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Yes! On our YouTube channel: https://t.co/z1zBosxHkt!□□
— Saint Mark's High School (@SaintMarksHs) November 27, 2020
When Saint Mark's takes on St. Elizabeth Friday night, the Spartans will be looking to maintain possession of the coveted sword awarded to the winner of the contest between the schools. The meeting will mark the fifth annual installment of the Sack Muscle Disease Game, sponsored by the Muscle Movement Foundation. Founder, Spartan alumnus, and Saint Mark's Director of Admissions Rob DeMasi began handing out the hardware to the victor in 2016, and the Spartans have taken a stronghold on the series ever since. That Saint Mark's will be gunning for their fifth straight against the Vikings is in some ways surprising. With the Spatan's move to Division II, a higher degree of parity would be expected.
And that indeed appeared to be true with St. Elizabeth taking the first contest played between the programs on equal footing (2015). However since then, Saint Mark's has owned the series. This can be attributed to circumstance more than the Spartan's obvious fondness for the trophy. After five consecutive losing seasons since their last postseason appearance, many felt the Vikings had turned the corner, posting a 5 -5 record in Head Coach Marvin Dooley's first year. A return to glory was surely to follow. However, in reality sometimes these things take time. Like their series with Archmere Academy, this era of Spartan dominance won't last forever. There is just too much pride involved between the catholic school rivals. Pride alone though doesn't win games.
The Vikings faced a rough start to the season going up against Archmere and Delaware Military Academy. They had gained some momentum, evening their record at 2 - 2, before losing a tough contest to Conrad last week. Running back Quasim Benson (#3) is the focal point of St. Elizabeth's offense averaging 6.7 yards per carry. Saint Mark's will need to shut Benson down and force quarterback Brett Smick (#7) to the air. Andrew Spychalski (#15) will be a primary target when the Vikings pass. Linebackers Jackson Benjamin (#55), Eric O'Neill (#76), and lineman Andre Green (#58) lead the defense. On paper, this looks to be an easy Spartan win. However, the pride and emotion brought out by the rivalry, and past history will play a role. St. Elizabeth always plays Saint Mark's tough, but if the Spartans don't get caught looking ahead to their showdown next week, I would expect them to pull away in the second half, and maintain possession of the sword.
If you would like to know more about the MMF, which was founded by Saint Mark's Director of Admissions Rob DeMasi (class of 2009), or are interested in joining their fight, please visit their site by clicking on their logo above.
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During Saint Mark's fifty year existence as a varsity football program, they have competed against members from every conference except one; the Independent Conference. That will change Saturday when the Spartans take on Tower Hill. This historic moment was slated for November 6th, only to be delayed when Wilmington Friends forfeited due to injuries. The meeting between the schools will also bring the number of current programs Saint Mark's has yet to compete against to eight. With all of those schools (Delmar, First State Military Academy, Laurel, Polytech, Red Lion Christian Academy, Seaford, Tatnall, and Wilmington Friends) competing in Division II, it's likely the list will continue to shrink.
Coming off their first loss, the Spartans will be looking to get their season back on track. And going up against the eighth ranked Hillers, one of only five unbeaten teams in the division, Saint Mark's will have an opportunity to do so. For Tower Hill, the meeting offers the chance to solidify their resume, and earn some respect. Despite entering the contest at 3 - 0, the Hillers find themselves the underdog to sixth ranked Saint Mark's. To date, the Spartans appear to have faced tougher competition than Tower Hill, earning them the edge with the pigskin prognosticators. However, perception doesn't always equate to reality. In recent years, a win over Wilmington Friends would have solidified a team's place among the contenders. However, this year's Quakers squad has been hampered with injuries, raising questions as to the quality of opponent the Hillers defeated last week.
If nothing else, Tower Hill's 20 - 6 win over their arch rivals should provide them with confidence and momentum going forward. The victory snapped a six game losing streak to Wilmington Friends, and kept them on track to earn a playoff bid for the fourth consecutive year. The Hillers will play with discipline on both sides of the ball, which Saint Mark's will need to match. Their running game featuring QB Emmett Simpler (#2) and RB Brendan Hickey (#10) fuels their offense. Jack Zungailia (#75) is the leader on an unheralded but effective defense. In many ways Tower Hill has become the Rodney Dangerfield (no respect} of Delaware high school football. But the reality is they are a program led by a coach (Kevin Waesco) with 120 wins that has qualified for postseason play six out of the last seven years. Both teams will enter the contest with something to prove, but I believe the sting from last week's loss will provide the Spartans all the motivation needed to prevail.
For the third straight year, the football teams from Saint Mark's and Archmere Academy find their season's on a collision course. When they meet Friday night for the twentieth contest in the series between the schools, there will likely be more at stake than pride. This game, as it was in the previous two, features a marquee match up between ranked teams. And like last year's contest, only one squad will leave the field with an unblemished record. For the Auk's, a win would tie the all-time series at ten. An impressive feat considering six of those wins came while the programs competed in different divisions. A win for the Spartans would snap a two game losing streak to their catholic school rivals, and give Joe Wright his first win against Archmere as a head coach. Of most importance though, is the impact the result could have on the losing team's campaign. With a shortened season and a reduced playoff field, a single defeat could derail a team's postseason hopes.
Despite losing 15 players to graduation, the Auks are 3 - 0 and looking to make their third consecutive playoff appearance. Underclassmen who played key roles in last season's success, have picked up where they left off, and are fueling this year's run. Sophmore Chris Albero (#16) has taken over at quarterback and leads the team in rushing. Michael Mallamaci (#22) and Kieran Udovich (#44) round out a potent backfield. Kevin DiGregorio (#50) anchors an experienced offensive line. Archmere runs the ball about seventy-five percent of the time, but has a skilled passer in Albero, who spreads the ball around to his backs and receivers. Averaging 37.5 points a game, the Auks currently have the third highest scoring offense in Division II.
While not as highly ranked as their offensive counterpart, Archmere's defense has been more than solid. The Auk's leading tackler last season, Kevin DiGregorio (LB), along with Mike Mallamaci (DB) and defensive end Sanjay Long (#81) provide leadership for the unit. Helping to keep their opponents to an average of 11.3 points per game, are a cast of players including Kieran (LB) and Conor Udovich (DB), Michael Van Belle (DT), Scott Lucarelli (LB), Mark Ewing (DB), Jake Hernik (DB), John Jordan (DB), and Chris Albero (DB). A jack of all trades, Albero also serves as the team's placekicker. Both squads should be facing their stiffest challenge to date, and the stakes will be high. However, nothing motivates in a rivalry more than pride. Which is why I would expect another classic battle in what's fast becoming a must see contest of each Delaware High School Football season.
In the two game series between Saint Mark's and Lake Forest the home team has been treated to a victory, while the visiting squad was left relegated to a long bus ride home, likely feeling as though they had been tricked. Both contests were a tale of two halves, with the visitors heading to intermission in control, only to see the home team earn the win. In the school's first meeting in 2016 Saint Marks led 13 - 7 at the half, but would leave Felton with a 14 -13 loss. Saint Mark's would serve up a little payback the following year, scoring thirty-one unanswered points in the second half on a young Lake Forest team that had outplayed their hosts in taking a 7 - 6 lead. Considering the horrifying fashion in which the series visiting teams saw their good fortune end in defeat, it's only appropriate the grudge match be played the night before Halloween, in a stadium nicknamed 'The Graveyard.' A continuation of this trend would bode well for Saint Mark's, however, past history offers no guarantees, nor will those Lake Forest squads be taking the field.
You can read a recap of the two previous contests between the teams by clicking on the links below. After spending the better part of October on the road, the Spartans will finish up their regular season at home. And how they fare in their two game stand at The Graveyard could determine whether the 2019 campaign is extended or brought to a conclusion. It's been a roller coaster of a season for the team, and barring upsets over the next two weeks, a ride that will likely continue. Only the unthinkable happening in either of those games could alter what seemingly appears to be the squads destiny. However the remainder of the season plays out, it will do so in Sparta, which is a just reward for a group that has boarded a bus to compete in four of their last five contests. And with games left against two opponents, in which the pigskin prognosticators forecast the Spartans will win and lose handily, playing before the home fans could prove beneficial. Saint Mark's will indeed be sizable underdogs against Salesianum, but that is a discussion for a later date. First the Spartans must take on a Glasgow team that many expect them to dispatch easily. The Spartans will play their fifth and final regular season away game when they travel to Pennsylvania to take on Kennett High School Friday night. In their previous four road games, Saint Mark's opponent was favored to prevail by many in the media. For the most part they have proved the pigskin prognosticators wrong, forging a 2 - 2 record in those contests. Though they did lose two of those games, the Spartans led late in both, and were only a couple of plays from being unbeaten on the road. Saint Mark's has played well away from the cozy confines of The Graveyard, and will need to continue doing so if they want to leave the Keystone state with a win. The contest will mark the first out of state excursion for the program since the 2014 season, when Saint Mark's traveled to Maryland to take on Archbishop Spalding. Since the move to Division II, traversing state lines for games hasn't been needed, with no shortage of willing Delaware opponents. For the second straight year the Spartans find themselves sitting at 4 - 2, and facing an uphill climb for the remainder of their season. With eventual Division II State Champion Woodbridge, Division I State Runner-Up Salesianum, and State Semifinalist Delaware Military Academy on the back end of the 2018 slate, Saint Mark's saw a once promising season fade with a 1 - 3 finish. Scheduling is a tricky business. You can pick your opponent with a relative gauge on their strength, however that offers no guarantee on the quality of team you end up squaring off against. The Spartans opponent in two weeks, Kennett High School, is a perfect example of this. The Blue Demons had not enjoyed a winning season since 2012, averaging less than three wins per year. The Pennsylvania squad that Saint Mark's will take on is currently 7 - 1, and enjoying what some are calling an historic season. Along with Kennett, the Spartans finish up with Delaware Military Academy, Glasgow, and Salesianum. Combined, the teams have forged an 18 - 8 record, that becomes more daunting when taking into account the Dragons are currently 2 - 4. Like the Blue Demons, Saint Mark's upcoming foe, only has one blemish on their record thus far. After two tough road games, the Spartans return home to take on Newark High School Friday night. The familiar venue should serve as an elixir for the weary souls, whose season took a turn for the worse since they last played on the sacred grounds. Even though Spartan Stadium hasn't afforded Saint Mark's a huge home field advantage, it has offered them an edge throughout the years. In the 38 night games played at The Graveyard since 2011, the Spartans have forged a 24 - 14 record. And while not hostile or intimidating for opponents, the .632 winning percentage confirms there is at least a little magic in the air for those in Green & Gold. The Yellow Jackets are no strangers when it comes to moonlight battles in The Graveyard. They served as the Spartans opponent for the venue's first game under the lights on October 28th, 2011. Newark came from behind to win that game 39 - 27, and holds a 2 -1 record at the stadium since then. However, in the 37th meeting between the teams, Saint Mark's will be looking for their fourth straight win over their crosstown rivals. Unless it was a team's final game of the season, there are always complications when it comes to moving on to the next opponent. Physical recovery is obviously an integral part of the process, especially when it comes to contact sports. As equally important though, is addressing the toll competition takes both mentally and emotionally. It doesn't matter whether a team is coming off a win or loss, both present their own unique challenges. However, losing creates a more difficult situation to overcome. For Saint Mark's that hurdle is higher because of how they lost, and the opponent next up on their slate. Twelve minutes from improving to 4 - 0 on the season, with a big victory over a team that had dealt them a heartbreaking setback last year, the inconceivable happened. Archmere rallied once again, this time erasing a 17 point deficit to hand the Spartans another stunning defeat.
"Our mental preparation is key this week coming off a devastating loss last week were we had some breakdowns." - Joe Wright Coming off a tough loss, and facing a quality Division I opponent, I asked Joe Wright what would be the team's biggest challenge this week. He replied; "Our mental preparation is key this week coming off a devastating loss last week were we had some breakdowns. That is a major point of emphasis this week. Physically, we must be taking care of our bodies and preparing them for battle every Friday night. We talk about hydration and stretching and eating habits all the time. Football is a long season and we must be physically and mentally prepared each game if we want to be successful." The setback, while difficult to digest, was only the team's first, and with six games remaining, the season's success is far from being determined. However, the road won't get any smoother for Saint Mark's, at least for another week. In Appoquinimink, the Spartans could find themselves going from the proverbial frying pan into the fire. Last season, Saint Mark's and Archmere Academy went toe to toe in a gridiron classic, that was billed as a match between possible playoff contenders. The teams, both unbeaten in divisional play and ranked, put on a performance that justified their pregame hype. For the Auks, the 34 -28 overtime win helped propel them to a 9 -1 regular season finish, and their first postseason appearance since 2014. For Saint Mark's, the loss stung, and seemed to hang with them throughout the remainder of the season. Fast forward a year to the day, and the teams will meet again under almost identical circumstances. Both squads are once again unbeaten and ranked. And just as it was last season, the Saturday matinee showdown is being viewed by some in the media as a litmus test for playoff contention. Indeed, there is a feeling of familiarity surrounding the contest. But when it comes to the teams that will face off for the 19th meeting between the catholic schools, much is different from those that clashed last year. |
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