The Spartans suffered their first defeat of the season Friday night at the hands of Achmere Academy. The Auk's 34 - 28 overtime victory was as improbable as it was dramatic. That is not to say Archmere didn't deserve to win. They entered the game with a chip on their shoulders, and played gritty, hard nosed, determined football. Overcoming a 14 point fourth quarter deficit, the Auks never gave up, and were rewarded for it in the end. Both teams played hard, but far from perfect football. It was a mistake and penalty filled contest that never allowed either team to show their full capabilities. The team's statistics from the game are as close as the final score, with one exception. Throughout much of the contest, Saint Mark's seemed to have the edge in play, and would put themselves in position to deliver the knockout punch, only to see it miss its mark. Credit some of this to the Auks, their aggressive play, and resiliency certainly contributed to the Spartan's woes. But it was the stat category that Saint Mark's lost the battle in that proved to be their undoing. The Spartans turned the ball over six times while Archmere was almost perfect on the night, with one. Though these turnovers didn't result in the Auk's putting points on the board, they prevented Saint Mark's from increasing their lead late in the game, which likely would have sealed the win. I say likely only because there is no way of telling how large a deficit this scrappy bunch from Claymont might have overcome. There is a great deal of pride in the Archmere football program. And it was obvious from the early going that the Auks were determined to make sure those in attendance knew that before they left.
The game started for the Spartans much like the previous two meetings between the teams. Saint Mark's struck early and made it look easy. Four plays into the opening series Carter Benham slipped through the line and sailed 45 yards untouched for the score. Moments later the Spartans looked poised to strike again, only to see errors prevent them from adding to the lead not once, but twice. After a quick series by Archmere , a nice punt return to the Auk 36 was negated by a penalty. That was followed by an errant pitch on first down that essentially ended Saint Mark's possession. They would get the ball back on the ensuing punt, when the Auk returner mishandled the catch, giving them the ball on the Archmere 34. Two plays later, an interception on an overthrown pass ended another opportunity for the Spartans. The teams would trade possessions to close out the first quarter with Saint Mark's holding a seven point lead. After surviving their own misfortune, the Archmere offense put together a nice eleven play drive to draw even. Darren DiRenzo finished it off with the first of his three scores on the evening, with a 20 yard run. Saint Mark's would respond with a drive of their own. Mixing the pass and run the Spartans marched 64 yards in 10 plays with T.J. Butler's two yard dive restoring their lead. With 2:37 remaining in the half, the Auks would go to the air, only to run out of time. I had an uneasy feeling as the teams headed into intermission. It felt as though Saint Mark's lead should have been more commanding than it was at
14 - 7. That it wasn't seemed to instill life into the Archmere squad.
14 - 7. That it wasn't seemed to instill life into the Archmere squad.
My feelings were confirmed when the Auks struck quickly to open the second half. Converted lineman Mitch Moyer brushed past Spartan defenders to finish the three play drive with a 66 yard ramble. With momentum shifting to the visitors side, Saint Mark's would push back. On their next two offensive possessions they would find the end zone after short drives. First a 37 yard Carter Benham run would set up a one yard touchdown burst by Devin Jones, that would be followed by Benham himself scoring on a short run. At 28 - 14, it looked as though the Spartans were finally pulling away. A blocked punt on Archmere's ensuing possession put Saint Mark's in prime position to pad the lead, only to have it fumbled away. Another miscue, this time an interception, while deep in their own territory cost them the next time they touched the ball. The Auks may have been shaken by the turn of events, but it could have been worse. Instead of being down by three scores, they had survived, and only trailed by two with over twelve minutes to play. Not to mention they were set up for an easy score on the interception return, to open the fourth quarter. Which they quickly converted with Devin Houston connecting with Darren DiRenzo on a four yard touchdown pass. Archmere would follow that up by blocking a Spartan punt to put themselves in good field position again. They didn't waste the opportunity, tying the game at 28 - 28, with DiRenzo getting his third touchdown on a three yard run. At this point one would expect the Saint Mark's squad to be the rattled team. But they weren't. They are a confident group, and calmly went out and put themselves in position for a game winning field goal. Unfortunately for the Spartans, this wasn't to be their night. After the short kick sailed just wide, Saint Mark's would fumble the ball on the one yard line in overtime. The scrappy bunch from Claymont had fought too hard to go home empty handed. And with Mitch Moyer's score the Auks got more than just an improbable win. They showed those who may not have known, or who had forgotten, just how much pride this Archmere program has. And that the rivalry between these Catholic schools is very much alive.
Scoring Summary:
SM - Benham 45 yard run (Ludman kick)
AA - DiRenzo 20 yard run (Specht kick)
SM - Butler 2 yard run (Ludman kick)
AA - Moyer 66 yard run (Specht kick)
SM - Jones 1 yard run (Ludman kick)
SM - Benham 2 yard run (Ludman kick)
AA - DiRenzo 4 yard pass from Houston (Specht kick)
AA - DiRenzo 3 yard run (Specht kick)
AA - Moyer 2 yard run
Box Score:
SM - Benham 45 yard run (Ludman kick)
AA - DiRenzo 20 yard run (Specht kick)
SM - Butler 2 yard run (Ludman kick)
AA - Moyer 66 yard run (Specht kick)
SM - Jones 1 yard run (Ludman kick)
SM - Benham 2 yard run (Ludman kick)
AA - DiRenzo 4 yard pass from Houston (Specht kick)
AA - DiRenzo 3 yard run (Specht kick)
AA - Moyer 2 yard run
Box Score: