the test with flying colors.

“It’s still early, so we’re still working on our game,” Sals coach Scott Mosier said. “But certainly, we wanted to make sure we tried to keep the energy up.

“Everybody’s excited about going to Colorado. I’m excited about going to Colorado,” Mosier added. “… So that was a talking point, an emphasis before the game, was to make sure we started fast.”

Brendan Hanrahan rattled a shot off the far post in the fourth minute for the six-time defending state champion Sals, currently ranked No. 1 in Delaware’s Division I. Caravel (0-2), ranked fourth statewide in Division II, couldn’t hold off Sallies much longer.

The Sals consistently found openings after working the ball wide. Cole Bouchard crossed to Gavin Ford for the first goal in the eighth minute. Then Bryce Wallace did the same to set up Hanrahan’s easy score in the 11th minute. Then Ford pounced on a turnover to make it 3-0 two minutes later.

“We saw that the outside back was staying with the striker, so we could find the outside back on the far side really easily,” Ford said. “Everything was open from there.”

Jason Blackwell cleaned up the rebound on Wallace’s shot in the 16th minute. Then Blackwell converted a nice feed from Aidan Kelly five minutes later, and completed the hat trick with an assist from Bryan Hartmann in the 37th minute to make it 6-0.

“They played a 4-1-2-1-2, so they didn’t have any outside mids,” Blackwell said. “We wanted to exploit that and get the ball wide to our outside backs, who had a lot of space.”

It was a different story from last year, when the Sals didn’t score until the 65th minute before pulling away from Caravel 3-0 in their season opener.

“Last year, we waited until the second half to score on them,” Blackwell said. “We wanted to jump on them early, get a few goals in the first half and sit on them in the second half.”

The Sals dusted Sussex Tech 8-2 in their opener last Saturday, giving them 15 goals in two games. Last year’s team needed 10 games to generate that many scores.

“Last year we were good at keeping the ball, which we are again this year,” Mosier said. “But we weren’t able to really get in behind defenses and get in the attacking third like we are this year.

“We’re a year older, I think we’re a little bit stronger, a little bit faster, a little bit cleaner. That’s been a big difference for us.”

Sallies will face a couple of major challenges in Colorado, including the altitude. Both of their opponents’ fields sit at 5,480 feet — more than a mile above sea level. The Sals have had success on trips to Louisville, Ky.; Charlotte, N.C.; and Las Vegas the last three years, but this may be the most difficult journey yet.

“It takes some maturity to fly to Colorado and still perform at a high level,” Mosier said. “It’s not easy to do. … You need to be mature, you need take of yourself, you need to take care of your body.”

His players certainly took care of business Tuesday.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Sussex Tech’s Isaiah Brown stiffarms A.I. du Pont’s Jamir Dantley last week. Brown rushed for six touchdowns in the Ravens’ 61-22 victory, and Sussex Tech will be favored against Indian River on Friday.

Picks by News Journal high school sports reporter Brad Myers and Mount Pleasant student/analytics guru Matt Kalin.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Red Lion Christian at St. Andrew’s, 4. MYERS PICK: St. Andrew’s 8-6. KALIN PICK: St. Andrew’s 24-21

Dover at Baltimore Poly (Md.), 6. MYERS PICK: Dover 25-22. KALIN PICK: Dover 28-27

Perkiomen School (Pa.) at Tower Hill, 6:30. MYERS PICK: Tower Hill 28-22. KALIN PICK: Tower Hill 24-13

Mount Pleasant at Newark, 7. MYERS PICK: Mount Pleasant 20-18. KALIN PICK: Mount Pleasant 30-20

Appoquinimink at Smyrna, 7. MYERS PICK: Smyrna 54-14. KALIN PICK: Smyrna 48-34

Caravel at Elkton (Md.), 7. MYERS PICK: Elkton 20-17. KALIN PICK: Elkton 21-17

Tatnall at Harford Tech (Md.), 7. MYERS PICK: Tatnall 35-29. KALIN PICK: Harford Tech 34-27

St. Elizabeth at Laurel, 7. MYERS PICK: St. Elizabeth 28-15. KALIN PICK: St. Elizabeth 28-27

Glasgow at McKean, 7. MYERS PICK: Glasgow 27-19. KALIN PICK: Glasgow 27-13

Cape Henlopen at Oakdale (Md.), 7. MYERS PICK: Oakdale 34-24. KALIN PICK: Oakdale 27-24

Cambridge-South Dorchester (Md.) at Seaford, 7. MYERS PICK: Cambridge-S. Dorchester 49-6. KALIN PICK: Cambridge-S. Dorchester 40-17

Interboro (Pa.) at Sussex Central, 7. MYERS PICK: Interboro 21-20. KALIN PICK: Sussex Central 24-20

Indian River at Sussex Tech, 7. MYERS PICK: Sussex Tech 41-6. KALIN PICK: Sussex Tech 31-14

Polytech at Woodbridge, 7. MYERS PICK: Woodbridge 35-13. KALIN PICK: Woodbridge 37-13

Lake Forest at St. Mark’s, 7:30. MYERS PICK: St. Mark’s 28-14. KALIN PICK: St. Mark’s 24-17

Del. Military Academy at Milford, 7:30. MYERS PICK: DMA 22-21. KALIN PICK: DMA 24-17

St. Mary’s (Md.) at Delmar, 7:30. MYERS PICK: Delmar 22-20. KALIN PICK: St. Mary’s 28-21

Caesar Rodney at Salesianum, 7:30. MYERS PICK: Salesianum 35-6. KALIN PICK: Salesianum 35-13

SATURDAY’S GAMES

Howard at St. Georges, 10:30 a.m. MYERS PICK: St. Georges 20-16. KALIN PICK: St. Georges 24-17

Delcastle at Charter of Wilmington, 10:30 a.m. MYERS PICK: Charter 14-13. KALIN PICK: Charter 28-21

A.I. du Pont at Concord, 10:30 a.m. MYERS PICK: Concord 38-21. KALIN PICK: Concord 38-24

Christiana at Hodgson, 10:30 a.m. MYERS PICK: Hodgson 40-6. KALIN PICK: Hodgson 31-10

Dickinson at Conrad, 11 a.m. MYERS PICK: Conrad 28-13. KALIN PICK: Conrad 28-6

Brandywine at Archmere, noon. MYERS PICK: Archmere 42-6. KALIN PICK: Archmere 31-13

Middletown at William Penn, 1. MYERS PICK: Middletown 27-24. KALIN PICK: Middletown 24-20

Wilmington Friends at Academy of New Church (Pa.), 1:30. MYERS PICK: Friends 20-8. KALIN PICK: Friends 27-20

BRAD MYERS LAST WEEK: 22-2 (.917)

MATT KALIN LAST WEEK: 21-3 (.875)

Listen to Brad Myers on the Henlopen High School Football Fix with Mike Bradley at 8:20 a.m. on WGMD-FM (92.7) or www.wgmd.com. Contact Brad at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

William Penn’s Zach Burton evades St. Georges’ Jalen Smith in the third quarter of the Colonials’ 27-24 win at Caravel Academy Friday.

NEW CASTLE – Most high school athletes want the maximum amount of buzz when they sign a National Letter of Intent to accept a college athletic scholarship.

Not Zachariah Burton.

The William Penn senior signed to play football at the University of Virginia on Thursday morning. The ceremony — if you can call it that — took place in a small conference room at the high school. Only his parents — Frank Sr. and Tasey — three assistant coaches and one reporter were present.

“I didn’t want too much attention,” Burton said. “… The fanfare, all the flashing lights, that doesn’t really mean anything to me.”

The football signing period doesn’t begin until Feb. 1, but seniors who plan to graduate from high school early may sign earlier. Burton said Dec. 16 will be his final day at William Penn. Then the 6-foot-2, 187-pound defensive back will enroll at Virginia in January and be eligible to participate in spring practice.

“It’s something that I wanted to do since I found out about it last year,” he said. “I just heard from a lot of people that it would be a good decision, it would be something that would help me both in the classroom and on the field.”

Early graduations are increasing among college-bound football players. Middletown quarterback Darius Wade left high school early to get a jump on his competition at Boston College three years ago.

Burton earned this opportunity by lighting it up in the classroom and on the field. He received recruiting interest from close to a dozen colleges, with the final decision coming between Virginia and Connecticut. He had already been exposed to the recruiting process after watching his older brother — William Penn defensive lineman Frank Burton Jr., who signed with Ball State — go through it last year.

“It just came down to which one felt like home, which one would push me to be a better person,” Burton said. “I feel like Virginia will just push me ahead.”

The Cavaliers are in their first season under coach Bronco Mendenhall, who was hired after going 99-43 with 11 straight bowl appearances at Brigham Young. Virginia was 4-8 last season and is off to an 0-2 start this year after losses to Richmond and Oregon.

“I’m excited to just be a part of coach Mendenhall’s program,” Burton said. “I feel like he’s really going to turn the program around. I believe that something big is brewing in Charlottesville.”

Of course, Burton would like to brew something big in New Castle first. He was a sophomore starter in the defensive backfield when the Colonials won the DIAA Division I championship two years ago. William Penn fell in the D-I semifinals last season.

On offense, Burton moved from receiver to quarterback for his senior season. Last Friday, he threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Terin Cochran in the second quarter and scored the winning touchdown on a 10-yard run in the final two minutes as William Penn edged St. Georges 27-24 in its opener. The sixth-ranked Colonials play host to No. 3 Middletown at 1 p.m. Saturday.

“The goal is still the same,” Burton said. “Go out and play hard and try to win a championship.”

Then head off to Virginia, without any fanfare.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

The William Penn defense celebrates a fumble return for a touchdown by Charles Hope (55), a huge play in the Colonials’ 27-24 victory over St. Georges last Friday.

When the Middletown football team enters Bill Cole Stadium at 1 p.m. Saturday, William Penn coach Marvin Dooley knows what the Cavaliers will be after.

“The last two years, we’ve won the conference title from them,” Dooley said. “Make no mistake about it, they’re coming here to get their trophy back.”

It’s hard to imagine the Blue Hen Flight A championship could be on the line in the second week of the season, but this could ultimately be the game that decides it. And both teams know it.

“This is a big game, and it’s Week 2,” Middletown coach Mark DelPercio said. “When you’re playing your conference opener against the team that’s won the conference the last two years, it’s a big game.”

William Penn owns a 20-game Flight A winning streak, 21 if you the count a 42-14 victory over the Cavaliers in the 2014 DIAA Division I championship game. The last Flight A team to beat the Colonials: Middletown, 29-7 on Oct. 12, 2013.

Both teams are 1-0, but the sixth-ranked Colonials and third-ranked Cavaliers played dramatically different games last week. William Penn needed a 10-yard touchdown run from Zachariah Burton in the final two minutes to rally past St. Georges 27-24. Middletown throttled Caesar Rodney 48-0 behind an eye-popping six touchdown passes from sophomore Drew Fry.

It could be a tale of the two quarterbacks. Both made their first start at the position last week, and while Burton had his ups and downs, it was all up for Fry. He even spread the TD passes around — two to Anthony DelPercio, two to Jalen Whitehead, one to Kenneth Edelin and one to Nicholas Johnston

“We knew coming into the season it was going to be a pass-heavy offense, because that was playing to the strengths of our personnel,” Mark DelPercio said. “I’ve told anybody who would listen, [Fry] has done an outstanding job. … I’ve been thrilled with what he has given us.”

The Colonials would like to knock Fry around a little, see what he can do if he has to scramble.

“They’ve got three good receivers,” Dooley said. “They’ve got good hands, they run good routes. We’ve got to put pressure on the quarterback, and we’ve got to control the clock and keep the ball in our own hands.”

Burton, who signed to play defensive back at the University of Virginia on Thursday, switched from receiver to QB for his senior season. He threw a 63-yard scoring pass to Terin Cochran in the second quarter against St. Georges, but missed on a couple of other potential big plays.

“We won, but he really played average at best. I think he’ll have a better game this week,” Dooley said of Burton. “He made the right decisions, but he threw too late sometimes. But then when we needed it most, he rose to the occasion. The reason we won the game, that last drive, it was all Burton.”

The speedy senior stood out to Mark DelPercio on film. He knows the Cavaliers can’t give Burton too much room to operate.

“As usual, they have tremendous size,” the Middletown coach said. “And when Burton has the ball in his hands, he’s scary, whether it’s running or throwing.”

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

ALAPOCAS – Padua knew Wilmington Friends was going to provide its sternest challenge of the young volleyball season on Thursday night.

Padua’s Gabriella Walsh (17) hits over the Wilmington Friends defense in the second game of Padua’s 3-0 win at Wilmington Friends on Thursday.

The Pandas took the Quakers’ best shots and rallied, coming from behind in the first two sets and leading all the way in the third to score a 3-0 victory. The set scores were 25-21, 25-21 and 25-15.

Padua’s Claire Bisson hits in the second game of Padua’s 3-0 win at Wilmington Friends on Thursday.

“Friends is a really good, well-rounded team,” Padua coach Lauren DiSabatino said. “Their setter is good, their outside hitter and right-side hitter are good. So I was expecting us to be tested, and we answered back. I’m proud of them.”

The third-ranked Pandas (3-0) opened the season with easy wins over Paul VI Catholic (Va.) and Concord. But that meant nothing to fifth-ranked Friends (1-2), which ran out to a 17-13 lead in the opening set. Padua called timeout and responded with a decisive, 9-1 run.

“We just needed to stay calm,” DiSabatino said. “I think sometimes when you get behind, you get a little bit jittery and you anticipate what’s going to happen. We just needed to calm down, remember everything that we talked about in practice.”

It was the same story in the second set, as the Quakers built a 16-14 lead on a kill by Danielle Nathan. Then the Pandas won 11 of the last 16 points to pull away again.

“We struggled in serve receive in the beginning, and we really couldn’t get a pass up,” said junior Emma Lucey, who led Padua with 38 assists. “But once we started to get it together in the back row, we have a lot of hitters and we could spread the ball around.”

Padua never trailed in the third set, winning the first three points and the last five to close it out. Newcomer Jess Molen had a team-high 15 kills, and junior masher Emily Jarome added 12.

“When we got a ball up, we could put it away,” Lucey said. “Jess, our freshman, she was a big hitter tonight. Emily put away some really good balls, too.”

Padua’s Jessica Molen reaches for the ball at the net in the second game of Padua’s 3-0 win at Wilmington Friends on Thursday.

The Pandas also did their best to slow down the dangerous Nathan, a sophomore who is a threat anywhere on the court.

“We know she can get up, and she hits it down, and she can put it in a bunch of different places,” Jarome said of Nathan. “So we moved our defense, and we’ve been working on blocking a lot.”

Jarome, primarily a front-row player the last couple of years, is making the transition to an all-around game this season. She added three aces, two blocks and 11 digs to her kills.

“I really enjoy playing back row,” Jarome said. “I think not only it helps my front-row game, but I can help the team a lot more, too.”

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Milford’s Brion Murray (8) runs down the field away from Delaware Military Academy’s Brennan Hazewski (22) to score a touchdown in the first quarter.

Delaware Military Academy’s Corahn Alleyne (1) runs to the sideline after making a catch in their first quarter against Milford.

Milford’s quarterback William Kimmel (10) hands the football off to running back David Bowman (3) in their home game against Delaware Military Academy.

Milford’s Rahshawn Price (28) is tackled by Delaware Military Academy’s Brennan Hazewski (22).

Delaware Military Academy’s quarterback Jacob Hudson (9) with a run in the second quarter against Milford.

Delaware Military Academy’s Corahn Alleyne (1) runs toward the goal line in their game against Milford.

Delaware Military Academy’s Brennan Hazewski (22) with a catch in their game against Milford.

Delaware Military Academy’s Todd Turner (4) grabs the jersey of Milford’s David Bowman (3) in the second quarter.

MILFORD – Quarterback William Kimmel morphed into a receiver for one play Friday night, and found himself all alone.

All he had to do was catch it.

“As soon as I left the line of scrimmage, I knew it was going to be a touchdown,” Kimmel said. “The ball just looked so pretty in the air, and it landed in my arms. It was just a perfect play.”

It capped a perfect night for Milford, which put up a stop sign in the red zone and used two huge plays to roll to a 24-0 victory over Delaware Military Academy at Briggs Stadium.

The Buccaneers (2-0) are currently ranked fifth statewide in Division II, but will certainly move up after a convincing win over the second-ranked Seahawks (1-1).

“We’re still not out of the woods yet, but beating a team like DMA, a top-five team in Division II, a playoff team, it’s big,” Milford coach Shaun Strickland said. “But we know there’s still more work to do, and we’ve got to keep climbing.”

The climb began early on Friday, on the Bucs’ fourth offensive play. Kimmel slipped a quick pass to Brion Murray on the left side, and the speedy senior blazed 78 yards for a touchdown. David Bowman’s two-point run made it 8-0 with 8:14 left in the first quarter.

“My teammates did a great job of blocking, and I just followed the blocks,” Murray said. “I had my lead man, Marcus [Correa] out there. He sealed the block, and that capped off the touchdown.”

DMA reached the Milford 8 late in the first quarter, but Chris Sampson sacked the Seahawks’ Jacob Hudson for a 7-yard loss and DMA turned it over on downs at the 17.

Then the Seahawks’ Nick Renaud recovered a fumbled punt at the Milford 10, but DMA could get no closer than the 6 in four plays. Two drives later, the Seahawks reached the 5 before failing to convert on fourth-and-1.

“We’ve got guys who can move,” Strickland said. “We’ve got athletes on defense. We’ve got size up front. We’ve got guys who are disciplined, ready to work, and they come out on the field every day and go hard.”

The next score didn’t come until the final two minutes of the third quarter, when the Bucs capped an 11-play, 50-yard drive with a fourth-and-goal touchdown from the 6. Murray made a diving catch on Kimmel’s rainbow just inside the end line, and Kimmel ran for the two-pointer to make it 16-0.

“They told me, ‘Just catch the ball,’” Murray said. “They told me it was coming to me. [The defender] played inside, and I just ran outside of him.”

Then Dominyc Hovington ended another DMA drive with a fourth-and-11 sack, and the Bucs went deep into the playbook.

Kimmel drifted to the left and pretend to align his offensive linemen as Bowman, the tailback, took a direct snap. He sprinted right and pitched it to Correa, who was coming from the left. Then Correa, a receiver who played some quarterback last season, pulled up and found Kimmel all alone down the left sideline.

“We’d been working on that play for a little bit in practice, and we were just trying to catch them off guard,” Correa said. “We knew if we could execute we were going to score a touchdown. It changed the momentum of the whole game.”

Kimmel ran in the final two-pointer for a 24-0 lead, and Milford repelled DMA for a fourth time inside the 20 to preserve the shutout.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Middletown’s quarterback Drew Fry (8) escapes a tackle from William Penn’s Collins Adu-Gyamfi (59).

Middletown’s quarterback Drew Fry (8) with a touchdown throw in their game against William Penn.

Middletown’s Kenneth Edelin (7) catches a ball near the goal line as William Penn’s Isaiah Gaynor (9) defends.

Middletown’s Kedrick Whitehead (3) with a touchdown run to make the score 19-0 in their game against William Penn.

Middletown’s quarterback Drew Fry (8) with a pass attempt in their game against William Penn.

Middletown’s Anthony Delpercio (6) with a catch in their game against William Penn.

William Penn’s Isaiah Gaynor (9) runs with ball in their game against Middletown.

William Penn’s Zachariah Burton (1) is grabbed by Middletown’s Jeffrey Lockwood (13).

William Penn’s Joe Greenwood (3) tries to run with the ball in their game against Middletown.

Middletown’s Ernest Washington (5) with a run in their game against William Penn.

William Penn’s Isaiah Gaynor (9) breaks up a pass to Middletown’s Nicholas Johnston (16).

Middletown’s Spencer Harbert (17) is tackled by William Penn’s Myles Goodson-Tatum (11) after intercepting the football.

William Penn’s quarterback Jahsan Gildersleeve (2) throws the ball before being tackled by Middletown’s Spencer Harbert (17).

William Penn’s Michael Mills (8) is tackled by Middletown’s Spencer Harbert (17).

Middletown’s quarterback Drew Fry (8) hikes the ball in their game against William Penn.

William Penn’s Joe Greenwood (3) is tackled by Middletown’s Christopher Weatherford (79) and Joshua Atkinson (53).

NEW CASTLE – Maybe somebody will score on the Middletown defense next week.

It hasn’t happened in the first two games.

The Cavaliers pitched their second straight shutout, and sophomore Drew Fry passed for 366 yards and two touchdowns as Middletown steamrolled William Penn 25-0 on Saturday at Bill Cole Stadium.

“The defense is just playing fast,” Cavaliers coach Mark DelPercio said. “They’re attacking, going to the ball. Zach Blum has done an incredible job coordinating the defense and putting our guys in the right position. I’m thrilled with the way they are playing right now.”

Middletown (2-0, 1-0 Blue Hen Flight A), ranked third in Division I, put up another goose egg after blanking Caesar Rodney 48-0 last week. The Cavaliers snapped sixth-ranked William Penn’s (1-1, 1-1) conference winning streak at 21 games, and became the first team to shut out the Colonials since St. Mark’s won 28-0 on Sept. 6, 2013.

There were four turnovers in the first two minutes. Middletown’s Alexis Green recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff, only to see Fry’s first pass intercepted by William Penn’s Zachariah Burton in the end zone on the next play. Then the teams traded fumble recoveries before the Cavaliers struck for the first score.

The Colonials were inching up to play the short pass when Fry went deep to Kenneth Edelin, who was all alone and strolled in for a 66-yard touchdown.

“We worked on that all week,” Edelin said. “Coach put out a great plan, and we just had to execute. I did my thing right, the offensive line blocked for Drew, and Drew threw a perfect pass.”

Then Kedrick Whitehead’s interception set up Middletown at the Colonials 34. The Cavaliers cashed it in five plays later, with Fry’s 21-yard strike to Anthony DelPercio making it 13-0 with 3:14 left in the first quarter.

“When they overpowered one side, all we had to do was attack the other side,” Fry said. “Sometimes they would try to bait me in on one side and I would just try to outsmart them and keep good eye contact with them.”

Middletown covered 60 yards in 12 plays on its next drive, the big play coming on Fry’s 46-yard bomb to Anthony DelPercio. Whitehead ran it in from the 3 for a 19-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

Ernest Washington’s 95-yard kickoff return was wiped out by a penalty to start the second half, but the Cavaliers shook it off. Fry hooked up with Edelin for a 32-yard gain midway through the fourth quarter, setting up Whitehead’s 1-yard touchdown plunge with 4:17 remaining.

Fry, who threw for six touchdowns in his starting debut last week, completed 20 of 38 this time. He was intercepted twice, but showed poise under pressure and consistently delivered the big play when Middletown needed it. He threw to six different receivers, with Anthony DelPercio leading the way with seven catches for 169 yards.

“We don’t expect him to come in and play like some young quarterback,” Mark DelPercio said. “We’ve been coaching him up and doing the things in the offseason to prepare him for these moments in these games.”

Joe Greenwood grinded out 81 yards on 19 carries for William Penn, which was limited to just 52 yards of total offense in the second half.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Milford’s Brion Murray (8) speeds past Delaware Military Academy’s Brennan Hazewski (22) for a touchdown last Friday. The Buccaneers vaulted from fifth to second in The News Journal’s Division II rankings following a 24-0 victory over DMA.

FOOTBALL

THE NEWS JOURNAL/DELAWAREONLINE RANKINGS

DIVISION I

1. Smyrna (2-0) Prev. 1

2. Middletown (2-0) 3

3. Salesianum (2-0) 2

4. Concord (2-0) 4

5. Sussex Central (1-1) 5

6. William Penn (1-1) 6

7. Sussex Tech (2-0) 7

8. Appoquinimink (1-1) 8

9. Newark (1-1) NR

10. Cape Henlopen (1-1) 9

DIVISION II

1. Woodbridge (2-0) 1

2. Milford (2-0) 5

3. Archmere (2-0) 3

4. Wilmington Friends (2-0) 4

5. St. Mark’s (2-0) 7

6. St. Georges (1-1) 10

7. Glasgow (2-0) 6

8. Hodgson (2-0) NR

9. Del. Military Academy (1-1) 2

10. Caravel (0-2) 8

FOX SPORTS 1290/DIFCA COACHES’ POLL

DIVISION I

1. Smyrna (1)

2. Middletown (2)

3. Salesianum (3)

4. Concord (4)

5. Sussex Tech (6)

6. William Penn (5)

7. Sussex Central (7)

8. Appoquinimink (8)

9. Newark (NR)

10. Cape Henlopen (9)

DIVISION II

1. Woodbridge (2)

2. St. Georges (3)

3. Glasgow (2)

4. Hodgson (4)

5. St. Mark’s (NR)

6. Laurel (NR)

7. Milford (NR)

8. Wilmington Friends (8)

9. Archmere (9)

10. St. Elizabeth (5)

VOLLEYBALL

1. Del. Military Academy (0-1) 1

2. Ursuline (1-0) 2

3. Padua (3-0) 3

4. Archmere (3-0) 4

5. St. Mark’s (2-0) NR

BOYS SOCCER

DIVISION I

1. Salesianum (3-1) 1

2. Charter of Wilmington (3-0) 2

3. Cape Henlopen (2-1-1) 3

4. Appoquinimink (3-0) 4

5. Sussex Central (2-0) NR

DIVISION II

1. Indian River (2-0) 1

2. St. Mark’s (1-0) 2

3. Del. Military Academy (2-0-1) 5

4. Newark Charter (3-0) NR

5. Archmere (2-1) 3

FIELD HOCKEY

1. Cape Henlopen (2-0) 1

2. Delmar (3-0) 2

3. Polytech (3-0) 3

4. Tower Hill (3-0) NR

5. Padua (1-0) 4

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY*

DIVISION I

1. Salesianum 1

2. Charter of Wilmington 2

3. Sussex Tech 3

4. Caesar Rodney 4

5. Dover NR

DIVISION II

1. Tatnall 1

2. Newark Charter 2

3. St. Andrew’s 4

4. Del. Military Academy 3

5. St. Mark’s NR

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY*

DIVISION I

1. Padua 1

2. Charter of Wilmington 2

3. Smyrna 3

4. Caesar Rodney 4

5. Concord NR

DIVISION II

1. Tatnall 1

2. Newark Charter 3

3. St. Andrew’s 2

4. St. Mark’s 5

5. Milford NR

* – rankings supplied by N5CTA

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: BradMyersTNJ

Milford QB William Kimmel (10) hands off to David Bowman last Friday against Delaware Military Academy. The Buccaneers won 24-0 to move up to No. 2 in The News Journal’s Division II football rankings.

