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Salesianum running back Colby Reeder rushed for 408 yards against Smyrna in the first meeting.
DIVISION I FINAL
NO. 3 SMYRNA VS. NO. 1 SALESIANUM
WHEN, WHERE: 1 p.m. Saturday, Delaware Stadium, Newark
TICKETS: $8, available at the gate and online at http://www.diaa.ticketleap.com
SMYRNA (11-1)
LAST WEEK: Defeated William Penn 30-13 in semifinals.
BREAKDOWN: The Eagles’ offense showed they can do it all last week. After mixing the pass and run in a spread attack all season, Smyrna switched gears and went straight-up smashmouth against William Penn after QB Nolan Henderson left the field on a stretcher late in the first half. The result: 270 yards and four touchdowns for sophomore running back Will Knight, and the Eagles’ first appearance in the D-I title game. Henderson has practiced some this week, but his status remains uncertain. Still, Smyrna proved it can move the ball at will either way.
SALESIANUM (10-1)
LAST WEEK: Defeated Middletown 27-21 in semifinals.
BREAKDOWN: The Sals needed a goal-line stand in the final seconds to hold off Middletown and earn a chance at their eighth D-I title. Running back Colby Reeder rushed for 408 yards and seven touchdowns in a 76-56 victory over Smyrna on Sept. 25, and the senior has barreled his way to 1,916 yards and 32 scores this year. So there will be little mystery to Sallies’ offensive game plan: Hand it to big No. 28 and see what happens.
ANALYSIS: Everyone who witnessed the first Smyrna-Sallies game saw a classic, and everyone who wasn’t there hoped for a rematch. The time has come, but it’s unlikely we’ll see another 76-56 slugfest. It won’t be 3-0, but don’t expect two improved defenses to give up 132 points again. This game will likely be decided by factors that can’t be accurately measured before kickoff. How will Sallies sophomore Zach Gwynn perform in his first career start at quarterback? Will Smyrna quarterback Nolan Henderson play, and if he plays, will he be able to play the entire game at his usual effectiveness? The best guesses are Gwynn will do just fine, and the Smyrna offense will be potent with or without Henderson. And a late turnover (yes, a play by the defense) could decide it.
PREDICTION: Salesianum 42, Smyrna 38.
DIVISION II FINAL
NO. 5 HOWARD VS. NO. 1 ST. GEORGES
WHEN, WHERE: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Delaware Stadium, Newark.
TICKETS: $8, available at the gate and online at http://www.diaa.ticketleap.com
HOWARD (9-3)
LAST WEEK: Defeated Wilmington Friends 20-15 in semifinals.
BREAKDOWN: The Wildcats showed a tremendous amount of grit last week, overcoming a 15-6 deficit in the fourth quarter to reach the championship game for only the second time in school history. Three-year starting quarterback Earnest Austin can make plays with both his arm and feet, although a tender left ankle could be a factor. Senior Gerald Wiggins is a dangerous running threat, and a talented sophomore class is maturing quickly and playing big roles in some key spots.
ST. GEORGES (11-1)
LAST WEEK: Defeated Woodbridge 33-14 in semifinals.
KEY PLAYERS: The Hawks have won 11 straight since putting up a good fight in a 33-12 loss to defending Division I state champ William Penn in their season opener. St. Georges does it with a hard-nosed mentality on both sides of the ball, running it with tailback Gary Brightwell and shutting down opponents with the strength and tackling of lineman Stefon Woodruff and linebacker Shaquan Brittingham. Opponents know what is coming when they play the Hawks, but stopping it is another story.
ANALYSIS: This is another rematch, as St. Georges defeated Howard 35-14 in a Blue Hen Flight B game on Sept. 18. Both teams have improved since then, with the young Wildcats likely making a bigger jump as they gained experience. St. Georges has been the No. 1 seed in the Division II playoffs for four straight years, but was upset by Archmere in the first round in 2012 and lost to the all-around brilliance of Ray Jones and Hodgson the next two years. Expect Howard to close the gap and make it a better game this time, but the Wildcats don’t have an overwhelming talent like Jones to keep St. Georges from winning its first football title.
PREDICTION: St. Georges 27, Howard 20
Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