GENTRY MEINECKE, senior, Brandywine field hockey

THE WEEK: Scored three goals and dished out an assist as the Bulldogs (8-5-1) pulled away from a 1-0 halftime lead to down Delcastle 6-1.

THE STRENGTH: “The best part of my game is when I’m dribbling up the field and I’m able to dodge a girl and send it across or take a shot on goal,” Meinecke said.

THE VERSATILITY: “She’s been a very intricate part of our team, in that she has played every position on the field except for goalie,” Brandywine assistant coach David Berlin said.

THE EXPERIENCE: Meinecke has only been playing field hockey for four years, but has improved every season. “I got some varsity time my freshman year, and just being able to play against tough opponents for all four years has really helped me grow,” she said.

Gentry Meinecke is enjoying a solid field hockey season, and is currently ranked No. 1 in Brandywine’s senior class.

THE IMPROVEMENT: Meinecke has worked hard to develop a scoring touch. “I think I have improved on my shots,” she said. “I’ve gotten really good at reverse lifts.”

THE DESIRE: “She’s a strong leader, but I also think she works hard,” Berlin said of Meinecke. “She doesn’t give up. She plays to the best of her ability, and she wants to improve. She’s never satisfied.”

THE FRIENDSHIPS: Meinecke said her senior season has been bittersweet, as she realizes this is her last opportunity to enjoy competing alongside her teammates. “We’re a small group, so we’re all close,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun to be friends with pretty much everyone. I’m friends with freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors.”

THE CLASSROOM: Meinecke’s favorite subject is AP Biology, taught by David Eroh. “I just like the concepts, and I feel like I have a really good teacher,” she said. “It challenges me, and that’s what I like most about it.”

THE FUTURE: Meinecke is ranked No. 1 in the senior class at Brandywine. She plans to study Biomedical Engineering in college, and has narrowed her choices to Ole Miss, Alabama, Texas A&M, Wake Forest or Rice.

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

Tower Hill’s A.J. Falco, shown here against Tatnall on Sept. 30, accounted for seven touchdowns and six two-point conversions in the Hillers’ 54-50 victory over Conrad last Friday.

When asked to describe his offense, Tower Hill football coach Kevin Waesco said, “Whoever has the hot hand, we’ll go with it.”

A.J. Falco was on fire Friday night, so the Hillers kept going with him. The senior produced some eye-popping statistics as Tower Hill outscored Conrad 54-50 in a key nonconference game at DeGroat Field.

Falco rushed 45 times for 231 yards and six touchdowns. He also completed 9 of 10 passes for 206 yards and another score, and ran in six two-point conversions. So Falco had a hand in every one of Tower Hill’s points.

“It’s his versatility, being a threat to throw the ball or carry the ball,” Waesco said. “He’s athletic, he understands the system, and he’s able to make the calls we’re trying to make. He has continued to hone his skills and develop, build his confidence with the system.

“He just had a breakout game on Friday night.”

The Hillers led 30-14 at halftime, as Falco scored on three 2-yard runs and a 7-yard burst. Conrad pulled within 30-28 in the third quarter before Falco threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Nitsche. Conrad kept scoring, but so did Falco, adding TD runs of 5 and 4 yards.

“Football is a team game, and A.J. can’t do the things that he did Friday night without all other 10 guys on the field acting in concert,” Waesco said. “They were executing their assignments, making blocks, making a hole, picking up guys in pass protection, running their routes correctly.”

The Hillers (6-2) have a week off before taking on archrival Wilmington Friends on Nov. 12. A victory would strengthen Tower Hill’s chances of making its fourth consecutive DIAA Division II playoff appearance.

“We’re looking forward to the opportunity to compete one more time,” Waesco said. “And if everything else works out for us, then great. But we’ve really just been taking it one week at a time.”

CR soccer rolling

With only four seniors returning, perennial boys soccer contender Caesar Rodney got off to the worst start imaginable – 0-3.

“It just took a while to figure out what the best lineup was and get everybody in the right places,” Riders coach Darrell Gravatt said. “We made some learning mistakes. There’s a learning curve when you get a lot of new starters on the pitch.”

CR learned quickly. The Riders haven’t lost since, ripping off 11 straight victories. The most impressive one came last Thursday, when CR edged then No. 2-ranked Appoquinimink 3-2.

“If there’s any blame, it’s my fault,” Gravatt said. “It took me a while to get everything organized. The guys are doing a great job. They have been working hard from day one, and they get better every single game.”

The Riders benefit from senior leadership on both ends, as Ricky Hernandez is the team’s leading scorer and Markland Bailey keeps the defense settled as a center back. Junior co-captains David Haynes, Thomas McPoyle and Steven Ferrandino are also playing well, along with junior goalkeeper Nate Reid.

“It’s all coming together for us. And the good news is, most of these guys are coming back next year,” Gravatt said. “We only have two seniors starting, so we’ll have a lot of returners, and the transition will be much easier than it was this year.”

The Riders finish the regular season on Wednesday against St. Andrew’s, which is ranked second statewide in Division II. Then CR may be a lower seed but looms as a major threat when the DIAA Division I tournament begins Nov. 12.

Volatile volleyball

Tower Hill will be the No. 1 seed when the DIAA Volleyball Tournament begins Thursday, but there is no clear-cut favorite.

The Hillers’ (14-1) only setback was a 3-0 loss at Wilmington Friends on Sept. 30, and Tower Hill could see the eighth-seeded Quakers again in the quarterfinals.

Second-seeded Archmere (13-2) lost to Tower Hill in five sets on Saturday, and also fell to Friends on Oct. 18. But the Auks own wins over the next four seeds – No. 3 Padua, No. 4 Delaware Military Academy, No. 5 St. Mark’s and No. 6 Ursuline.

The only losses for Padua (13-2) came against Tower Hill (in five sets) and Archmere. The Pandas have defeated DMA, St. Mark’s (twice) and Ursuline (twice).

DMA stormed to the title with a 20-0 record last year, but the Seahawks were 4-4 halfway through this season. They have won eight straight since, including victories over Ursuline and 12th-seeded Charter of Wilmington.

Rounding it up

— The Henlopen Conference volleyball championship will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Milford, with Northern Division winner Smyrna taking on Southern champ Delmar. Tickets are $5.

The Henlopen boys soccer title game will be played at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at Milford, with Northern Division winner Sussex Central meeting Southern titleist Indian River. Tickets will be $5.

The Henlopen boys and girls cross country championships will be held Saturday at Killens Pond State Park in Felton. Starting times have yet to be announced.

— Middletown is seeking head junior varsity/assistant varsity coaches for girls lacrosse and boys lacrosse, and a junior varsity softball coach. Email resumes and letters of interest to athletic director Colleen Kelley at colleen.kelley@appo.k12.de.us.

— Rachel Grimes is the new girls basketball coach at Wilmington Christian. The A.I. du Pont graduate played at East Stroudsburg before completing her degree at the University of Delaware. She has served as an assistant coach at DMA and Wilmington Friends.

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

Salesianum’s Jason Blackwell (left) celebrates after scoring on a penalty kick in the overtime period of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.

HOCKESSIN – There was very little difference between the top boys soccer team in Division I and the top team in Division II on Tuesday.

Jason Blackwell scored on a penalty kick two minutes into overtime to give Salesianum a come-from-behind, 3-2 victory over Indian River at Hockessin Soccer Club. The intense game kept both teams under pressure in their regular-season finale, and could prove valuable when postseason play begins next week.

With the Indians playing a man down, the Sals’ Casey Kurlej was taken down inside the penalty area early in the first overtime period. Blackwell carefully lined up the penalty kick and went high to the right as Indian River goalkeeper Kevin Calles Zamora dove the other way.

“As soon as Casey drew the PK, I stepped up. I wanted to put it away,” Blackwell said. “I just picked my spot out and hit it hard, and it went in.”

Sallies (13-1-1), ranked first in Delaware’s Division I and sixth nationally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, has won all three DIAA D-I titles and six straight overall. The Sals trailed 2-1 with 22 minutes to play, but rallied for the victory.

“They just keep working, and they don’t let that goal phase them,” Salesianum coach Scott Mosier said of his team. “We talk about when we give up a goal, how we react. You either get better when you make a mistake, or you get worse. When something bad happens, we try to get better.”

Indian River (12-3) is ranked first in Division II and has won two of the three D-II titles (2013 and ’15) since the state tournament was split into divisions. The Indians also lost 1-0 at D-I title contender Charter of Wilmington last Saturday, but will be battle tested for the playoffs.

“I think we showed really, really well in both games,” IR coach Steve Kilby said. “We focus on our defensive third and transition out of midfield. It paid dividends today, in regards to how long we stayed in the game.”

Salesianum’s Casey Kurlej (No. 22) tries to work past Indian River’s Arturo Mora Salas in the first half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.

The Indians were in it to the end, but needed Calles Zamora to keep them in it early. IR’s keeper made a brilliant, one-handed save on a point-blank chance in the 14th minute, then deflected a 12-yard blast by Gavin Ford off the crossbar and out in the 21st minute.

“Their keeper made some really good saves early,” Mosier said. “I thought that was crucial for them, to get a couple of saves early and keep it at zeros.”

Calles Zamora had no chance in the 30th minute, as a shot by the Sals’ Cole Bouchard deflected off an Indians defender for an own goal. But IR’s Mikie Mochiam leveled the score just one minute later, deftly dribbling through two Sallies defenders to create a beautiful goal.

“Mikie is a really special player,” Kilby said. “He finished the goal, and that was really nice.”

Calles Zamora got a foot on a hard, low shot by Bouchard in the 47th minute. Three minutes later, IR’s Johan de Jesus Corboda was awarded a 19-yard free kick that deflected off the Sals’ five-man wall and in for a 2-1 lead.

“We’ve been behind before, so we’ve dealt with it,” Blackwell said. “We just decided we were going to come back, and we had heart.”

That heart showed in the 58th minute, when a long ball into the penalty area deflected out to Ford. He could have settled it, but nailed it on the fly instead to tie the game at 2.

Indian River’s Mikie Mochiam (No. 8) cuts into the box as Salesianum’s Taylor Witherell (No. 7) tries to hold him back in the second half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.

“The ball just bounced out, and I hit it one time,” Ford said. “It was a great, great strike and it went in.”