The Salesianum soccer team won one, lost one and gained a lot of knowledge on its two-day trip to Colorado over the weekend.

The Sals, ranked fourth nationally in the latest USA Today/National Soccer Coaches Association of America ratings, handled fifth-ranked Fairview High 3-1 on Friday. Jason Blackwell, Gavin Ford and Casey Kurlej each scored in the first 23 minutes.

But just 18 hours later, Sallies fell 5-3 at Boulder High on Saturday. It was the first time the six-time defending Delaware state champs had allowed five goals since losing 5-2 to Charter of Wilmington on Oct. 28, 2010.

“Boulder is a much bigger, stronger, faster, direct team, which typically gives us some more problems style-wise,” Sals coach Scott Mosier said. “The hope was our style would give them some problems.”

It was 2-2 at the half, as Bryce Wallace and Blackwell found the net for the Sals early. But Boulder – ranked second in Colorado behind Fairview – poured in three straight in the second half before John Leonard could answer in the 74th minute.

“We were playing well the first 10, 15 minutes of the second half,” Mosier said. “We had the ball a lot, and then we gave up a goal kind of against the run of play, and that hurt. It was difficult for us to get the energy back.”

The Sals returned home Sunday, after touring the Colorado School of Mines and watching the University of Denver soccer team play North Florida on Saturday.

“High school is about learning and having opportunities to learn,” Mosier said. “I think going out to Colorado was a great experience for our guys. How to travel, how to pack, how to shop, how to eat, how to sleep, all of that stuff when they’re away from home, sometimes it’s a challenge for guys that age.”

The Sals, ranked first in Delaware’s Division I, return home to a major challenge against No. 2 Charter of Wilmington at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Hockessin Soccer Club.

On everybody’s radar

The Milford football team was flying high after a 24-0 home victory over Delaware Military Academy last Friday. But coach Shaun Strickland knows the hardest work is just beginning.

The Buccaneers went 1-9 in 2014, then jumped to 6-4 last year in Strickland’s first season at the helm. Friday’s win over the then No. 2-ranked Seahawks vaulted Milford (2-0) from fifth to second in the latest News Journal Division II rankings released Monday.

“We know there’s still more work to do,” Strickland said. “We’ve got to keep climbing, keep scratching and clawing, because there are more people who are going to step in our way and try to knock us off and take us out of contention.”

Conrad, also off to a 2-0 start, would love to take down the Buccaneers in Milford at 7:30 p.m. Friday. So would each of the Bucs’ six Henlopen South opponents who follow. Because Milford is no longer under the radar.

“I like coming in as the underdog. I really do,” Strickland said. “We’re hungry. We like coming out and playing our best and trying to catch people who really doubt us.

“But I don’t think that’s going to happen. I’m pretty sure we’re going to get everyone’s A-game going forward. No one is going to sleep on Milford for the next few weeks.”

Rounding it up

— The Delaware Wrestling Hall of Fame will hold its 11th annual induction ceremony and banquet at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 8 at Timothy’s on the Riverfront in Wilmington. Inductees are Edward Janvier, a 30-year wrestling official and former state champion; Buddy Lloyd, who coached Smyrna to five straight Henlopen South titles from 1978-83; Henry Milligan, two-time state champion at A.I. du Pont and noted heavyweight boxer; and Roy Rigby, three-time state coach of the year at Milford. Cost is $45, which includes an open bar. Reservations are required, and must be received by Oct. 3. To reserve a ticket, call Donna Silvestri at (610) 496-7524 or (610) 358-5979 or email fungusamongus1@aol.com.

— Glasgow will be honoring its 1989 state championship football team during the Dragons’ Oct. 7 home game against Brandywine at 7 p.m. Former players may email athletic director Jeremy Jeanne at jeannej@christiana.k12.de.us for details.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

17 year-old Madelyn Judge, a senior, a volleyball for Padua Academy.

17 year-old Madelyn Judge, a senior, a volleyball for Padua Academy.

17 year-old Madelyn Judge, a senior, a volleyball for Padua Academy.

THE WEEK: Had 17 digs, four assists and one ace as the third-ranked Pandas swept then-No. 5 Wilmington Friends 3-0 last Thursday. Also had 13 digs as Padua dominated Concord 3-0 last Monday.

THE THRILL: “My favorite thing is the thrill of it,” Judge said. “I love just being on the court and digging impossible balls that I don’t think I could get if I watch it on the tape. I just like the excitement.”

THE COACH SAYS: “She just brings knowledge and sort of just a really good court awareness, where everybody just trusts her and they’re able to do their job because they know she’s going to do hers well,” Padua coach Lauren DiSabatino said of Judge.

THE DEFENSE: As the libero, Judge’s primary role is to dig the ball and save points when hitters on the other side go for the kill. “She’s our best defensive player,” DiSabatino said. “We want her to touch the majority of the balls that come across the net. We try to work our defense in putting her in the best place possible to get touches.”

THE PAIN: Libero isn’t the most glamorous position, and Judge has the bruises on her elbows and knees to prove it. “I’ve kind of gotten used to it,” she said. “But the next day, it usually comes out to be pretty sore.”

THE CONTROL: “She probably hits the floor more than she stands up,” DiSabatino said. “But she has this overall sense of body awareness, and she has body mechanics that put her, even when she’s diving on the ground, in the right position to make that ball bounce off her arm and get right to where it needs to be.”

Senior libero Madelyn Judge anchors the defense for the third-ranked Padua volleyball team.

THE CLASSROOM: Judge’s favorite subject is chemistry. “I like doing the labs and experimenting and kind of having the opportunity to mix up different things and see how they work,” she said.

THE FUTURE: Judge considered Elon and UNC-Wilmington, but recently verbally committed to play volleyball at the University of Delaware next season. “I’m really excited to be involved in a D-I arena,” she said. “I really just love everything about it, and I’m really excited to experience what it is to be a Blue Hen.”

