Blue Hen Flight A football capsules

A.I. DU PONT

COACH: Zeb Blum

LAST YEAR: 4-6

RETURNING STARTERS: WR-CB Mahkai Lee, sr.; RB-CB Kerry Galloway Jr., sr.; G-LB Jay’Juan Jones, sr.; LB Celestino Mainardi, sr.; DT-DE Shannon Biles, sr.

KEY NEWCOMERS: QB Chad Jones, so.; WR-DB LeRoy Lynch, so.; C Leon Price, so.; RB-DB Maxwell Johnson, so.; RB-S James Naylor, so.

OUTLOOK: A promising group of sophomores will need to mature quickly for the Tigers, who return just five starters.

Senior QB Kenyon Yellowdy (3) returns to guide what could be an explosive offense at Appoquinimink.

APPOQUINIMINK

COACH: Brian Timpson

LAST YEAR: 5-5

RETURNING STARTERS: QB Kenyon Yellowdy, sr.; OL-DL Jackson Truitt, sr.; OL Noah Given, sr.; WR Emmanuel Kenion, sr.; WR Jarrod Reinhart, sr.; SLOT Jayson Jeffers, sr.; HB Derek Thompson, jr.; DL Chris Saunders, sr.; OLB Robert Jadick, jr.

KEY NEWCOMERS: OL-DL Hunter Carr, so.; SLOT Cameron Bernardo, so.; MLB Brennen Wright, jr.; MLB Earl Woodson, jr.; OLB Savion Field, so.; S Phillip Spellman, jr.

OUTLOOK: The Jaguars made a big jump from 2-8 to .500 last season, and the return of most of their offensive firepower could make an even bigger improvement possible.

CHARTER OF WILMINGTON

COACH: Larry Cylc

LAST YEAR: 2-8

RETURNING STARTERS: FB-LB Tom Steiner, sr.; G-DT Mike Cicconi, sr.; HB-S Stephan Habash, sr.; SE-DE Sam Goff, sr.; QB-S Carter Lamey, sr.; G-DT Daron Askins, jr.; OT-LB Spencer Goff, jr.; HB-CB Bill Duncan, sr.; HB-DB Macadoo Harrison Dixon, so.; LB-HB Pete Gosser, so.

KEY NEWCOMERS: OT-DT LeDay Womack, jr.; C-NG Jake Andrus, so.; C-NG Kyle Lank, jr.; OT-DE Dan Thieman, sr.; SE-DE Trip Murphy, so.; SE-LB Dylan Craig, fr.

OUTLOOK: The Force have enough experienced returnees to be more competitive this season, but it’s difficult to gain ground against the Flight A powers.

CONCORD

COACH: Greg Mitchell

LAST YEAR: 6-4

RETURNING STARTERS: G-DT Tyler Narvell, sr.; OT Billy Beaudet, sr.; TE-DE Tyler Whitlock, sr.; WR-S Jared Hill, sr.; RB Kyle Batch, sr.; G-DT Earl Jeter, sr.; FB-LB Avery Roberts, sr.; WR-S Eryk Davis, sr.; QB Dillon Coughenour, jr.; RB-SS Grahm Roberts, jr.; RB-FS Brandon Dennis, jr.; LB Byron Simpson, sr.; S Luis Echeverria, sr.

KEY NEWCOMERS: C Malik Wright, so.; C Jackson Staib, jr.; G-DT Riquan Mack, sr.; G Pat Smith, jr.; OT Jaysen Ellison, sr.; TE-DE Justin Foster, jr.; RB-SS Lennox Nembhard, jr.; FS Steve Forwood, sr.; NG Jasper Brown, jr.

OUTLOOK: The Raiders have plenty of returning starters and deep, experienced lines. Both Roberts brothers were compromised by injuries last season, but if they can stay healthy Concord could contend for a state title.

DELCASTLE

COACH: Mike Lemon

LAST YEAR: 1-9

RETURNING STARTERS: OL-DL Madison Harris, jr.; OL-DL Kevin Burdett, jr.; OL-DL Ja’quon Batts-Moore, jr.; LB-RB Matthew McCary, sr.; OL-DL Shawn Cabalza, sr.

 KEY NEWCOMERS: OLB Gordon Smith, so.; LB-WR Charles Warner, jr.; WR-DB Chad Chevannes, sr.; QB-DB Tevean Nutter, sr.; WR Caleb Horrocks, sr.; OL Jalen Lucas, sr.; TE-DL Anthony Graves, sr.; OLB Aaron Gaines, sr.; TE-OLB Tyson Bishop, sr.; RB Jeff Hollins, jr.; OL-LB Logan Stewart, jr.

OUTLOOK: The Cougars haven’t won more than two games in a season since going 6-4 in 2009. Four returning starters on both sides of the line provide reason for optimism.

MIDDLETOWN

COACH: Mark DelPercio

LAST YEAR: 9-3, lost to Salesianum in DIAA Division I semifinals

RETURNING STARTERS: OL-DL Caleb Weatherford; SE-DB Jalen Whitehead; SE Anthony DelPercio; SE Kenny Edelin; RB-LB Kedrick Whitehead; LB Spencer Harbert; DB Shane Wilkins; DL Josh Freeman; DL Ahmod Westbrook; RB RaQuon Green; DB E.J. Washington; TE Ryan Fields; SE Nicky Johnston

KEY NEWCOMERS: DB Trey Austin; LB Jeff Lockwood; LB Cam Williams

OUTLOOK: Last year’s semifinal loss to Salesianum ended a run of five straight years in the Division I championship game for the Cavaliers. With plenty of talent returning, don’t be surprised if Middletown starts a new streak.

MOUNT PLEASANT

COACH: Randy Holmes

LAST YEAR: 7-4, lost to Smyrna in first round of DIAA Division I playoffs

RETURNING STARTERS: WR-DE Sean Carroll, sr.; OL-DL Sam Mousley, sr.; OL-DL Isaiah McCready, sr.; OL-DL Sean McEvoy, sr.; OL-DL KeShaun Hale, jr.; RB Nyair Small, jr.

KEY NEWCOMER: WR Vincent Smith, jr.

OUTLOOK: The Green Knights put together a dream season last year, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 1981. But much of that team graduated, leaving a lot of holes to fill for a possible repeat.

WILLIAM PENN

COACH: Marvin Dooley

LAST YEAR: 9-2, lost to Smyrna in DIAA Division I semifinals

RETURNING STARTERS: LB Charlie Hope, sr.; QB-CB Zachariah Burton, sr.; LB Myles Goodson, sr.; DT-OT D’mir Copeland, sr.; LB-G Adu-Gyanfi Collins, sr.; RB-CB Joe Greenwood, sr.; SS-RB Lance Edwards, jr.; SS-RB Isaiah Gaynor, jr.; K Ryan Juarez-Robertson, sr.

KEY NEWCOMERS: G Joe Bedwell, sr.; G Chris Mastoloni, sr.; RB-RB Michael Mills, sr.; DE-RB Angelo Ortiz, sr.; WR-SE Amir Holley, sr.; C-DT David Watson, sr.; C Joe Behornar, jr.; WR-CB Terin Cochran, jr.; DT-OT Ernest English, jr.; DE-G Troy Gale, jr.; RB-CB Jarod Gore, jr.; DL-OL Kyle Wallace, so.; OL-DL Dawan Devlin, so.

OUTLOOK: The Colonials won the state title two years ago and lost in the semifinals last season. If William Penn’s inexperienced lines progress, another championship run is possible.

No information provided by Newark.

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

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