Sallies keeper Gavin Campbell had to change directions and make a diving deflection when Corboda’s 28-yard free kick glanced off a three-man wall in the 72nd minute. Then the Indians lost a man due to a red card for a reckless challenge in the 77th minute.

Blackwell ended it early in OT, setting off a satisfying celebration. But the Sals knew they had been taken to the limit.

“They’re a great team. They’re probably the best in D-II team we’ve played all year, easily,” Blackwell said of Indian River. “They’re going to do great in the tournament. I think today was a great warmup game, a playoff-like game, for us.”

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

Indian River’s Jared Cordoba is shown a red card after receiving his second yellow of the game in the second half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.

Salesianum’s Aidan Kelly (No. 23) tries to hold Indian River’s Johan de jesus Cordoba back in the second half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.

Indian River’s Arturo Mora Salas (No. 19) and Salesianum’s Jack Leonard (No. 24) fight for position on the ball in the second half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.

Indian River head coach Steve Kilby is shown a yellow card after arguing a call for one of his players in the second half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.

Salesianum goalkeeper Gavin Campbell (right) rushes out for a save in the second half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.

Salesianum’s Gavin Ford (left) gets a hug from teammate Cole Bouchard (right) as he reacts after scoring a goal in the second half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.

Indian River’s Jared Cordoba (below) collides with Salesianum’s Ethan Lupichuk in the second half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon. Cordoba was shown a yellow card on the play.

Salesianum’s Bryce Wallace (No. 18) traps a cross in the first half of Salesianum’s 3-2 overtime win over Indian River High School at the Hockessin Soccer Club in Hockessin on Tuesday afternoon.

WILMINGTON – Salesianum School has reached a tentative agreement to lease Baynard Stadium from the City of Wilmington and take over its operation, The News Journal has learned.

The agreement, which still must be approved by the Wilmington City Council, would allow the private, all-male Catholic school to raise private funds to completely renovate the 94-year-old facility. Details of the agreement will be discussed at a news conference Wednesday at the stadium.

Baynard Stadium opened in 1922, and received its last major facelift in 1972. The bleachers on the south side of the facility were condemned in May following a structural engineering assessment. They were demolished in July, and a much smaller set of temporary bleachers were installed in time for the start of the fall sports season in September.

But the historic stadium is in need of much more. It is owned by the City of Wilmington, but is part of Brandywine Park and has been managed by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) since 1998. With city and state budgets stretched thin, it was likely going to require a private entity to step forward with a proposal for funding renovations.

Baynard Stadium sits right across West 18th Street from Salesianum, a private high school founded in 1903. Sallies raised $7 million through alumni and private donations to build the Anthony N. Fusco Sr. Athletic Center, a renovation and addition to the school’s existing athletic facilities, which opened in 2012.

Now, Salesianum is prepared to do more across the street.

Eagles were smart not to trade for a wide receiver

“For us, it’s very much about making a commitment to the city,” Salesianum School president Brendan Kennealey told The News Journal. “We’ve been in the city for over 100 years, and our expectation is to be here for another 100. This is a way that we can make a meaningful investment in an important asset in this community.”

Kennealey said the renovation would include a new artificial turf playing surface ringed by a new track, new bleachers on both sides with seating similar to the stadium’s current capacity of 5,000, new locker rooms and restrooms, new lights and scoreboard, plus new and additional space for the DNREC maintenance facilities at Brandywine Park.

“It’s an asset that at the moment is underutilized and is really deteriorating, and we believe we’re in a unique position to be able to support the city and its residents by making an investment here,” Kennealey said.

Kennealey expects the total cost of the renovation to be $15 million to $20 million. He said Salesianum has enough funding in place to start work as soon as permission is granted, but will need to raise more private funds to complete the project.

“Our goal is to get all of that done within five years,” Kennealey said. “It is somewhat subject to construction timelines and fundraising, but that’s the goal we’re working on.”

Kennealey said the lease with the city would have a 50-year term, with a renewable option for an additional 50 years. He expects the lease proposal to be formally introduced at the next City Council meeting on Thursday, then discussed in detail during an Education, Youth and Families committee meeting on Nov. 9. A vote on the lease proposal could come the following week.

If the lease is approved by council, Kennealey said the school would conduct a search for an architectural firm that specializes in sports stadiums to develop a master plan for the site. He said ABHA Architects of Wilmington, which designed Salesianum’s athletics and science centers in recent years, would also be involved.

Baynard Stadium has been the site of some of Delaware’s greatest high school football games, along with hosting numerous track and field meets, soccer and lacrosse games and other events. Salesianum has long played its home football games there, as well as some soccer and lacrosse games.

Howard High School of Technology, Delaware Military Academy and St. Elizabeth also currently play home football games at the stadium. Padua, Howard and Salesianum host track and field meets, along with CYM, YMCA and City of Wilmington groups. The city also uses the stadium for a flag football league, and Ursuline Academy has played soccer games there.

Blackwell boots Sallies soccer past Indian River in OT

Kennealey said all schools and organizations currently using the stadium would be welcome to continue using it during and after renovations, under the same financial arrangements they have now.

“They get a pretty good deal out of this,” Kennealey said. “They get to continue playing with Baynard Stadium as their home field for as long as they like, and they’re just going to have a much better facility going forward as these renovations take place. That’s an integral part of what we’re doing.”

Kennealey said the renovation would be done in phases to minimize the disruption to use of the facility. He said the first priority would be replacing the current Bermuda grass playing field with an artificial turf surface that will allow the stadium to be used for far more events.

“The number of community organizations that have access to Baynard Stadium at the moment is very limited, because the grass is protected,” Kennealey said. “Going forward that will be substantially increased, because we will be in a position to use that turf all the time.”

In addition to high school sports events, Kennealey said the renovated stadium could be opened to private sports events or non-sports events, such as large marching band competitions.

“It will be good, certainly, for Salesianum athletics,” Kennealey said. “But it will also be great, because we’ll be able to provide much greater access to the stadium for city residents and the overall community.

“This could be a real economic development engine for the city,” Kennealey added. “It’s a real win-win for everybody. It’s a win for the organizations that currently use it; they’re going to get a great, new facility. It’s great for Salesianum. And I think it’s great for the city and organizations who don’t have access to the stadium now.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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

Photo of a rendering of the proposed renovations to Baynard Stadium.

Salesianum takes on St. Mark’s in a 2014 football game at Baynard Stadium.

Sussex Tech running back Isaiah Brown, shown here against A.I. du Pont, could be a major weapon for the Ravens against Salesianum on Thursday. Both Brad Myers and Matt Kalin are picking the Sals to win at Baynard Stadium.

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

THURSDAY’S GAME

Sussex Tech vs. Salesianum at Baynard Stadium, 6. MYERS PICK: Salesianum 34-21. KALIN PICK: Salesianum 37-14.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Perkiomen School (Pa.) at St. Andrew’s, 3. MYERS PICK: Perkiomen School 35-6. KALIN PICK: Perkiomen School 30-7.

A.I. du Pont at Appoquinimink, 7. MYERS PICK: Appoquinimink 48-34. KALIN PICK: Appoquinimink 38-27.

Polytech at Caesar Rodney, 7. MYERS PICK: Caesar Rodney 35-20. KALIN PICK: Caesar Rodney 35-20.

Smyrna at Cape Henlopen, 7. MYERS PICK: Smyrna 60-27. KALIN PICK: Smyrna 45-27.

Hodgson at Caravel, 7. MYERS PICK: Caravel 17-8. KALIN PICK: Caravel 27-10.

Glasgow at Dickinson, 7. MYERS PICK: Glasgow 49-6. KALIN PICK: Glasgow 51-0.

Mount Pleasant vs. Howard at Baynard Stadium, 7. MYERS PICK: Mount Pleasant 34-30. KALIN PICK: Howard 27-21.

Lake Forest at Indian River, 7. MYERS PICK: Indian River 22-14. KALIN PICK: Indian River 24-21.

Brandywine at McKean, 7. MYERS PICK: Brandywine 14-8. KALIN PICK: Brandywine 20-13.

Middletown at Newark, 7. MYERS PICK: Middletown 49-14. KALIN PICK: Middletown 41-0.

Red Lion Christian at Seaford, 7. MYERS PICK: Seaford 32-28. KALIN PICK: Red Lion Christian 38-27.

St. Elizabeth at St. Mark’s, 7. MYERS PICK: St. Mark’s 27-22. KALIN PICK: St. Mark’s 30-17.

Dover at Sussex Central, 7. MYERS PICK: Sussex Central 35-8. KALIN PICK: Sussex Central 40-10.

Delmar at Milford, 7:30. MYERS PICK: Milford 20-15. KALIN PICK: Milford 31-20.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

Delcastle at Concord, 10:30 a.m. MYERS PICK: Concord 49-6. KALIN PICK: Concord 55-6.

Christiana at St. Georges, 10:30 a.m. MYERS PICK: St. Georges 49-6. KALIN PICK: St. Georges 54-0.

Tatnall at Conrad, 11 a.m. MYERS PICK: Tatnall 29-27. KALIN PICK: Tatnall 30-24.

Woodbridge at Laurel, 1. MYERS PICK: Woodbridge 40-14. KALIN PICK: Woodbridge 34-7.

Delaware Military Academy at Archmere, 2. MYERS PICK: DMA 17-14. KALIN PICK: DMA 28-17.

Morrisville (Pa.) at Wilmington Friends, 2. MYERS PICK: Friends 35-6. KALIN PICK: Friends 45-0.

Charter of Wilmington at William Penn, 2:30. MYERS PICK: William Penn 42-6. KALIN PICK: William Penn 47-0.

BRAD MYERS LAST WEEK: 18-4. OVERALL: 152-31 (.831)

MATT KALIN LAST WEEK: 18-4. OVERALL: 148-35 (.809)

Listen to Brad Myers on the Henlopen High School Football Fix with Mike Bradley at 7:50 a.m. Friday on WGMD-FM (92.7) or www.wgmd.com. Contact Brad at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

WILMINGTON – Penalty flags slowed the progress of the Salesianum football team on Thursday night.

But ultimately, nothing could stop the Sals.

Salesianum’s Nick Merlino (left) tries to push past Sussex Tech’s Isaiah Brown on a long run that set up the Sals’ first score in the first quarter at Baynard Stadium Thursday.

Sallies rolled up an incredible 467 yards on 44 rushes on the way to a 45-8 steamrolling of Sussex Tech at Baynard Stadium.