Send Athlete of the Week nominations to Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Lou Bender, Delaware’s winningest boys basketball coach, died Sept. 14 at the age of 78. Bender coached for more than 35 years before retiring in 2006. He was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Delaware Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

Lou Bender, who guided five high schools to a state-record 509 boys basketball wins and built one of the most remarkable coaching trees in Delaware history, died Sept. 14 in Berlin, Md.

Bender, 78, coached for more than 35 years before retiring in 2006. He was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Delaware Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

He also mentored many players who went on to become coaches, and was so personable that even referees enjoyed his company.

“He was just the greatest guy in the world,” said Jim Mahoney, who is entering his 27th year as a Delaware high school basketball official. “Never disrespectful to anybody. I never heard one referee in all of my time that he was coaching say a bad word about him. Everyone respected him.”

Bender graduated from Chichester (Pa.) High, then went on to earn a master’s degree at West Chester State before getting started in coaching at Richardson Park Junior High in 1964.

He was head coach at Salesianum from 1968-70. One of his players there — Mike Gallagher — came back to coach the Sals for 23 seasons.

“He spent a great deal of time preparing us for what was going to happen most times in a game, rebounding, playing defense,” Gallagher said. “He got to know every player that he had. He knew them personally, he knew their families, he knew what made them tick.

“He spent a lot of time trying to understand high school-age kids. Part of my development as a coach was because of the way he treated his players. He treated everyone with respect, and he demanded excellence from everyone.”

Bender coached at Delcastle for 17 years, then went to Wilmington College from 1987-89. Then he turned around the A.I. du Pont basketball program in a three-year stint, molding another future coach in the process.

“One of the reasons I got into coaching was because of the experience I had playing for him,” Ed Sobocinski said. “When I was at A.I. as a junior, we were a terrible basketball team. I think we were 5-15. The year he came, my senior year, we turned it around and went 15-5 and almost won Flight A. That experience really changed my life.”

Sobocinski became part of his Bender’s staff as he coached for two years at Caravel, then moved on to Hodgson for seven seasons. When Bender retired, Sobocinski became the Silver Eagles’ coach for the next 10 seasons.

“He really was the one who built Hodgson for the success we had,” Sobocinski said. “I was able to just take it over.”

Bender retired with a 509-211 record, a .707 winning percentage. His success came from an organized approach that many of his coaching disciples still follow.

“He always had a plan,” Sobocinski said. “He told us, ‘This is what we’re going to do, and this is how we’re going to do it.’ You could be held accountable for what you were supposed to be doing, because you weren’t following the plan. If there is no plan, you don’t even know what you’re doing wrong.”

Bender’s teams went 6-1 in Blue Hen Conference championship games, and he was named Eastern Regional Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association in 1990. Perhaps the only thing to elude him was a state title, as he lost in the championship game with Delcastle in 1982 and Hodgson in 2002.

Sanford coach Stan Waterman, who guided the Warriors to that 2002 title, admired Bender’s ability to adapt his coaching style over the long haul.

“I always had the utmost respect for him as a coach, and as a person,” Waterman said. “He’s certainly one of the best to ever do it in the state of Delaware.”

He even dispensed valuable advice to officials. Mahoney played against Bender’s Salesianum teams at Corpus Christi High School and worked for him as a scout at Delcastle and A.I. When he decided to become an official, Bender knew what to say.

“One of the things he said to me when I first started was, ‘If you can’t explain it, don’t call it,’” Mahoney said. “And I thought, ‘You know what, that really makes a lot of sense.’

“He said, ‘Most of the time when you make a call, a coach is just going to ask for an explanation. So you better be able to explain it to him.’”

In addition to Gallagher and Sobocinski, others who played for Bender and went into coaching included Angelo Rossi (Salesianum), Joe Thompson (Sanford and St. Mark’s), Randy Nowell (Glasgow and Delcastle), Jim Hagen (Delcastle) and Craig Browning (Hodgson).

“I felt honored to coach against him as well as play for him,” Gallagher said. “He had a long tenure at a lot of schools. And regardless of where he was, he built up players. He always had good things to say about them, and he stood up for his players.”

No information on a memorial service has been made available.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Cameron Whittle of Newark Charter takes in a pass as the McKean and Newark Charter unified flag football teams play at McKean High School Tuesday.

MILLTOWN – Da’Quan Scott kept his eyes on the deflected pass, made the catch and took two steps into the end zone.

Then he sent the ball spinning and unleashed the Dab, the dance move made famous by Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.

“He’s been working on it,” McKean coach Jaxon Brown said. “Him and a couple of friends have been working on their end zone celebrations.”

McKean’s Da’Quan Scott defends as Newark Charter’s Hannah Tressler looks for running room in McKean’s 24-14 win in the Unified flag football opener at McKean High School Tuesday.

There was plenty to celebrate Tuesday at McKean’s Randy White Stadium, as the second season of Unified flag football kicked off across the state. The program, a partnership between the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association and Special Olympics Delaware, brings together high school students with and without disabilities to compete and spark friendships.

Last year, three Delaware high schools fielded teams to play two games and two schools played one game. Now the program has expanded to eight teams, with each playing a four-game regular season before going into the playoffs as part of the SODE Fall Festival on Nov. 12 at St. Andrew’s School. The winners there will play for the first Unified flag football state championship on Dec. 3 at Delaware Stadium, between the DIAA Division I and II football championship games.

“We strive for Unified sports to be recognized as any other varsity sport,” said Kylie Frazer, director of youth and school initiatives for Special Olympics Delaware. “So we want it to be played very similar, with playoffs and a championship. It’s a lesson for any student-athlete, that there are winners and losers in every game. But we hope that they can learn from each game.”

Scott caught two touchdown passes as McKean defeated Newark Charter 26-14 in one of three season openers Tuesday. Mount Pleasant hosted Middletown and William Penn traveled to Smyrna in the other games. Caesar Rodney will play at Seaford next Tuesday in the final opener.

There was a bit of history made at McKean, as it was the first football game in the history of Newark Charter. The school fields teams in 18 DIAA sports, but doesn’t compete in football.

“We made some ventures into Unified sports last year with track and field,” Newark Charter athletic director Greg Shivery said. “We’ve done it the last two years, and we certainly want to get more involved in it this year. I think we’re looking to get involved in about half a dozen sports.”

McKean’s Otis Ledbetter tries to avoid a tackle by Newark Charter’s Donovan Schwartz in an opening game of the Unified flag football season at McKean High School Tuesday.

Donovan Schwartz, Eric Anderson and Hannah Tressler led the way for the Patriots, playing every snap in the 40-minute game. The school is planning its first homecoming around its first home game, Oct. 4 vs. William Penn.

“It is kind of exciting that we do have football at Newark Charter, but the reality is it’s really more about Donovan and Eric and Hannah and the kids on the other team,” Shivery said. “I worked in special education for 16 years. These kids get it. They understand what the true meaning of this is all about.”

McKean rolled out the red carpet for its opener, with principal Brian Mattix announcing the lineups and big plays and the Highlanders’ cheerleaders adding to the festive atmosphere. The home team didn’t disappoint, as Otis Ledbetter zigzagged the length of the field for a score, Chris Ruiz hauled in a touchdown pass and Markell Taylor-White made a key interception in the win.

“We have a lot of guys who are dedicated,” said Brown, the Highlanders’ coach. “Our partners and our athletes are both committed. They like coming out and playing the game.”

Cameron Whittle and Kyle Mullen scored late touchdowns for Newark Charter, which benefitted from an experienced coach. Chris Muscara served as an assistant under John Wilson at St. Mark’s for 12 years.

“It’s awesome. I’ve been out of coaching football for a couple of years now, so the minute we had this opportunity, we jumped on it,” Muscara said. “… Once I got back out there and started game planning and scheming, it was a familiar feeling.”

There are 43 Delaware high schools fielding DIAA-sanctioned football teams this year, so Unified flag football has plenty of room to expand.

“I think it’s just going to continue to grow every year from here on out,” Frazer said. “With four games on the schedule, then playoffs and a championship, I think a lot of the schools that aren’t participating are going to see what’s going on and want to jump in.”

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Ed Sobocinski, shown here during a game in 2013, is returning as Hodgson’s boys basketball coach after a two-year hiatus.

Ed Sobocinski missed everyone calling him “coach” throughout school at Hodgson Vo-Tech.

So after a two-year hiatus, the 44-year-old is returning as the Silver Eagles’ boys basketball coach.

Sobocinski, a Social Studies teacher at Hodgson for the past 15 years, stepped away from coaching to spend more time with his young family. He and his wife, Lauren, have a 7-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter, and Sobocinski said they made some adjustments to allow him to return.

“I really missed the challenge of getting kids to buy into something bigger than themselves,” Sobocinski said Monday. “That is something I love. Teaching a culture of family.”

Hodgson was a perennial state title contender during Sobocinski’s first coaching stint from 2005-14, winning at least one DIAA tournament game every year and reaching the state semifinals four times.

The Silver Eagles struggled without him, going 9-12 and losing in the first round of the state tournament two years ago, then forfeiting their first five games due to an ineligible player on the way to a 5-15 finish last season. Sobocinski built a strong network of fans and former players who supported his teams, and he hopes to rekindle that.

“There’s a history of Hodgson players that all contact each other,” he said. “So a kid who played 10 years ago still communicates with a kid who played five years ago. It’s an incredible family. I don’t know if every high school is like that, but I’m kind of in the middle of all of those kids. It’s a strong group of alumni for our players.”

He also looks forward to reuniting with longtime assistant coach Craig Browning.

“We’re tight like brothers, and now we get to spend four months together every day, talking basketball and trying to build our family again,” Sobocinski said.

Stan Waterman Court

The next time the Sanford boys basketball team takes the floor at the Sanford Sports Center, they will be playing on a court named in honor of their head coach.

Stan Waterman Court will be christened at 4 p.m. Saturday as part of the school’s homecoming festivities. A reception will follow in the Geipel Center for Performing Arts.

“That’s really special to me,” Waterman said Tuesday. “When Mark Anderson, our head of school, first approached me with the idea last spring, I was stunned. I said, ‘This is an honor or recognition that is usually reserved for a legend that has passed on or retired, and I’m not ready to do either one yet.’ It was shocking, but certainly appreciated.”

Waterman, a former Howard High and University of Delaware point guard, has spent 25 years coaching the Warriors, racking up a 486-124 record, six state championships and 23 Independent Conference titles.

In addition, the school has established the Stan Waterman Endowed Fund for Excellence in Coaching, which will be used annually to recognize an exceptional Sanford coach with a monetary award. To support the fund, contact Assistant Director of Development Amy Shirley at (302) 235-6510 or shirleya@sanfordschool.org.

Rounding it up

— The Delaware State University men’s basketball team will hold a free clinic to teach fundamentals from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at PAL of Wilmington, 3707 N. Market St. Boys and girls players and teams from grades 4-12 are invited. For more information, call Mark Sills at (302) 389-8558 or email marksills3603@comcast.net.

— This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first Middletown-Salesianum football game. To celebrate the rivalry, members of the 1966 Middletown team will be recognized on the field at Cavaliers Stadium before kickoff of this year’s game at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7. Former players will meet in front of the stadium for a pregame reunion at 5:30. For more information, contact Jim Reynolds at (302) 293-9709.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.

Middletown quarterback Drew Fry (8) takes a snap during last week’s 25-0 win over William Penn. Both Brad Myers and Matt Kalin are forecasting another Cavaliers victory this week against Charter of Wilmington.

Predictions by News Journal high school sports reporter Brad Myers and Mount Pleasant student/analytics guru Matt Kalin.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

St. Andrew’s at Seaford, 5. MYERS PICK: St. Andrew’s 14-12. KALIN PICK: St. Andrew’s 24-21.

William Penn at A.I. du Pont, 7. MYERS PICK: William Penn 41-28. KALIN PICK: William Penn 31-24.

Newark at Appoquinimink, 7. MYERS PICK: Appoquinimink 27-22. KALIN PICK: Appoquinimink 31-27.

Glen Mills (Pa.) at Caesar Rodney, 7. MYERS PICK: Glen Mills 21-20. KALIN PICK: Glen Mills 28-17.

Delmar at Caravel, 7. MYERS PICK: Caravel 23-20. KALIN PICK: Caravel 27-14.

Lake Forest at Dover, 7. MYERS PICK: Dover 27-21. KALIN PICK: Dover 30-24.

Hodgson at Glasgow, 7. MYERS PICK: Hodgson 26-22. KALIN PICK: Glasgow 25-24.

Cape Henlopen at Indian River, 7. MYERS PICK: Cape Henlopen 31-20. KALIN PICK: Cape Henlopen 28-17.

Salesianum at Smyrna, 7. MYERS PICK: Smyrna 44-35. KALIN PICK: Smyrna 38-31.

Conrad vs. St. Elizabeth at Baynard Stadium, 7. MYERS PICK: St. Elizabeth 34-29. KALIN PICK: Conrad 25-24.

Queen Anne’s County (Md.) at Sussex Central, 7. MYERS PICK: Queen Anne’s 29-26. KALIN PICK: Sussex Central 24-21.

Delaware Military Academy at Tower Hill, 7. MYERS PICK: DMA 27-22. KALIN PICK: Tower Hill 17-10.