The Sals (6-3), ranked fourth statewide in Division I, had three touchdowns negated by penalties. But they kept pushing ahead.

“I was really happy with the way we stepped up,” Sallies coach Bill DiNardo said. “We overcame a lot of stuff. … Even after the mistakes we made, which were numerous, the kids bounced back from every single one of them. I could not be prouder of their heart.”

There were plenty of highlights, none bigger than the career-best performance from running back Nick Merlino. The junior rushed 22 times for 246 yards and two touchdowns.

“Nick Merlino really took a step forward for us tonight,” DiNardo said. “Josh [Patrick] was banged up, so we went with Nick the whole time. We’ve been waiting for Nick for three years to step up and be a force, and he definitely was tonight.”

Merlino ripped off a 34-yard gain on the Sals’ first play from scrimmage, then went for a 34-yard touchdown on the next play. A holding penalty canceled that, so Zach Gwynn threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Michael DiNardo on the next play. A second holding penalty rubbed out that score, so Merlino broke a 25-yard gain, then took it in from the 7.

“It was awesome,” Merlino said. “I promised the line if they gave me a hole, I was going to hit it hard like my coach told me.”

A defensive chop block penalty on the Ravens aided Sallies’ next drive, which stalled despite a first-and-goal from the 6. Cooper Urban booted a 25-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 18 seconds left in the first quarter.

It stayed that way until the third quarter, when the Sals really got the running game going behind the offensive line of John Cohill, Sean Keating, Josh Williams, Dom Marra and Randy Sinnott and tight end Logan Bushweller. Gwynn rolled around right end for a 33-yard keeper, Merlino ripped off 27 on the left side and Michael DiNardo scored on a 10-yard end around.

“Our offensive line did a tremendous job,” Bill DiNardo said. “When they’re good, they’re really good.”

Sussex Tech’s Deshown Sample (left) is hit by Salesianum’s William Stradley at the line in the second quarter at Baynard Stadium Thursday.

A fumble recovery by Jassiem Lynch set up the next Sallies score, an 11-yard pass from Gwynn to tumbling fullback Joe Wesselman for a 24-0 lead with 7:51 left in the third quarter.

“I just went out in the flat, and I was wide open,” Wesselman said. “He made a beautiful pass, and I caught it.”

Merlino capped his big night three minutes later with a 57-yard touchdown burst.

“It was like running through the Red Sea,” he said.

Eight-ranked Sussex Tech (5-4) generated a couple of highlights when Tyzhir Morris unloaded a 70-yard bomb to Noah Jones, then hit Jones again with a fourth-and-goal scoring pass from the 5 early in the fourth quarter.

But the Sals’ reserves were just as effective. Jesse Wheatley carried six straight times on a 51-yard drive that ended with an 8-yard touchdown run. Then Alex Hinton broke free for a 70-yard gain, and scored from the 1 on the next play to trigger the running clock and end the game.

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

Jerry Ambrogi, shown here during a 2013 practice, earned 99 victories as Archmere’s football coach and contributed countless resources to the school.

Longtime Archmere football coach Jerry Ambrogi, a successful businessman who molded young lives and poured countless resources into his alma mater, died Tuesday night after a lengthy battle against cancer. He was 58.

Ambrogi was a three-sport athlete at Archmere, graduating in 1976. He returned in 1983 to coach basketball and track and field and serve as a football assistant. He took over as the Auks’ football coach in 2001 and won 99 games, second on the school’s all-time list to Bill Doyle.

The longtime president of J. Ambrogi Food Distribution Inc. in Thorofare, New Jersey, Ambrogi often used the fruits of his labor in the family business to support Archmere and Delaware high school athletics.

“If you wanted to stick a label on him, he was Mr. Archmere,” said Jim Malseed, the Auks’ athletic trainer for the past 36 years.

Ambrogi paid for the construction of the Auks’ football stadium. But, like most of the things he financed, he never wanted his name attached.

“We joked that the field with the big ‘A’ should have been Ambrogi Field, because he donated it,” said Salesianum football coach Bill DiNardo, one of Ambrogi’s closest friends since they were teens. “But he did not want the credit for it. It became Coaches Field, because he wanted to recognize all the great coaches in Archmere’s past.”

Archmere athletic director David Oswinkle said Ambrogi left a permanent, positive mark on the historic private school, located in Claymont.

“The things that he did for the kids here at the school, and underprivileged kids who came here that weren’t football players, he’s got a big heart,” Oswinkle said. “He gave so much to the school and the community. He gave of himself and his pocketbook, and would do anything to help.”

Howard football coach Dan Ritter was part of Ambrogi’s final game. His Wildcats edged the Auks 38-30 in the 2015 season opener, after which Ambrogi stepped away due to his health. Ritter said Ambrogi applied his successful business approach to coaching, often pushing the Auks past their expectations.

“He was a class act,” Ritter said. “He was an exceptional person, both on the field and off the field. He cared for you, he treated you like a person, and you wanted to play for the man.”

Broad support

Ambrogi supported every facet of Archmere athletics, and the school in general.

“Everything he did revolved around the kids,” Malseed said. “Not just his players, the entire athletic department. He was the coach you saw at the volleyball game, the boys basketball game, the girls basketball game, wrestling. Every season, he got to at least one game for every team here. All the kids knew him.”

He bought uniforms, chartered buses for long trips, paid to feed teams on the road — all without ever seeking recognition.

“He donated something to every program here,” Malseed said. “Be it uniforms or equipment, and it was all done anonymously. If the soccer team needed new nets, who paid for it anonymously? It was always Jerry.”

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That generosity spilled across all of Delaware high school sports, as well. Ambrogi was heavily involved in the annual DFRC Blue-Gold All-Star Football Game, well beyond having been Blue head coach in 2005 for the 50th game and a Blue assistant in 1987, 1992 and 2002.

His company was a major sponsor and supplier of the annual June game at Delaware Stadium, which aids children with cognitive disabilities. In recent years, he had paid for jerseys and various camp expenses exceeding $10,000 annually, said DFRC executive director Tony Glenn.

“He was so generous in his soul and his spirit first,” Glenn said, referring to Ambrogi’s belief in equality and inclusion. “He was concerned about everybody. He just always had empathy, and so much compassion. He is what the whole Blue-Gold experience is about.”

Middletown coach Mark DelPercio, a Delaware Interscholastic Football Coaches Association officer, recalled when DIFCA started its All-State banquet in 2004. The association unexpectedly came up about $2,000 short on its bill from Dover Downs.

“He wrote a check for $5,000,” DelPercio said of Ambrogi. “He said, ‘Put this in the account. This is all about the coaches. We’ll never be short again.’ Those were the kinds of things Jerry did for us, for everybody.”

Business and football

Malseed, the Auks’ trainer, saw Ambrogi go to great lengths to coach his football team while still running his business. Archmere used to have a seven-day preseason football camp, with players sleeping overnight in the gym.

“He would get up at 4:30 in the morning, leave here, go up to the food distribution center in Philly, put his order in for his business, and be back here by 6:30 for the start of practice,” Malseed said. “Later during preseason, he would be in the coaches’ office on his computer, on his phone, talking to the managers of his business. He would take care of his business, then go back out on the practice field.

“He wanted to coach high school football. It was his driving passion.”

And he had fun along the way. DiNardo wore an Archmere cap during Salesianum’s 45-8 victory over Sussex Tech on Thursday night at Baynard Stadium, and he was eager to share stories about his longtime friend.

“He was funny,” DiNardo said. “He just made me laugh constantly. From the time we were in high school and I got detentions because I laughed at him, to the time we were football coaches — whether it was during the game or during the week — our conversations were always sarcastic and he always made me laugh.”

Kevin Charles, who recently retired as executive director of the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association, recalled a touching email he received from Ambrogi after a state playoff game at Lake Forest. The Auks won by one point, and Ambrogi wanted Charles to know how impressed he was by the Spartans’ outstanding sportsmanship and treatment of his players and coaches.

“He was a behind-the-scenes kind of guy, even as a coach,” Charles said. “He was one of the best coaches in the state, but when you went to the football banquet, he was just another guy. He just enjoyed being around football people, and people in general.”

One of the final ways Ambrogi helped Archmere was by making a surprise appearance to talk to the boys’ lacrosse team the day before their DIAA tournament semifinal game against eventual champion Salesianum in June.

“He got his frail body out of bed and came in the day before that game and spoke to our lacrosse team in the locker room,” Oswinkle said. “You talk about some tears and a moving moment, and a moment the kids will remember forever. That’s what he cared about.”

In 2008, when Ambrogi was named Archmere’s Alumnus of the Year, he was asked if he would ever retire. He said, “I will. I just do not know when.

“My problem is that each year I say it will be my last and then I introduce myself to the next generation of Archmere students, I fall in love with them, and they keep pulling me back in the mix for yet another year.”

“He just loved Archmere, and he loved giving back,” Oswinkle said. “Football was his outlet, and it was always, ‘Whatever I can do for these kids.’”

Ambrogi is survived by his wife, Kristy, and three children – daughter Jessica and sons Christopher and Michael. Funeral arrangements are pending.

News Journal reporter Kevin Tresolini contributed to this article.

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

LEWES – Cape Henlopen matched Smyrna’s furious scoring pace for 1½ quarters on Friday night.

Then the top-ranked Eagles shifted into overdrive, and left the Vikings in park.

Smyrna scored the last 40 points to turn an early tie into a distant memory and race to a 56-16 victory that clinched its second straight Henlopen North championship.

“It really means a lot,” Eagles running back Will Knight said of the conference title. “Since we come from a small town, we don’t really get this often. It’s very important to us.”

Smyrna’s Keshaun Tolbert (8) runs with the ball down the field in their game against Cape Henlopen.

Seventh-ranked Cape Henlopen (6-3, 4-1) moved 57 yards in seven plays on the game’s opening drive. Dillon Adams threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to big receiver Zach Dale, a play that didn’t surprise Smyrna coach Mike Judy.

“Every film we saw of him, he was making catches that were in traffic, dude draped on him,” Judy said.

But Smyrna took just 2:50 to cover 55 yards in nine plays on its first drive. Quarterback Nolan Henderson completed 4 of 5 passes, then scored on an 8-yard run. Knight’s two-point conversion pushed the Eagles to an 8-7 lead.

“It was important for us to get off to a good start and score fast,” Henderson said. “The past couple of games we really haven’t gotten off to the start we wanted to, but in this game we definitely did well in the beginning.”

Prep Football Roundup: Whitehead, Fry lead Middletown past Newark

The Vikings answered almost as quickly, as Rasheed Woods broke off a 24-yard gain and 236-pound fullback Kolbi Wright bulled in from the 3 for a 13-8 lead. Smyrna took just two plays to get back in front, as Henderson hooked up with Emon Roberts for a 54-yard gain and Leddie Brown scored from the 7. Another Knight two-pointer made it 16-13 with 2:16 left in the opening quarter.

Then Cape did exactly what it wanted to do – control the clock. The Vikings took 7:45 on a 16-play march that finally stalled inside the 10. Hunter Simmons kicked a 25-yard field goal to tie it at 16 with 6:31 left in the first half.

“I didn’t feel like our backs were against the wall,” Judy said. “We’re definitely a second-half team.”

The Eagles (9-0, 5-0) finished the first half pretty well. Brown returned the ensuing kickoff 53 yards to the Vikings 28, then scored from the 15 five plays later. Then Smyrna forced a Cape punt and rolled 76 yards in nine plays, with Brown punching in his third TD from the 3 for a 32-16 halftime lead.

But the best was yet to come. The Eagles started the second half at their own 2 after a bobbled kickoff. And this time, Smyrna chewed up the clock.

The Eagles launched an epic, 13-play, 98-yard drive, with Knight gaining 80 yards on seven carries. Smyrna ate more than half the third quarter before Knight scored from the 1 for a 40-16 lead with 5:51 left in the period.

“The O-line did a great job on that drive,” Henderson said. “I believed in them, they believed in us, and it was just a team drive. It was incredible.”

Smyrna’s next scoring drive was a little faster: one play, 84 yards. Knight found a seam and took it the distance for a 48-16 lead with 10:15 to play.

“He’s got a little burst,” Judy said of Knight, who finished with 12 carries for 179 yards. “He’s got that in him. When he hits a hole, he accelerates. He’s very patient to the hole, but when he hits it, he punches it.”

The Eagles play winless Polytech next week, then begin defense of their DIAA Division I championship in the playoffs. But one of their main objectives – the conference title – has been met.

“They practice like champions. They approach the games like champions,” Judy said. “They study film like champions, and they approach the offseason like champions. That’s their goal, so for now, Henlopen champions.”

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

Cape Henlopen’s Zachary Dale (10) catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter against Smyrna to make the score 6-0.

Smyrna’s Emon Roberts (5) runs with the ball down the field after making a catch in their game against Cape Henlopen.

Smyrna’s quarterback Nolan Henderson (2) celebrates with his team after scoring their first touchdown against Cape Henlopen.

Cape Henlopen’s Cory Lawson (44) makes a tackle on Smyrna’s Leddie Brown (4).

Smyrna’s quarterback Nolan Henderson (2) runs in for their first touchdown against Cape Henlopen.

Smyrna’s Jeremy D’Aguiar (23) tackles Cape Henlopen’s Kolbi Wright (42) in the second quarter.

Cape Henlopen’s Zachary Dale (10) reaches for the ball during a pass to the sideline in their home game against Smyrna.

Smyrna’s Jake Kaiser (20) grabs the jersey of Cape Henlopen’s Rasheed Woods (2) to stop his run down the field.

Cape Henlopen’s Kolbi Wright (42) dives for more yardage in their game against Smyrna.

Cape Henlopen’s defense makes a tackle on Smyrna’s Leddie Brown (4).

Cape Henlopen’s Keith Mumford-Reed (13) makes a tackle on Smyrna’s Leddie Brown (4).

Smyrna’s Nolan Henderson (2) looks down field for a receiver in their game against Cape Henlopen.

Smyrna’s Jacob Soroko (21) almost intercepts a pass to Cape Henlopen’s Zachary Dale (10).

Smyrna’s Emon Roberts (5) completes a catch near the sideline in their game against Cape Henlopen.

NEWPORT – Down two touchdowns early, the Conrad Schools of Science seniors were determined not to lose in their final game at Jim Pletcher Field.

Conrad turned it up a notch in the second half, ultimately pulling away for a 36-21 victory over Tatnall that put a serious dent in the Hornets’ Division II playoff hopes on Saturday.

“This win is huge for us,” Conrad coach Bob Wolford said. “Tatnall is a quality team. They have some quality wins, some wins against common opponents that we couldn’t get, so this was a big game for us.”

Eighth-ranked Tatnall (6-3) started with a no-huddle offense that ran nine plays in just 1:55 and covered 63 yards on its first drive. Sam Ragland ran it in from the 2 for a quick 7-0 lead.

The Hornets’ next drive ended when Conrad’s Amere Park-Brown intercepted a pass at his own 2. But Tatnall’s Isaiah Jones recovered a fumble on the next play, and Carl Marvin threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Easton for a 14-0 lead with 2:58 left in the first quarter.

“They outpaced us early,” Wolford said. “They had a nice tempo going. We just had to tell our guys we needed to get lined up quicker and we just needed to get back to our base defense.”

Conrad’s first six runs gained zero yards, but the next one gained 76. Elijah Walton hit a seam on the left side and went all the way to cut the deficit in half. Then the defense forced a punt, and Conrad moved 61 yards in 10 plays. Park-Brown scored on a 16-yard sweep, but the PAT was blocked to leave Tatnall with a 14-13 lead.

A nice punt trapped the Hornets at their own 11 with 2:16 left in the first half. But two 15-yard penalties on the Conrad defense and Marvin’s 27-yard completion to Easton set up a spectacular 21-yard touchdown run by Ragland to send Tatnall into halftime up 21-13.

Conrad (5-4) went three and out on its first possession of the second half, then scored three straight times. The catalyst was Lawrence Brown, who had rushed four times for only 11 yards in the first half. The 6-foot-2, 218-pound bruiser ripped off 182 yards on 15 carries after halftime.

“We were down, and my team needed me,” Brown said. “I had to come through when they needed me.”

Brown bulled his way for gains of 30 and 26 yards on back-to-back carries, then scored from the 2 five plays later. Walton’s two-point conversion run tied it at 21 with 3:51 left in the third quarter.

Conrad’s next drive started from its own 3, where Brown peeled off another 30-yard gain. Tim Metzler hooked up with Park-Brown for a 49-yard pass, and Walton scored from the 1 with 8:30 left in the game. The snap on the PAT was high, but kicker Zakk Camilli caught it and ran it in for a 29-21 lead.

Then a 56-yard punt by Tatnall’s Matt Maloy pushed Conrad back to its own 5. Brown improved that field position quickly, as the Conrad line of William Baldwin, Ken Weir, Jacob Brown, Christian DeAngelo and Anthony Kusters paved the way for a 59-yard gain.

“That’s what happens when you get that motivation going,” Brown said. “You get that stamina rolling and we can’t be stopped.”

All of that running set up a play-action pass, with Park-Brown sprinting past a defender to cradle Metzler’s toss for a clinching, 33-yard touchdown with 4:59 to go.

“It just felt good to close out like that for my team,” Park-Brown said. “I just ran my route the way I was supposed to, and I finished and converted for my team.”

Walton added 17 carries for 107 yards for Conrad. Ragland carried 28 times for 115 yards for Tatnall, while Marvin completed 14 of 26 passes for 148 yards.

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

Conrad’s Lawrence Brown runs the ball against the Tatnall defense at Conrad Saturday.

Conrad quarterback Timothy Metzler throws the ball in the second quarter against Tatnall at Conrad Saturday.

Conrad’s Christian DeAngelo celebrates after their 36-21 win over Tatnall at Conrad Saturday.

Conrad’s Lawrence Brown runs the ball against the Tatnall defense at Conrad Saturday.

Wilmington Friends’ Bob Tattersall became the first football coach in Delaware high school history to reach 300 wins with a 48-6 home victory over Morrisville (Pa.) on Saturday.

ALAPOCAS – Andrew Jaworski rushed for five touchdowns as Wilmington Friends dominated Morrisville (Pennsylvania) 48-6 on Saturday, making Quakers coach Bob Tattersall the first in Delaware high school football history to win 300 games.

“It speaks volumes for all the players over all the years, and the coaches,” Tattersall said. “… It’s been a wonderful run, and it’s a program thing. And that’s what makes it so great about football, that so many people are involved.”

Jaworski opened the scoring with a 35-yard run with 6:21 left in the first quarter. A fumble recovery by Dalton Ramsey set up Jaworski’s next TD, a 1-yard plunge just 1:06 later.

The Quakers forced a punt, and Jaworski rumbled for a 42-yard score on the next play. Then Chukwuemeka Adebi intercepted a pass at the 25, and Jaworski punched it in from the 1 for a 28-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter.

Then quarterback Justin Beneck got into the scoring column with runs of 2 and 32 yards, and Jaworski’s final TD made it 48-0 with 20.8 seconds left in the first half.

The Quakers (8-1), ranked seventh statewide in Division II, now turn their attention to the regular-season finale against archrival Tower Hill next Saturday.

“Thanks,” Tattersall said to his smiling team during a postgame ceremony. “I’m glad you guys decided to play today, and we got this thing out of the way.”

Tattersall, who has been Friends’ head coach since 1968, is 300-150-7 over 49 years. Butch Simpson, who retired at the end of last season after 39 years at Newark, is second on the state’s all-time coaching list with 284 wins.

Concord 55, Delcastle 0: Dillon Coughenour threw three touchdown passes and Byron Simpson and Dominic Barbuto each ran for two scores as the Raiders (7-2, 6-1 Blue Hen Flight A) romped past the Cougars (0-9, 0-7).

Coughenour’s TD passes covered 31 and 11 yards to Eryk Davis and 23 yards to Tyler Whitlock. Avery Roberts returned a fumble 17 yards for a score, and Whitlock recorded a safety.

Delaware Military Academy 28, Archmere 14: The Seahawks (8-1) scored all of their points in the third quarter to roll past the Auks (4-5).

Pat Udovich (16 carries, 80 yards) scored on a 4-yard run to give Archmere a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. But DMA got rolling after halftime, as quarterback Jacob Hudson rushed for three scores and Corahn Alleyne added a 10-yard TD run.

William Penn 51, Charter of Wilmington 7: The Colonials (8-1, 6-1 Blue Hen Flight A) scored five times in the first quarter on the way to an easy victory over the Force (1-8, 1-7).

Michael Mills got William Penn started with a 49-yard run. Then Joe Greenwood scored on a 60-yard burst, Ryan Juarez-Robertson kicked a 25-yard field goal, Lance Edwards returned a blocked punt 52 yards and Greenwood added a 40-yard TD.

St. Georges 42, Christiana 6: Brian Benson scored on runs of 33, 60 and 20 yards in the first quarter, and Daivyne Bailey returned an interception 15 yards for another TD as the Hawks (8-1, 6-0 Blue Hen Flight B) outmanned the Vikings (2-7, 1-5).

Robert Shorts threw scoring passes of 50 yards to Jason Stewart and 15 yards to Doug Phillips for St. Georges.

DIAA Volleyball Tournament

Wilmington Friends 3, Red Lion Christian 1: Danielle Nathan racked up 26 kills and Alyssa Nathan chipped in 50 assists as the eighth-seeded Quakers (11-4) earned a second-round victory over the No. 13 Lions (13-4) at home.

The set scores were 23-25, 25-16, 25-18 and 25-19. Friends will meet No. 1 Tower Hill in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, at a site and time to be determined.

Tower Hill 3, Caesar Rodney 0: The top-seeded Hillers (15-1) dominated the No. 16 Riders (12-5), as Maddie Sachs rang up 19 kills and Ashleigh Brady dished out 33 assists. The set scores were 25-14, 25-14 and 25-11.

Padua 3, Appoquinimink 0: Emily Jarome had 10 kills, Emma Lucey notched 27 assists and 13 digs and Maddie Judge added 15 digs as the third-seeded Pandas (14-2) downed the No. 19 Jaguars (11-6) at Brandywine.

The set scores were 25-17, 25-9 and 25-17. Padua will meet Ursuline in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, at a site and time to be determined.

Ursuline 3, Delmar 0: Corrine Furey blasted 15 kills, Samantha Davis earned 17 digs and Morgan Blasetto distributed 18 assists as the sixth-seeded Raiders (12-4) passed their second-round test against the No. 22 Wildcats (9-8) at Brandywine. The set scores were 25-12, 25-17 and 25-11.

Archmere 3, Newark Charter 1: The second-seeded Auks (14-2) lost the first set, then swept the next three at home behind 14 kills and 18 digs from Julia Kochie.

The set scores were 25-27, 25-13, 25-11 and 25-20. The 18th-seeded Patriots, making their first postseason appearance, finished 9-8. Archmere will face the winner of Saturday’s late Smyrna-Tatnall match in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, at a site and time to be determined.

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

Charter of Wilmington’s Madeline Matheny (6) spikes past the St. Mark’s defense on Saturday. The Force won to advance to the DIAA quarterfinals against DMA at 6 p.m. Tuesday at St. Mark’s.

VOLLEYBALL

Tuesday’s quarterfinals

No. 4 DMA (13-4) vs. No. 12 Charter of Wilmington (13-5) at St. Elizabeth, 6

No. 1 Tower Hill (15-1) vs. No. 8 Wilmington Friends (11-4) at St. Elizabeth, 7:30

No. 3 Padua (14-2) vs. No. 6 Ursuline (12-4) at St. Mark’s, 6

No. 2 Archmere (14-2) vs. No. 10 Tatnall (13-4) at St. Mark’s, 7:30

Semifinals

Thursday

Sites and times TBA

Tower Hill-Friends winner vs. DMA-Charter of Wilmington winner

Archmere-Tatnall winner vs. Padua-Ursuline winner

Finals

Monday, Nov. 14

At Bob Carpenter Center

Third-place match, 5:30

Championship match, 7

FIELD HOCKEY

First round

Tuesday

No. 16 St. Georges (9-6) vs. No. 1 Padua (15-0) at Caravel, 8

No. 12 Indian River (10-5) at No. 5 Cape Henlopen (13-2), 2:30

No. 15 William Penn (9-5-1) at No. 2 Caravel (14-1), 6

No. 14 Lake Forest (8-5-2) at No. 3 Delmar (14-1), 2:30

Wednesday

No. 9 Conrad (11-4) at No. 8 Wilmington Friends (11-2-2), 2:30

No. 13 Sussex Tech (9-6) at No. 4 Tower Hill (14-1), 2:30

No. 10 Polytech (10-4-1) at No. 7 Archmere (11-4), 2:30

No. 11 Concord (9-3-3) at No. 6 Milford (13-2), 2:30

Quarterfinals

Saturday

Sites and times TBA

Padua-St. Georges winner vs. Conrad-Friends winner

Tower Hill-Sussex Tech winner vs. Cape Henlopen-Indian River winner

Caravel-William Penn winner vs. Archmere-Polytech winner

Delmar-Lake Forest winner vs. Milford-Concord winner

Semifinals

Tuesday, Nov. 15

At Rullo Stadium (UD), times TBA

Championship

Friday, Nov. 18

At Rullo Stadium (UD), 7

BOYS SOCCER

DIVISION I

First round

Saturday

No. 8 Sussex Tech (9-5) vs. No. 1 Salesianum (13-1-1) at Dover High, 7

No. 5 Caesar Rodney (12-3) vs. No. 4 Sussex Central (13-2) at Milford, 7

No. 7 Polytech (11-4) vs. No. 2 Appoquinimink at Dover High, 5

No. 6 Newark (10-2-3) vs. No. 3 Charter of Wilmington (12-2-1) at Tower Hill, 1

Semifinals

Wednesday, Nov. 16

Sites and times TBA

Salesianum-Sussex Tech winner vs. Sussex Central-Caesar Rodney winner

Appoquinimink-Polytech winner vs. Charter of Wilmington-Newark winner

Championship

Saturday, Nov. 19

At Smyrna, 7

DIVISION II

First round

Tuesday

No. 11 Milford (8-6-1) vs. No. 6 St. Mark’s (7-4-4) at Dover High, 6

No. 9 Caravel (9-5-1) vs. No. 8 Sussex Academy (10-5) at Dover High, 8

Wednesday

No. 12 St. Georges (8-5-2) vs. No. 5 Archmere (10-5) at Caravel, 6

No. 10 Sanford (9-6) vs. No. 7 Del. Military Academy (9-3-3) at Caravel, 8

Quarterfinals

Saturday

Sussex Academy-Caravel winner vs. No. 1 Indian River (12-3) at Milford, 5

Archmere-St. Georges winner vs. No. 4 Newark Charter (12-2-1) at Caravel, 7

DMA-Sanford winner vs. No. 2 St. Andrew’s (11-2-1) at Tower Hill, 3

St. Mark’s-Milford winner vs. No. 3 Tower Hill (13-2) at Caravel, 5

Semifinals

Wednesday, Nov. 16

Sites and times TBA

Championship

Saturday, Nov. 19

At Smyrna, 5

CROSS COUNTRY

DIAA Championships at Brandywine Creek State Park

Saturday

Division I girls, 1

Division II girls, 1:40

Division I boys, 2:20

Division II boys, 3

FOOTBALL

Division I and Division II tournament pairings to be announced Sunday, Nov. 13

UNIFIED FLAG FOOTBALL

Quarterfinals

Wednesday

No. 8 Caesar Rodney at No. 1 Smyrna, 6

No. 5 Middletown at No. 4 Newark Charter, 3:30

No. 6 William Penn at No. 3 Seaford, 3:30

No. 7 Mount Pleasant at No. 2 McKean, 3:30

Semifinals

Wednesday, Nov. 16

Sites and times TBA

Championship

Saturday, Dec. 3

At Delaware Stadium, time TBA

Smyrna’s Emon Roberts (5) tries to outrun Cape Henlopen’s Ben Ashby after catching a short pass on Friday. The Eagles won 56-16 to remain No. 1 in The News Journal’s Division I rankings.

FOOTBALL

THE NEWS JOURNAL/DELAWAREONLINE RANKINGS

DIVISION I

1. Smyrna (9-0) Prev. 1

2. Middletown (9-0) 2

3. William Penn (8-1) 3

4. Salesianum (6-3) 4

5. Concord (7-2) 5

6. Sussex Central (6-3) 6

7. Cape Henlopen (6-3) 7

8. Sussex Tech (5-4) 8

9. Appoquinimink (5-4) 9

10. Mount Pleasant (4-5) 10

DIVISION II

1. Woodbridge (9-0) 1

2. Glasgow (9-0) 2

3. St. Georges (8-1) 3

4. Milford (8-1) 4

5. Caravel (6-3) 5

6. Del. Military Academy (8-1) 6

7. Wilmington Friends (8-1) 7

8. St. Mark’s (6-3) 10

9. Delmar (6-3) 9

10. Tower Hill (6-2) NR

FOX SPORTS 1290/DIFCA COACHES’ POLL

DIVISION I

1. Smyrna (1)

2. Middletown (2)

3. William Penn (3)

4. Salesianum (4)

5. Concord (5)

6. Sussex Central (6)

7. Cape Henlopen (7)

8. Appoquinimink (8)

9. Sussex Tech (9)

10. Dover (10)

DIVISION II

1. Woodbridge (1)

2. St. Georges (2)

3. Glasgow (3)

4. Milford (5)

5. Del. Military Academy (4)

6. Caravel (6)

7. Wilmington Friends (8)

8. St. Mark’s (8)

9. Howard (NR)

10. Delmar (10)

BOYS SOCCER

DIVISION I

1. Salesianum (13-1-1) 1

2. Caesar Rodney (12-3) 2

3. Appoquinimink (13-2) 3

4. Charter of Wilmington (12-2-1) 5

5. Sussex Central (13-2) 4

DIVISION II

1. Indian River (12-3) 1

2. St. Andrew’s (11-2-1) 2

3. Archmere (10-5) 3

4. Tower Hill (13-2) 4

5. Del. Military Academy (9-3-3) 5

FIELD HOCKEY

1. Cape Henlopen (13-2) 1

2. Delmar (14-1) 2

3. Tower Hill (14-1) 3

4. Padua (15-0) 4

5. Milford (13-2) 5

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY*

DIVISION I

1. Salesianum 1

2. Charter of Wilmington 2

3. Sussex Tech 3

4. Appoquinimink 4

5. Caesar Rodney 5

DIVISION II

1. Tatnall 1

2. St. Andrew’s 4

3. Del. Military Academy 2

4. Newark Charter 3

5. Wilmington Friends NR

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY*

DIVISION I

1. Padua 1

2. Charter of Wilmington 2

3. Smyrna 3

4. Appoquinimink 4

5. Concord NR

DIVISION II

1. Tatnall 1

2. Newark Charter 2

3. St. Andrew’s 3

4. Milford NR

5. Archmere NR

* – rankings supplied by N5CTA

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

HALEY JONES, senior, Appoquinimink field hockey

THE WEEK: Had two goals and an assist as the Jaguars finished their season with a 6-0 victory over Newark last Tuesday.

THE FINALE: Appoquinimink, which finished the season 7-7-1, ended with its only night game of the season. “It was so exciting, being able to play under the lights and having all my family and friends there to see me play my final game,” Jones said. “I was a little sad, but I was really happy that we were able to win and I got to do it with all my teammates.”

THE PHYSICAL PLAY: As a forward, Jones often plays close to the cage in traffic. “There’s always elbows being thrown and people pushing into you, but you’ve just got to kind of stay tough through it and keep your head down on the ball,” she said.

THE SETUP: “I think the best part of my game is probably passing to the corner of the goal,” Jones said. “If I’m in the circle, I try to pass it to the corner and hopefully a post person can tap it in.”

Appoquinimink’s Haley Jones had two goals and an assist in the Jaguars’ season finale, a 6-0 victory over Newark.

THE COACH SAYS: “She may not have as many goals as she’s had in the past, but she’s had many more assists,” Appo coach Christine Czajkowski said. “She definitely knows where to place the ball when she goes up in the circle.”

THE IMPROVEMENT: “Each year, I just try to work on something different,” Jones said. “I’ve kind of been on a different side of the field each year, so it’s kind of just adjusting to whatever gets thrown at me.”

THE LEADERSHIP: “She definitely has strong leadership skills, on and off the field,” Czajkowski said. “She’s particularly helpful on the field with showing the younger players what to do and where to be in the right position.”

THE TRANSITION: Jones said playing field hockey helps in her primary sport, softball. “It definitely helps with my hand-eye coordination,” she said. “You have to hit a smaller ball. A softball is bigger.”

THE CLASSROOM: Jones’ favorite subject is History, taught by Wesley Kendle. “I enjoy hearing stories, and that’s how I learn better, through stories,” she said.

THE FUTURE: Jones plans to play softball and major in Marketing at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey. She is scheduled to sign a national letter of intent on Wednesday.

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

Wilmington Friends football coach Bob Tattersall makes a point to his team after reaching 300 career wins with a 48-6 victory over Morrisville (Pennsylvania) last Saturday.

ALAPOCAS – Bob Tattersall didn’t want anyone to know. He didn’t want any buildup.

But he knew there was a good chance he would earn his 300th victory as Wilmington Friends’ football coach on Saturday. So underneath his jacket, he wore the same Friends sweatshirt he wore on Nov. 10, 2001, when he reached 200 wins.

After the Quakers easily dispatched Morrisville (Pennsylvania) 48-6, Tattersall’s family came onto the field with blue balloons spelling out “300.” Friends athletic director Dick Kittle presented him with a specially painted game ball.

Then Tattersall gave a brief speech, unveiled the historic shirt and did what he does best: Started thinking about the next game.

“Later, much later, that’s when you think about things like this, really,” Tattersall said. “What was really nice was to have people here and get it done, so we can focus on finishing the season.”

The Quakers (8-1) will finish the regular season at home this Saturday with a 2 p.m. kickoff against archrival Tower Hill. Then it’s on to the DIAA Division II playoffs, where Friends has reached the semifinals the last two seasons.

But this was historic, so even Tattersall had to stop and reflect a little. He is the first high school football coach in Delaware history to reach 300 victories. Butch Simpson, who retired after last season to end a 39-year run at Newark, is second with 284.

“What it really speaks to is so many people contributed over the years,” Tattersall said. “All of my coaching staff have been players. The program over the years, the consistency, that speaks about what you’re trying to do.”

Tattersall is in his 49th season as the Quakers’ coach. He played and coached under the legendary Bill Cole Sr. at William Penn, then coached basketball at Friends before adding football. His first win came against H. Fletcher Brown Vocational High at Baynard Stadium in 1968. One of his longtime assistants, Bill Harman, was a senior on that team.

In fact, all but one of Tattersall’s current assistants played for him. And they span the decades – Harman from the ’60s, Doc Townsend from the ’70s, Mike Coleman from the ’80s, Don Morton from the ’90s and Chris Loeffler from the 2000s.

“I think that says a lot, that guys want to come back and coach with him,” Morton said. “He empowers his coaches more than any other coach I’ve been a part of, that I’ve coached with. When we go into meetings, he listens to every one of us. We all have ideas. I’ve worked for people who run it more like a dictatorship.”

Passion remains

He continues to seek knowledge from all corners.

“The passion for the game is still there,” Kittle said. “He’s still a student of the game. He’s still going to clinics, he’s still studying, and he’s adding.”

But Tattersall, 76, doesn’t add too much. You don’t build a 300-150-7 record by giving your players too many things to remember.

“We’re doing the same things that we’ve done for 49 years,” he said. “Trying to incorporate the same principles, the same foundation. You’re going to have ups and downs… but our kids still respond to the old guys.”

They certainly responded on Saturday. Fullback Andrew Jaworski rushed for five touchdowns – all in the first half.

“It’s amazing. Both him and coach Harman, it’s great to play for both of them,” Jaworski said. “Ever since I was a freshman, I always knew that they were known as the legends. That’s what they’ve lived up to, and it’s great to play under them.”

Morton knows what it was like. He started high school at William Penn, then transferred to Friends in the 10th grade and graduated in 1994.

“He’s the best coach I’ve ever played for,” Morton said. “I’ve been involved with sports for 35 years. I played football, baseball, wrestled, played basketball, and he’s by far the best coach I’ve ever worked with and played for.”

Attention to detail

The Quakers don’t always have the most speed, size or talent, but they get in the right places on defense and often execute the coach’s three-back offense to perfection. And every so often, they throw in a wrinkle.

“The thing that I find amazing is the commitment to his goals, the attention to detail and his evolution,” Kittle said. “He starts with his basic offense, and he just adds to it every year.

“Nobody outworks him. There are maybe some people who work as hard, but nobody outworks him. His offense starts with a base, then he adds the complexity.”

Tattersall didn’t want anyone to know he was closing in on 300, because reaching 200 was a struggle. He went into the 2001 season with 198 wins, a fact trumpeted by The News Journal. But the Quakers struggled through a 2-7-1 season, and he didn’t reach the milestone until Mike D’Amico carried 34 times for 222 yards in the season finale, a come-from-behind, 14-13 win over Tower Hill.

“It put an extra burden on the players that they shouldn’t have had,” Tattersall said.

No. 300 came much more easily, but it also came with the inevitable questions.

How many more? How much longer?

As usual, Tattersall attempted to deflect them with humor.

“To me, it was always like buying a car. If you start thinking about buying a car, you’re going to buy a car,” he said. “If you start thinking too soon about retiring, then you probably should.”

He still has the energy to keep going. He plays tennis early in the morning twice a week.

“You only keep doing it if you know you’re still being effective,” Tattersall said. “Are kids still listening? Because that would be cheating if they aren’t.”

They’re still listening.

“He’s always filled with energy. It’s amazing,” Jaworski said. “Sometimes he’ll ream at you and it’s like, ‘Whoa, where did that come from?’ But it’s always great, it’s always positive.”

Coaching grandsons

He used to coach the sons of his former players. Now, he’s coaching their grandsons. In fact, one of his own grandsons, William Davis, is a freshman on this year’s team. But his reach is much longer.

“He takes our team in like a family,” Jaworski said. “We definitely embrace each other, and he really helps with that, especially during preseason. He’s always with us.”

The Quakers put together a 37-game winning streak in the 1970s. They won a state championship in 1984. They have lost close games in the semifinals (14-0 to Laurel, 20-15 to Howard) the last two years. They are rolling along at 8-1 this year, so perhaps a state title would be a good way to end it.

But don’t count on it. Tattersall, a 2015 Delaware Sports Hall of Fame inductee, isn’t slowing down.

“If I’m in that good a shape when I’m 76, I’ll be all right,” Morton said. “He’s pretty spry. He’s a great role model. A great role model for how to live your life, how to treat people.”

How many more? How much longer? Who knows?

“You hope, at the right time, you’ll know,” Tattersall said. “I’ve got some people around me that would probably tell me it’s time, and I would listen to them.

“I don’t have a timetable. I think that wouldn’t be smart. But I’ll know, or somebody will tell me.”

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

Concord’s Grahm Roberts runs for a 52-yard touchdown against Appoquinimink on Oct. 1. The junior has missed the last three games due to a high ankle sprain.

The Concord Raiders have had to play their last three games without star running back Grahm “Bam” Roberts.

Friday night would be a great time for a comeback, as the fifth-ranked Raiders (7-2, 6-1) travel to Middletown for a 7:30 kickoff at Cavaliers Stadium. A win over the second-ranked Cavaliers (9-0, 7-0) would throw the Blue Hen Flight A race into a three-way tie with No. 3 William Penn (8-1, 6-1).

Will Roberts play?

“That is the burning question. I don’t know,” Concord coach Greg Mitchell said Monday. “He didn’t play last week. He’s slated to come back, hopefully, but we’re still not sure.”

Roberts, a junior, suffered a high ankle sprain late in the first half of a 27-0 loss to Salesianum on Oct. 15. The Raiders were only down 7-0 when Roberts left the game.

“If he’s ready to go, he’s ready to go and we’re going to use him,” Mitchell said. “But he has barely played. He’s got to be ready to play, but at this point I don’t know.”

Concord lost a 14-7 heartbreaker to William Penn the following week, then rebounded to easily down Charter of Wilmington (42-6) and Delcastle (55-0). Mitchell believes the Raiders have already clinched a DIAA Division I playoff berth regardless of the outcome at Middletown, but there will be no temptation to rest Roberts if he’s ready to play.

“We’re going to give them our best shot, and what happens happens,” Mitchell said. “We’re not going to go down there with the mentality of thinking about the following week, because I know [Middletown is] sure not doing that.”

The Raiders did get a boost from the return of quarterback Dillon Coughenour last week. The junior, who had missed the last five games due to illness, went 4 for 4 passing with three touchdowns against Delcastle.

“He did a nice job,” Mitchell said. “It was good to see him get in there. He was still a little winded, but he threw the ball well.”

Henderson still a Hen

The Oct. 16 firing of University of Delaware football coach Dave Brock has cast doubt on the commitments of the Hens’ 2017 recruiting class, including Smyrna quarterback Nolan Henderson.

“I’m waiting for the dust to settle a little bit, then make my decision once I figure out the details,” Henderson said after Smyrna’s 56-16 victory at Cape Henlopen last Friday. “But as of now, I’m still committed.”

Henderson isn’t letting any uncertainty affect his play. The senior has completed 106 of 170 passes (62.4 percent) for 1,956 yards and 27 touchdowns with only three interceptions as the top-ranked Eagles (9-0, 5-0) have clinched their second straight Henlopen North championship.

The speedy Henderson also has 31 carries for 227 yards and three scores, including an 8-yard run for Smyrna’s first TD at Cape.

Henlopen cross country

Ben Bamforth of Sussex Tech won boys title at the Henlopen Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Killens Pond State Park, exactly 32 years after his father, Tim, won the same title for Cape Henlopen in 1984.

Ben Bamforth, who also won the Sussex County title last Tuesday, finished in 16.29.7 to outpace Caesar Rodney’s Johnathan Epstein (16:43.0), Delmar’s Austen Cave (16.46.6) and Cape’s Gregory Boyce (16.47.3).

CR won a three-way race for the boys team title, finishing with 68 points to edge Sussex Tech (70) and Dover (84).

Smyrna’s Naomi Bowser, fresh off a Kent County title last Tuesday, won the girls individual championship in 19:00.2, just two-tenths of a second above the meet record set by CR’s Rebekah Mills on the Indian River course in 2014.

Milford placed four runners in the top 10 – Deja Rodriguez-Santiago (second), Rajene Bowe (fourth), Emily Holstein (seventh) and Olivia Cromer (ninth) – to easily outdistance Smyrna 40-70 for the girls team title. Sussex Academy’s Helena Helou finished third individually.

Rounding it up

— Visitation for former Archmere football coach Jerry Ambrogi will be held from 8-9:45 a.m. Tuesday, followed by Mass at 10 a.m. in the Archmere Academy Performing Arts Center, 3600 Philadelphia Pike in Claymont. A luncheon will follow at the Patio. Burial will be private. Donations in Ambrogi’s memory may be made to Archmere Academy; DFRC Inc., 640 Plaza Drive, Newark, DE 19702; or Lancaster General Health Foundation, Cancer Patient Support Fund, 609 N. Cherry St., Lancaster, PA 17602.

— Pairings have been set for the inaugural DIAA Unified Flag Football playoffs. The four quarterfinal games will be played Wednesday, with top-seeded Smyrna hosting No. 8 Caesar Rodney at 6 p.m. The other three games will start at 3:30 – No. 5 Middletown at No. 4 Newark Charter, No. 6 William Penn at No. 3 Seaford and No. 7 Mount Pleasant at No. 2 McKean.

Semifinals will be held Wednesday, Nov. 16 on the home fields of the two highest-seeded remaining teams. The championship game will be played Saturday, Dec. 3 at Delaware Stadium, at a time to be determined.

— Kickoff for Friday’s Sussex Tech at Cape Henlopen football game has been moved up to 6 p.m.

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

MILLTOWN – Ursuline volleyball coach Susan Heiss thought her young team was taking great strides this season.

The Raiders proved just how far they had come Tuesday night, turning the tables on Padua for a 3-0 victory in the quarterfinals of the DIAA Volleyball Tournament at St. Mark’s.

Sixth-seeded Ursuline (13-4) advanced to meet No. 2 Archmere in the semifinals on Thursday night at St. Mark’s, at a time to be determined. Third-seeded Padua finished its season at 14-3.

The Raiders lost to the Pandas twice during the regular season, falling 3-0 on Sept. 22, then coming much closer in a 3-2 loss on Oct. 27. Ursuline leaped over the hump when it counted most, winning the three playoff sets 25-23, 25-20 and 25-21.

“One of our goals all season was to get better with each game,” Heiss said. “The games during the regular season are important, but they’re just to motivate us to get ready for the tournament. We’re still on that path to get better.”

Junior Taylor Wright was a two-way force for the Raiders with 20 digs and 11 kills, including the hammer that ended the final set and started a jubilant celebration.

“It’s just the best feeling in the world, knowing that you can take everything your team has done throughout the whole game and just finish it off like that,” Wright said. “It was a great win.”

Ursuline also got key contributions from its only two seniors, as Ali Kochie provided 12 digs and Morgan Blasetto chipped in six digs and eight assists. Blasetto saluted her younger teammates, and said the best was yet to come.

“We obviously have a very young team. We have six freshmen and an eighth-grader,” Blasetto said. “From the beginning of the year until now, I’ve watched every single person on our team get better and better and better. And we have not even peaked yet.”

Junior Sam Davis added 19 digs, four assists and three aces. Two freshmen – Cassidy Markel (12 digs, 20 assists, five kills, three aces) and Corinne Furey (nine kills, three digs) also came up big. Ursuline slowed the Pandas’ attack with 77 digs overall.

“I thought we played very well tonight,” Heiss said. “I thought we played incredible defense.”

The Pandas led the first set 23-21, only to see the Raiders score the last four points. Ursuline broke out of a 20-20 tie by winning the final five points of the second set.

A 6-0 run during the third set pushed the Raiders ahead 18-14. They took it to 24-19 before Padua fought back with two straight points. Then Wright finished it.

Senior Maddie Judge had 28 digs in the final game of her stellar career for Padua. Emily Jarome added 13 kills and eight digs, and Emma Lucey had three kills, nine digs and 23 assists.

Archmere 3, Tatnall 0: The Auks weren’t at their best, but had enough to sweep the 10th-seeded Hornets 25-15, 25-19, 25-18 in the second quarterfinal.

“I thought we were flat,” Archmere coach Mary Pat Kwoka said. “I thought we have to improve with a little bit more enthusiasm.”

Julia Kochie led the Auks with 12 kills and 10 digs. Lexi Kelly added six kills and eight digs, and setters Tori Mock (four aces, seven digs, 15 assists) and Kaylie Leclerc (six digs, 12 assists) kept the offense in motion.

Archmere (15-2) racked up nine aces to keep Tatnall (12-5) from building momentum.

“We served aggressively. I was proud of my servers,” Kwoka said. “I thought my setters did a nice job, and my hitters finally started touching the ball on the block, which helped us run offense off of our defense.”

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

Ursuline’s Corinne Furey (6) spikes the ball past the Padua defense during a DIAA Girls Volleyball quarterfinals match between Padua and Ursuline on Tuesday at St. Mark’s High School in Wilmington.

Ursuline’s Kylie Nocket (5) celebrates with her teammates during a DIAA Girls Volleyball quarterfinals match between Padua and Ursuline on Tuesday at St. Mark’s High School in Wilmington.

Ursuline’s Abigail Rzucidlo (9) celebrates with her teammates during a DIAA Girls Volleyball quarterfinals match between Padua and Ursuline on Tuesday at St. Mark’s High School in Wilmington.

Ursuline’s Taylor Wright (14) spikes the ball past the Padua defense during a DIAA Girls Volleyball quarterfinals match between Padua and Ursuline on Tuesday at St. Mark’s.

Ursuline’s Corinne Furey (6), right, jumps up to block a spike during a DIAA Girls Volleyball quarterfinals match between Padua and Ursuline on Tuesday at St. Mark’s High School in Wilmington.

Ursuline’s Corinne Furey (6) returns a serve during a DIAA Girls Volleyball quarterfinals match between Padua and Ursuline on Tuesday at St. Mark’s High School in Wilmington.

Ursuline’s Kylie Nocket (5) jump up to block a spike during a DIAA Girls Volleyball quarterfinals match between Padua and Ursuline on Tuesday at St. Mark’s High School in Wilmington.

Ursuline’s Corinne Furey (6) dives to save the ball during a DIAA Girls Volleyball quarterfinals match between Padua and Ursuline on Tuesday at St. Mark’s High School in Wilmington.

Woodbridge running back Antwain Holden looks for room against Milford on Oct. 28. Both Brad Myers and Matt Kalin are forecasting the Blue Raiders to complete a 10-0 regular season with a win over Delmar on Friday night.

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

THURSDAY’S GAMES

Newark at A.I. du Pont, 7. MYERS PICK: A.I. du Pont 34-29. KALIN PICK: A.I. du Pont 30-24.

Dickinson vs. Howard at Baynard Stadium, 7. MYERS PICK: Howard 42-8. KALIN PICK: Howard 54-0.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Sussex Tech at Cape Henlopen, 7. MYERS PICK: Cape Henlopen 24-22. KALIN PICK: Cape Henlopen 30-20.

Caesar Rodney at Dover, 7. MYERS PICK: Dover 21-20. KALIN PICK: Dover 31-20.

St. Georges at Glasgow, 7. MYERS PICK: St. Georges 22-20. KALIN PICK: St. Georges 24-20.

Milford at Lake Forest, 7. MYERS PICK: Milford 34-14. KALIN PICK: Milford 34-17.

Polytech at Smyrna, 7. MYERS PICK: Smyrna 64-6. KALIN PICK: Smyrna 74-3.

Indian River at Sussex Central, 7. MYERS PICK: Sussex Central 35-7. KALIN PICK: Sussex Central 42-0.

Delmar at Woodbridge, 7. MYERS PICK: Woodbridge 34-21. KALIN PICK: Woodbridge 35-7.

Capitol Christian Academy (Md.) at Caravel, 7:30. MYERS PICK: Caravel 38-13. KALIN PICK: Caravel 41-0.

Seaford at Laurel, 7:30. MYERS PICK: Laurel 41-12. KALIN PICK: Laurel 45-13.

Concord at Middletown, 7:30. MYERS PICK: Middletown 28-17. KALIN PICK: Middletown 35-14.

St. Mark’s vs. Salesianum at Baynard Stadium, 7:30. MYERS PICK: Salesianum 24-17. KALIN PICK: Salesianum 31-10.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

Hodgson at Brandywine, 10:30 a.m. MYERS PICK: Hodgson 33-14. KALIN PICK: Hodgson 27-13.

Red Lion Christian at Charter of Wilmington, 10:30 a.m. MYERS PICK: Charter 34-14. KALIN PICK: Charter 34-20.

Appoquinimink at Mount Pleasant, 10:30 a.m. MYERS PICK: Appoquinimink 34-20. KALIN PICK: Appoquinimink 31-30.

McKean at Christiana, 11 a.m. MYERS PICK: Christiana 12-8. KALIN PICK: Christiana 21-14.

William Penn at Delcastle, 11 a.m. MYERS PICK: William Penn 49-6. KALIN PICK: William Penn 55-0.

Conrad vs. Delaware Military Academy at Baynard Stadium, noon. MYERS PICK: DMA 27-23. KALIN PICK: DMA 27-7.

St. Andrew’s at Tatnall, 1. MYERS PICK: Tatnall 45-6. KALIN PICK: Tatnall 48-0.

Tower Hill at Wilmington Friends, 2. MYERS PICK: Friends 24-20. KALIN PICK: Tower Hill 18-17.

Archmere vs. St. Elizabeth at Baynard Stadium, 7. MYERS PICK: Archmere 21-20. KALIN PICK: St. Elizabeth 30-28.

Myers last week: 19-3. Overall: 171-34 (.834)

Kalin last week: 19-3. Overall: 167-38 (.815)

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

DOVER – For the third straight year, a who’s who of national high school boys basketball will be coming to Cape Henlopen High for Slam Dunk to the Beach.

The showcase features 20 teams playing 18 games over three days, from Dec. 27-29. Four Delaware schools – Sanford, Smyrna, Mount Pleasant and host Cape Henlopen – will participate. No team will play more than two games.

Another stellar list of out-of-state teams was announced Wednesday during a press conference at Grotto Pizza. The field features five schools ranked in the USA Today Preseason Super 25 – No. 10 Patrick School of Elizabeth, New Jersey; No. 11 Westtown of West Chester, Pennsylvania; No. 16 Gray Collegiate of Columbia, South Carolina; No. 17 St. Benedict’s Prep of Newark, New Jersey; and No. 25 Neumann-Goretti of Philadelphia.

In addition to wowing fans, Slam Dunk has boosted the local economy by an estimated $2 million in its first two years, attracting additional visitors during a traditionally down time at the beaches.

“Slam Dunk has been a great opportunity to show off the state. It’s a commercial,” said Matthew Robinson, chairman of the Delaware Sports Commission, which brought the event back to Lewes in 2014. “We’re bringing in top-flight high school teams that bring national awareness to the state, and then we bring the visitors with those teams.”

Among the individual talent coming this year, Westtown’s Mohamed Bamba is rated the second-best center and fourth-best player in the country by ESPN. Neumann-Goretti’s Quade Green is rated as the nation’s No. 3 point guard, and Patrick School’s Nick Richards is rated the fifth-best center in his class.

Gray Collegiate’s Jalek Felton will play his college ball at North Carolina, Westtown’s Brandon Randolph is headed to Arizona and Isaiah Washington of St. Raymond (New York) will sign with Minnesota.

“It’s an awesome experience. The buzz around it is getting better and better every year,” said Cape Henlopen coach Stephen Re, whose team will play two games in the event. “You can come right out your back door, go five minutes and you’re in a gym full of guys that you’ll probably be seeing play on TV in a few years.”

There will be two all-Delaware matchups during the showcase: Cape Henlopen vs. Mount Pleasant at 9 p.m. Dec. 27, and Sanford vs. Smyrna at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 29.

“Sussex County has embraced the tournament,” Robinson said. “Volunteers have stepped up, and they’re proud of the event. We couldn’t do it without their support, and those that come to the games as fans are seeing the best high school basketball in the country.”

Tickets are on sale at www.slamdunktothebeach.com. A three-day pass is available for $50 through the end of November.

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

SLAM DUNK TO THE BEACH SCHEDULE

Tuesday, Dec. 27

Noon – Smyrna vs. Bishop McNamara (Md.)

1:30 – Patrick School (N.J.) vs. St. Raymond (N.Y.)

3 – Bishop Loughlin (N.Y.) vs. Baltimore Poly

6 – Archbishop Wood (Pa.) vs. Roselle Catholic (N.J.)

7:30 – Neumann-Goretti (Pa.) vs. Paul VI (Va.)

9 – Cape Henlopen vs. Mount Pleasant

Wednesday, Dec. 28

Noon – Eleanor Roosevelt (Md.) vs. St. Michael’s (Ontario)

1:30 – Our Savior New American (N.Y.) vs. Bishop McNamara (Md.)

3 – Bishop Loughlin (N.Y.) vs. Paul VI (Va.)

6 – Archbishop Wood (Pa.) vs. Sanford

7:30 – Sagemont School (Fla.) vs. St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.)

9 – Westtown School (Pa.) vs. Gray Collegiate (S.C.)

Thursday, Dec. 29

11 a.m. – Mount Pleasant vs. St. Michael’s (Ontario)

12:30 p.m. – Sanford vs. Smyrna

2 – Sagemont School (Fla.) vs. Baltimore Poly

6 – Our Savior New American (N.Y.) vs. Westtown School (Pa.)

7:30 – Gray Collegiate (S.C.) vs. St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.)

9 – Cape Henlopen vs. Eleanor Roosevelt (Md.)

Mount Pleasant coach Lisa Sullivan talks with Keon Taylor during last year’s Slam Dunk to the Beach at Cape Henlopen. Sullivan and the Green Knights are one of four Delaware teams scheduled to participate in the three-day showcase against this year, from Dec. 27-29.

GLASGOW – On a cold, wet night, nothing lifts your spirits like a playoff victory.

St. Georges’ 2-1 win over Archmere left the Hawks with a warm feeling on a rugged Wednesday night at Caravel’s Bob Peoples Stadium.

It was easy to be happy after St. Georges held off a late assault and advanced to the second round of the DIAA Division II Boys Soccer Tournament. The 12th-seeded Hawks (9-5-2) will play No. 4 Newark Charter at 7 p.m. Saturday on this same field.

“You just hunker down and you try to hold them off,” soaked St. Georges coach Justin Null said afterward. “We’re coming in as a 12 seed, definitely an underdog, but we don’t feel like underdogs. We know what we’re capable of when we put it all together.”

Neither team generated much offense in the first half until the Hawks scored in the 37th minute. Wade Draper found David Angulo with a beautifully weighted pass to make it 1-0.

“I said to my assistant coaches, ‘Wade’s been quiet all night,’” Null said. “Next thing you know, he plays a cheeky little chip through, perfect ball onto David, and David was calm and composed and tucked it away. It was a perfect play.”

St. Georges got an unexpected bonus in the 48th minute, as attacker Roger Buesmaill ran onto a misplayed ball for an easy finish and a 2-0 lead.

But the Hawks knew it wasn’t over. The fifth-seeded Auks (10-6) cut their deficit to 2-1 in the 57th minute when Frankie Fanning headed in Sean Murray’s corner kick.

“In these tournament games, it’s a battle for 80 minutes,” Null said. “… Give them credit, they brought it to us in the second half.”

Archmere continued to press forward, but couldn’t get a shot off a mad scramble in front of the goal in the 77th minute. Auks coach Bob Bussiere was pleased with his team’s effort, but disappointed in their tactics.

“We didn’t play our style of play,” Bussiere said. “The game in the first half was really helter-skelter, and we prefer to play a more organized, even tempo type of game. We let it get away from us.”

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

Archmere’s Michael Fiorile (left) and St. Georges’ Xavier Jamieson (right) go up for a header on a corner kick in the first half of St. Georges’ 2-1 win over Archmere in their DIAA playoff game at Caravel Academy in Bear on Wednesday night.

St. Georges’ David Angulo (right) pokes the ball past Archmere keeper Blake Parker (left) for a goal in the first half of St. Georges’ 2-1 win over Archmere in their DIAA playoff game at Caravel Academy in Bear on Wednesday night.

St. Georges’ Zachary Pensel (No. 14) works the ball past Archmere’s Reid Niermann (No. 17) in the first half of St. Georges’ 2-1 win over Archmere in their DIAA playoff game at Caravel Academy in Bear on Wednesday night.

St. George’s David Angulo (left) celebrates a goal with teammates Joshua Moody (center) and Roger Buesmaill (right) in the first half of St. Georges’ 2-1 win over Archmere in their DIAA playoff game at Caravel Academy in Bear on Wednesday night.

Archmere’s Brian Neill (left) and Vincent Begatto (center) converge on the ball with St. Georges’ Joshua Moody (right) in the first half of St. Georges’ 2-1 win over Archmere in their DIAA playoff game at Caravel Academy in Bear on Wednesday night.

GLASGOW – Delaware Military Academy coach Wayne Cox didn’t panic when his team didn’t score in the first half.

He knew the more important thing was to keep Sanford from scoring.

The Seahawks did just that, and got the only goal they needed early in the second half for a 1-0 victory in the opening round of the DIAA Division II Boys Soccer Tournament on Wednesday night at Caravel’s Bob Peoples Stadium.

Seventh-seeded DMA (10-3-3) advanced to play No. 2 St. Andrew’s at 3 p.m. Saturday at Tower Hill. The Seahawks got past the 10th-seeded Warriors (9-7) the same way they had won all season – with defense.

“That’s been what we’ve done all year,” Cox said. “We’ve not been a great scoring team, but we’ve given up 11 goals all year. So I leave it in the hands of my defense.”

The game started in a heavy rain that limited both teams’ scoring chances. The best opportunity of the first half came when a wind-aided, 65-yard free kick by DMA’s Justin Broccoli skidded off the crossbar in the 14th minute.

But the Seahawks finally found the net in the 48th minute. DMA had just missed on a cross when the ball came right back to Anthony Gambacorta. The sophomore uncorked a left-footed shot that curled inside the far post for a 1-0 lead.

“We got that cross in first, and then they couldn’t clear it,” Gambacorta said. “They took a bad touch, and we took advantage of it. He didn’t know I was there and it was a little sneaky, but it’s a goal. A goal’s a goal.”

DMA goalkeeper Jacob Davenport made sure that one score was enough. He was perfectly positioned to corral the deflection of a 35-yard free kick by Sanford’s Henry Naylor in the 72nd minute. Then he made a solid stop on a header by Joseph Williams in the final two minutes.

“At the end, it was tough holding them back,” Gambacorta said. “They’re a good team, they have some fast players. It was hard to hold them.”

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

Sanford’s Jack Leo (left) tries to control the ball in front of Delaware Military’s Alvin Halley in the first half of a first round DIAA tournament game at Caravel Academy Wednesday.