Wilmington Friends at Woodbridge, 7. MYERS PICK: Woodbridge 27-25. KALIN PICK: Woodbridge 21-20.

Sussex Tech at Laurel, 7:30. MYERS PICK: Sussex Tech 42-27. KALIN PICK: Sussex Tech 30-20.

Charter of Wilmington at Middletown, 7:30. MYERS PICK: Middletown 49-6. KALIN PICK: Middletown 31-7.

Delcastle at Polytech, 7:30. MYERS PICK: Delcastle 20-16. KALIN PICK: Delcastle 31-28.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

St. Mark’s at Brandywine, 10:30 a.m. MYERS PICK: St. Mark’s 34-13. KALIN PICK: St. Mark’s 24-7.

Concord at Mount Pleasant, 10:30 a.m. MYERS PICK: Concord 41-14. KALIN PICK: Concord 30-28.

Dickinson at St. Georges, 10:30 a.m. MYERS PICK: St. Georges 41-6. KALIN PICK: St. Georges 35-0.

Red Lion Christian at Christiana, 11 a.m. MYERS PICK: Christiana 22-14. KALIN PICK: Red Lion Christian 28-27.

Archmere at Tatnall, noon. MYERS PICK: Archmere 44-41. KALIN PICK: Archmere 35-28.

McKean vs. Howard at Baynard Stadium, 7. MYERS PICK: Howard 26-14. KALIN PICK: Howard 30-7.

MYERS LAST WEEK: 19-7. OVERALL: 41-9 (.820)

KALIN LAST WEEK: 20-6. OVERALL: 41-9 (.820)

Listen to Brad Myers on the Henlopen High School Football Fix with Mike Bradley at 8:20 a.m. on WGMD-FM (92.7) or www.wgmd.com. Contact Brad at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

Salesianum’s John Leonard (No. 24) tries to work past Wilmington Charter’s Anthony Barbieri (No. 6) in the first half of Salesianum’s 1-0 win over Wilmington Charter at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Thursday afternoon.

Salesianum’s Gavin Ford (No. 10) cuts behind Wilmington Charter’s Graeme Newcombe (No. 13) as he positions himself for a shot on goal in the first half of Salesianum’s 1-0 win over Wilmington Charter at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Thursday afternoon. Ford scored the only goal of the game on the play.

Salesianum’s Gavin Ford (No. 10) cuts behind Wilmington Charter’s Owen Johansson as he positions himself for a shot on goal in the first half of Salesianum’s 1-0 win over Wilmington Charter at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Thursday afternoon.

Salesianum’s John Leonard (No. 24) traps the ball in front of Wilmington Charter’s Rhys Newcombe (No. 23) in the first half of Salesianum’s 1-0 win over Wilmington Charter at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Thursday afternoon.

Salesianum’s James Strine (No. 9) cuts past Wilmington Charter’s Patrick O’Connor (No. 10) in the first half of Salesianum’s 1-0 win over Wilmington Charter at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Thursday afternoon.

Salesianum’s Gavin Ford (No. 10) traps a cross in front of Wilmington Charter’s Graeme Newcombe (No. 13) in the first half of Salesianum’s 1-0 win over Wilmington Charter at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Thursday afternoon.

Salesianum’s Aidan Kelly (No. 23) fights for position on the ball with Wilmington Charter’s Kevin Erikson in the first half of Salesianum’s 1-0 win over Wilmington Charter at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Thursday afternoon.

Salesianum’s Bryan Hartmann (No. 17) goes up for a header against Wilmington Charter’s Patrick O’Connor (No. 10) in the first half of Salesianum’s 1-0 win over Wilmington Charter at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Thursday afternoon.

Salesianum’s Taylor Witherell (No. 7) goes up for a header against Wilmington Charter’s Andrew Amato (No. 16) in the first half of Salesianum’s 1-0 win over Wilmington Charter at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Thursday afternoon.

Salesianum’s James Strine (No. 9) fights for position on the ball with Wilmington Charter’s Andrew Amato (No. 16) in the first half of Salesianum’s 1-0 win over Wilmington Charter at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Thursday afternoon.

HOCKESSIN – The Charter of Wilmington defense was building a brick wall. It was up to the Salesianum soccer team to break through it.

The Sals finally did it on Gavin Ford’s goal in the 37th minute, then added an own goal in the second half for a 2-0 victory Thursday in a matchup of the state’s top two Division I teams at Hockessin Soccer Club.

“It was a difference maker,” Sallies coach Scott Mosier said of Ford’s score. “Because if it’s 0-0 and it keeps on and keeps on and they keep sitting in and defending properly, like they should, as time wears on you get a little more nervous about scoring that goal.”

The top-ranked Sals, coming off a taxing weekend trip to Colorado, improved to 4-1. The No. 2 Force (4-1) had won their first four games by a combined 21-0, allowing just 12 total shots in the process. They faced 13 from the Sals.

“It’s tough to have this be our first real tough game, to kind of be thrown out there,” Charter coach Jon Gillespie said. “But the guys handled it fine. Next time we meet them down the road, we’ll be ready.”

Sallies struggled to generate much offense until Brendan Hanrahan made a nice run on the right side to set up Casey Kurlej’s drive over the crossbar in the 22nd minute. The Sals finally found the net on a counter late in the first half.

Salesianum transitioned quickly after a Charter attack, with midfielder Jason Blackwell sending a perfectly placed ball through to Ford. The junior forward made a sharp move and sent a 15-yard laser between two defenders just inside the near post for a 1-0 lead.

“I just got a great ball from Jason, took on the first defender, saw an opening and just fired it through,” Ford said.

The Sals created more opportunities in the second half. Blackwell missed wide on a good chance in the 48th minute, and three minutes later Ford dished to James Strine for a strong shot that glanced off a Force defender and into the net for a 2-0 lead.

“It’s actually very similar to basketball,” Mosier said. “They can play zone all they want, but once you get up a couple of goals, sooner or later they have to come out of their zone. They stayed in their zone, they didn’t come out, but it’s a testament to our guys getting a couple of goals with them packed in there.”

Charter goalkeeper Ben McQuillin kept his team close, making a brilliant leaping save on Blackwell’s straight-on blast in the 63rd minute and sprawling to deflect a low shot by Kurlej three minutes later.

The Force’s best scoring chances came late, as Christian Dexter sent a 20-yard drive well over the crossbar in the 74th minute and Kevin Eriksen missed high on a hurried shot off a brief breakaway in the 76th minute.

“I think we can take a lot of positives out of it,” Gillespie said. “We defended well. I think offensively we need to work on a few things, but Sallies is a great team. They played real well today, and hats off to them.”

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ.