A benefit of Saint Mark's move to Division II in 2015 was the introduction of new opponents such as Archmere and Red Lion. Their return to the top tier brings the renewal of a long-running series with old foes. First on that list is the Caesar Rodney Riders. The Spartan's history with the team from Camden-Wyoming isn't as much defined by the number of contests between the two as it is by the quality and stakes at play. The first four meetings between the teams were in the postseason. Though they first met in 1975 it wasn't until 2011 that the programs would schedule a regular season series. However, that was short-lived and limited to four contests due to Saint Mark's reclassification. Of the eight meetings between the teams six were closely contested, with a few making their mark in the annals of Delaware high school football history. The series started with Caesar Rodney stunning the Spartans in the 1975 state tournament. The Riders 22 - 14 semifinal win ended Saint Mark's run at a third consecutive title. Caesar Rodney would go on to win the championship, becoming the first downstate team to do so. A little over two decades later the Spartans would pull off a stunner of their own. Trailing by 10 points late in the 1999 semifinals Saint Mark's special teams scored three touchdowns to defeat the top ranked, and undefeated Riders 36 - 33. The game marked the Spartan's first playoff win since 1978. The teams would go at it again in the 2008 semifinals. Played in the brutal cold, with a light covering of snow, Caesar Rodney scored with 11 seconds left to beat Saint Mark's 28 - 21. The regular season series has produced some memorable games as well. In 2013, they trailed by a point with less than a minute remaining and needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Spartans Jeff Richards nailed a 38-yard field goal for the 19 - 17 victory. The following year a two-win Caesar Rodney squad battled the heavily favored Spartans falling 38 - 35 with Saint Mark's making a late defensive stand. If there has been one thing consistent in the series, it's to expect the unexpected.
The Riders have struggled as of late., winning only one game since their last successful season in 2020. Alumnus Shaun Strickland was hired in the offseason and is determined to return the program to its place among the state's elite. Having played at Caesar Rodney ('98 - '00) under John Coveleski he's experienced those heights and knows the ground that needs to be covered to get back there. Though the Riders are winless on the season, there are signs of improvement. Strickland implemented a spread offense to get the ball to his talented athletes in open space, and it appears to be paying off. After averaging 6.1 points per game and having been shut out five times last season. The Caesar Rodney offense is averaging 19.6 points and has scored in every contest. While their run-to-pass ratio is almost equal, the Riders have had more success in the air. They have averaged 170 yards per game passing and 99.3 on the ground. Quarterback Julius Timmons has thrown for 510 yards and six touchdowns. Maxwell Viddy (223 yards, 3 TDs) and Aiden Cain (161 yards, 3 TDs) have been on the receiving end on many of those passes. Timmons is a capable runner and has scored one of the team's three rushing touchdowns. Typhen Bowe-Walker (91 yards, 1 TD) and Elijah Odom (54 yards) are their leading rushers however numerous players have been involved in their ground attack. Their defense has shown some improvement as well, giving up on average three points less per game. Carter Stump. Marcus Moore, Stephan Davis, Mason Boyles, and Aiden Cain are their leading tacklers. Two of the Rider's three losses have been in relatively close games. Their big play capability will test the Spartan defense. Inclement weather could hamper both teams on offense, however, Saint Mark's running game should give them an edge. Coming off a couple of big wins, the Spartans can't look past Caesar Rodney. The Riders will come to play, and would gladly make the return trip home with an upset in hand.
Sometimes the walls that obstruct us are placed by others, and at times by ourselves. For Red Lion Christian Academy, both would equally apply on Thursday night. The Lions opened the game looking every bit capable of giving Saint Mark's all they could handle. However, costly mistakes, penalties, and the Spartan defense would all contribute to Red Lion's 29 - 0 loss. That's not to say the Lions would have won without these errors. Saint Mark's offense had their miscues as well but overcame them to put points on the board. And their defense made timely plays early and got stingier as the contest wore on. After the Spartan's opening possession was derailed by a penalty, the Lions marched 56 yards in four plays, including a 34-yard run by Mekhi Corbin. The drive would end at Saint Mark's 40-yard-line with a fumble recovered by Connor Sullivan. The Spartan offense would atone for their earlier miscue with the game's first score. After moving into Red Lion territory on a couple of Keigan Barnes runs, and a pass interference penalty, James Campbell connected with his brother Jude for a 23-yard touchdown pass. The Lions would respond by moving downfield quickly on Evan Budinger passes to Monte Polack, Jahsiear Rogers, and a Jacque Wilson run. A penalty would move them to Saint Mark's 13 yard-line, only to have multiple infractions of their own nullify a Jahsiear Rogers touchdown pass and push them back out of the red zone. They would settle for a field goal attempt that failed on a mishandled hold. After a short possession by the Spartans, Red Lion mounted a drive again, only to be foiled by Saint Mark's defense. Just as they had earlier, the Spartans followed a three-and-out with a scoring drive. A 49-yard Campbell to Logan Klein pass moved them to the Lions' 24 yard-line. After runs by Caleb King and Klein, James Campbell scored on a 2-yard quarterback keeper. King would add a two-point conversion run giving Saint Mark's a 15 - 0 lead. Despite their misfortune, Red Lion still had plenty of fight left in them.
Once again the Lions would look to answer with a drive of their own. Budinger quickly moved them to the Spartan 24-yard-line with passes to Rogers and Bradyn Coleman. Saint Mark's defense stiffened leading to another field goal attempt, which was blocked. Logan Klein recovered the ball and advanced it to the Red Lion 35-yard-line. A couple of plays later the Campbell connection would strike again. This time for 19 yards, giving the Spartans a 22-point lead heading into the intermission. The Lions would open the second half with the same determination they had displayed in the first. Reaching Saint Mark's 25-yard-line before the Spartan defense shut them down. After the teams traded short possessions, Saint Mark's would put together a 90-yard drive to seal the win. A ground assault by Keigan Barnes and Caleb King did most of the damage with Logan Klein finishing it off with a 5-yard run. While it was undoubtedly a frustrating outing for the Lions (2 - 2), they're a talented team that will improve and should contend for a playoff berth in Class 2A. It was a solid win for the Spartans (2 - 1) giving them some momentum entering a four-game home stand against Class 3A opponents. Saint Mark's is improving each week, limiting mistakes and playing with better cohesion on both sides of the ball. The offense is seeing consistent performances from their key contributors, and diversifying their attack, getting more players in the mix. The defense is tightening up their game, giving up less big plays. and posted their first shutout of the season. The special teams have quietly gone about their business but have played a bigger role in the Spartan's success than they are credited for. The road forward only gets bumpier for Saint Mark's, but if they continue to hone their game and come together as a unit, they'll be in a better position to travel it.
Preseason
Back Where We Belong
After competing seven years in Division II. and two in Class 2A of the newly adopted classification system, the Spartans will once again battle the state's elite. With the remarkable job the admissions staff is doing to boost enrollment it was inevitable. So it came as little surprise to anyone when Saint Mark's move to Class 3A was announced at the D.I.A.A.'s annual reclassification meeting. The Spartans are no stranger to running with the big dawgs, having competed in Division I for the first forty-four years of the program's existence. Nor do they lack a familiarity with the teams back on their schedule.
After a three year hiatus the Spartan's longstanding rivalry with Salesianum is back on. They host the Sals the final week of the regular season. Along with Salesianum, as a member of Class 3A's District I, they'll host Appoquinimink and Hodgson Vo-Tech and travel to face Middletown and William Penn. Their remaining non-district Class 3A contests are home games against St. Georges, Caesar Rodney, and Cape Henlopen. Saint Mark's rounds out their schedule with visits to Class 2A Red Lion Christian Academy and catholic school rival Archmere Academy. Whether from recent encounters or those in the past, there is history adding intrigue to their matchups.
Unlike the previous two year cycle of the new classification system, where Class 3A held an open tournament with all eleven members participating, only eight teams will qualify for postseason play. The champion of both districts will receive an automatic berth, with the remaining six teams with the highest point index value rounding out the field. The Spartans will kickoff the 2023-24 season on September 8th at The Graveyard against St. Georges Technical High School.
After a three year hiatus the Spartan's longstanding rivalry with Salesianum is back on. They host the Sals the final week of the regular season. Along with Salesianum, as a member of Class 3A's District I, they'll host Appoquinimink and Hodgson Vo-Tech and travel to face Middletown and William Penn. Their remaining non-district Class 3A contests are home games against St. Georges, Caesar Rodney, and Cape Henlopen. Saint Mark's rounds out their schedule with visits to Class 2A Red Lion Christian Academy and catholic school rival Archmere Academy. Whether from recent encounters or those in the past, there is history adding intrigue to their matchups.
Unlike the previous two year cycle of the new classification system, where Class 3A held an open tournament with all eleven members participating, only eight teams will qualify for postseason play. The champion of both districts will receive an automatic berth, with the remaining six teams with the highest point index value rounding out the field. The Spartans will kickoff the 2023-24 season on September 8th at The Graveyard against St. Georges Technical High School.
Game #1: Friday 9/8, 7:00 PM, VS St. Georges Technical High School
Welcome Home
With the Spartans move back to the top tier in Delaware High School football it only seems appropriate to start this new chapter where they left off. When Saint Mark's last competed in Division I (2014) John Wilson was their coach. As the Head Coach of St. Georges Technical High School, he will lead the Spartan's first opponent as a member of Class 3A. Friday's game will mark his first return to The Graveyard, and contest against his former school. It will also be the first time in the program's history that a former Saint Mark's head coach has faced off against the Spartans. Wilson served as head coach of the Saint Mark's program from 2005 until 2017, compiling a 96 - 48 record. His teams qualified for postseason play seven times, finishing as State Runner-up in 2009, and Division I State Champions in 2010. His counterpart on this historic evening, current Head Coach Joe Wright, took up the reins of the program with Wilson's departure in 2018. Since then he has guided the Spartans to a 35 - 16 record and two postseason appearances. While the meeting will be a first in Saint Mark's history, it's not the first time the two have squared off as opposing coaches. In 2017, Wilson's last year as the Spartan head coach , Saint Mark's defeated Joe Wright's St. Elizabeth Vikings 35 - 0 at Baynard Stadium.
The history book significance will matter little to either coach, whose focus will be on securing a win for their respective teams. Since taking over at St. Georges the Hawks have went 28 - 23, qualifying for the postseason the past three years. After a couple of seasons installing a new system and culture at St. Georges, Coach Wilson has the program ready to take the next step. Coming off their first playoff win since 2016, enthusiasm has skyrocketed with over a hundred students turning out for preseason camp. The Spartan's are experiencing a boost in participation as well, with a larger turnout than the program has seen in over a decade. While some of this can be attributed to an increase in enrollment and the move to Class 3A, Saint Mark's 10 - 2 record and trip to the state semifinals last season is likely the largest factor. Both teams graduated substantial numbers from last season's squads, and have some big shoes to fill. However both return numerous contributors to last years success, and are in more of reload than rebuild phase. With the reduction in playoff berths in Class 3A, the reward for a victory is a bit higher than it would normally be in a season opener. History, the heightened importance of the outcome, and a return of The Muscle Movement Foundation "Sack Muscle Disease Game' make for a 'can't miss' evening in The Graveyard.
This one's for you Mom, I miss you!
This one's for you Mom, I miss you!
A strong second-half performance by St. Georges helped the Hawks defeat Saint Mark's 20 - 9 in both team's season opener. Despite some mistakes and missed opportunities, the Spartans played well early on and looked to be in control. They opened the scoring on a Mateo Bracalenti 30-yard field goal, that was set up after a Mass Paoli interception gave the offense a short field. They would strike again in the second quarter on a 52-yard drive, with James Campbell finding Logan Klein in the corner of the endzone. The duo had looked to have hit paydirt again on their following possession, but the catch was ruled out of bounds. An interception on the next play kept Saint Mark's from taking a larger lead into the intermission. St. George's offense had some success, but was inconsistent and struggled to extend their drives. The Spartan defense's ability to apply pressure at key moments didn't help either.
With Saint Mark's heading into halftime leading 9 - 0, an uneasy feeling came over me. Though the lead could have been larger the Spartan defense had, for the most part, kept St. George's offense in check. I turned to my brother and simply said, let's see what adjustments the Hawks make. He confirmed that it was a concern we both shared heading into the break. Having followed Saint Mark's during John Wilson's entire tenure, we were well aware of how the final twenty-four minutes could play out. Of the 96 wins Coach Wilson guided the Spartans to, 41 were either close or tied at the half. In those contests, Saint Mark's outscored their opponents after the intermission by 703 points to 146, with the defense not allowing a second-half point 21 times. On another eight occasions, the Spartans outscored their opponent 123 -68 after halftime only to fall short as the clock expired. So yes, we had seen this ghost before, and taken delight as it wreaked havoc on Saint Mark's opponents. And now feared that it might leave the Spartans haunted on this night in The Graveyard.
Those fears were quickly justified when St. Georges opened the third quarter with an 80-yard scoring drive that consumed a little over four minutes off the clock. Running back Camron Montgomery accounted for all but three of those yards. scoring on a one-yard run. The Hawk defense was equally efficient shutting down the Saint Mark's offense on their ensuing possession. St. Georges would strike again quickly, this time through the air, on a 63-yard Francis McCarthy to Jayson Askins-Brooks pass. And just like that, with 4:14 to go in the third quarter the Hawks had taken a lead they would not relinquish. The Spartan defense stiffened allowing their offense a couple of opportunities to regain the lead, only to see the drives end in a turnover and punt. They had looked to have stopped another St. Georges possession with a fourth down stop but a personal foul penalty kept the drive alive. The Hawks took advantage, with a 26-yard run by Montgomery to take a 20 - 9 lead with 3:38 left to play. St. Georges would spoil an attempted Spartan comeback on the following possession, with an interception in their endzone.
For St. Georges, it was an exciting win that should give them a boost in momentum going forward. While for the Spartans it was a tough loss that could be difficult to shake. However, neither team should get too high or down on themselves. It was a close contest with the outcome in doubt throughout most of the game. It was a typical opener, with both teams making their share of mistakes. And both coaching staffs will have plenty to cover in the upcoming week's practice. Next week the Hawks host Hodgson Vo-Tech while Saint Mark's travels to Archmere Academy.
Game #2: Saturday 9/16, 11:00 AM, at Archmere Academy
The Spartans will make their first road trip of the season on Saturday when they travel to Claymont to take on catholic rival Archmere Academy. The contest will be the twenty-fourth between the two programs since their inaugural meeting in 1971. After a long break, the teams have been playing yearly since 2015, with the series, for the most part, consisting of clean, hard-fought, close games. The Auks pose a stiff challenge for Saint Mark's, coming off a tough opening season loss. However, that could be an advantage for the Spartans. Playing a lesser opponent, who could easily be beaten would be a confidence builder. However, I don't believe that is what this group needs. They're a better team than took the field last Friday, and they know it. Mistakes and miscues happen every game, even more so early in the season. And all athletes occasionally have an off game. Saint Mark's experienced an unusually high number of both, yet were still in a contest against a quality opponent, until the final minutes. Having watched many of these players over the past few years, I have no doubt they can't wait to get back out on the field. And knowing the competitors that they are, doing so against a tough opponent only intensifies that desire. Every team wants to leave its mark on a program's history. Saturday's contest presents a perfect opportunity to kickstart that journey.
Like the Spartans, Archmere graduated some key players from last year's team. Including Chris Albero and Kieran Udovich, who were stalwarts on both sides of the ball. Over the past three seasons, the duo helped lead the Auks to a 30 - 4 record and a state championship. Miles Kempski takes over at quarterback, and like Albero, also starts on defense. He has multiple receivers to choose from in Gavin Lee, Ryan Hagenberg, and Drew Duncan. The Auk's second-leading rusher from last season, Cole Fenice returns and is joined by Philip Blessington and John Bradley in the backfield. Jack Dellose anchors the offensive line and is a leader on defense along with Matthew Victoria. Archmere opened their season last week with a 42 - 8 victory over St. Elizabeth. On offense, they ran the ball two out of three plays but had equal success when they went to the air. After allowing a score on the opening drive, the defense shut the Vikings out for the remainder of the game. It doesn't appear that Cole Fenice played in the contest, and his status for this week is unclear. Also of note, is that the Auks went for two-point conversions following all of their scores. Whether that was by design or lack of a capable kicker is also uncertain. All signs point to another compelling chapter in a series that has become one of Delaware High School's classic rivalries.
A determined Spartan team arrived in Claymont Saturday and showed their resiliency in bringing home the win. Not only did they bounce back from a tough loss they did so time and again in their 34 - 27 victory over Archmere. After taking the opening kickoff, Saint Mark's struck fast when Jude Campbell took a short pass from James Campbell and raced 44 yards for the score. Turnovers were costly for the Spartans in their opener and caused them setbacks early on against the Auks. After being stopped on downs, Archmere got a short field on a fumbled punt return, with Miles Kempski tying the score on a quarterback keeper. Saint Mark's offense would answer on their ensuing possession to regain the lead. Only this time with a ground attack, led by Keigan Barnes, who covered most of the 75-yard drive, and scored on a one-yard run. The Auks would chip away at the Saint Mark's lead with a 32-yard Cole Fenice field goal, and go ahead shortly before the half. After a Spartan drive was derailed by a fumble at the Archmere 36-yard line, the Auks would mount their own with Kempski scoring his second touchdown on an 8-yard run. Saint Mark's blocked the conversion kick but found themselves trailing for the first time in the contest. Once again the Spartans answered quickly. With less than a minute in the half and good field position at the Archmere 44-yard line, the offense went to work. James Campbell would connect with Logan Klein and his brother Jude before finishing with a 2-yard quarterback keeper. With the outcome still very much in doubt, the teams would head into the intermission with Saint Mark's holding a 20 - 16 lead.
Archmere would come out of the break strong, striking on a 70-yard Kempski to Drew Duncan pass to reclaim the lead, though only briefly. As they had in the first half, the Spartans responded with their ariel show a few minutes later. With Logan Klein taking a James Campbell pass 39 yards to put Saint Mark's back on top 27 - 23. The Auks however were not about to concede. They put a nice drive together. finished by a Kempski to Gavin Lee 32-yard touchdown pass to reclaim the lead. Both teams would see their next offensive possessions end with a turnover and a defensive stop. After forcing Saint Mark's to turn the ball over at mid-field on downs, the Auks drove to the 35-yard line before the Spartan defense returned the favor. Saint Mark's made their offensive possession count this time. After a Campbell pass to Edward Taylor for 21 yards, Keigan Barnes finished the drive with runs of 10 and 32 yards to put the Spartans back out front 34 - 30. With over ten minutes to play, there was plenty of time for more offensive fireworks, but it was their defensive counterparts' time to shine. It was the Spartan's first win against Archmere since 2017, ending a frustrating streak of close losses. The Auks played with the same 'never say die" determination that has helped them snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in many of those contests. However, that wouldn't be enough for Archmere to prevail today. Eventually, all good things come to an end. Saint Mark's travels to Red Lion Christian Academy Thursday, while Archmere Academy visits Newark High School Saturday.
Game #3: Thursday 9/21, 7:30 PM, at Red Lion Christian Academy
Having played Saturday and facing Red Lion Christian Academy Thursday night the Spartans find themselves with a short week to prepare. However, despite the necessary crash course to study this season's Lion Squad, there is a high degree of familiarity between the teams. Their upcoming game will be the third contest between the schools in a little over a year. The teams met in the regular season and then again in the postseason. Red Lion lost both of those matchups, however, they were a young team that improved as the season progressed. In the first meeting, a 48 - 0 loss, the Lions fell behind early and never threatened. In the playoff rematch, Red Lion was within striking distance at the intermission and forced the Spartans to keep the gas on the pedal to the very end. Though their season would end with a 45 - 18 loss, the young Lions had come together as a team, with the promise of reaching loftier heights in the coming year. So far Red Lion has lived up to those expectations. After opening the season with a close loss to Class 3A Cape Henlopen they have won two straight, including last week's 28 - 6 victory over a highly regarded Lake Forest squad. And if it wasn't for a slow start against the Vikings, Red Lion could have possibly entered Thursday's contest at 3 - 0. Trailing 21 - 0, the Lions stormed back in the fourth quarter, falling short of tying the game (or taking the lead) when the Cape defense came up with a goal-line stand in the closing seconds. With a year's experience gained, and some key additions Red Lion presents the Spartans with a challenge more similar to the one they faced in 2021 than those of last season. In that contest, the first meeting between the programs, Saint Mark's won 21 -20 with the Lions failing on a two-point conversion attempt after scoring late in the game.
Red Lion lost some top players to graduation including their two leading receivers. And their leading rusher from last season, Freshman Malik Pinkett did not return. However, the Lions had so many underclassmen get extensive playtime who were ready to step up and fill the void. On offense they run the ball about 60 % of the time, but are equally successful when they pass. Sophomore Evan Budinger returns at quarterback and has elevated his game with a year's experience under his belt. Jahsiear Rogers and Monte Polack lead the team in receiving. Jacque Wilson, Mekhi Corbin, and Giovanni Ramirez who transferred from McKean, supply a versatile backfield to fuel their ground attack. Wilson, Corbin, Rogers,
Jamarion Ramsey, Judah Barber, and Neil Rose form a young, but capable defense. With Xavier Moore, Carter Sareyka, and Tristan Grenardo providing the senior leadership. Though still a relatively youthful squad, they're more experienced. And with solid play in the trenches and special teams led by kicker Sam Crossan, they have become a formidable foe. Coming off an emotional win, the Spartans will need to guard against a letdown. Having lost to Saint Mark's in the postseason last year, the Lions will come ready to play. While the series between the teams is only entering its third year it has the feel of one that is much richer in history. The games have all been high-spirited and hard-fought. Thursday's meeting should be as well.
Jamarion Ramsey, Judah Barber, and Neil Rose form a young, but capable defense. With Xavier Moore, Carter Sareyka, and Tristan Grenardo providing the senior leadership. Though still a relatively youthful squad, they're more experienced. And with solid play in the trenches and special teams led by kicker Sam Crossan, they have become a formidable foe. Coming off an emotional win, the Spartans will need to guard against a letdown. Having lost to Saint Mark's in the postseason last year, the Lions will come ready to play. While the series between the teams is only entering its third year it has the feel of one that is much richer in history. The games have all been high-spirited and hard-fought. Thursday's meeting should be as well.
Game #4: Friday 9/29, 7:00 PM, vs Caesar Rodney High School
Game #5: Friday 10/6, 7:00 PM, vs Cape Henlopen High School
Game #6: Friday 10/13, 7:00 PM, vs Appoquinimink High School
Game #7: Friday 10/20, 7:00 PM, vs Hodgson Vo-Tech High School
game #8 Saturday 10/28, 12:00 PM, at William Penn High School
Game #9: Friday 11/3, 7:00 PM, at Middletown High School
Game #10: Friday 11/10, 7:00 PM, vs Salesianum School
D.I.A.A. State Tournament
I had the pleasure of attending Saint Mark's Junior Varsity game against Archmere Academy on Monday. From what I saw the future of both programs looks bright. Below you will find videos of the Spartans touchdowns in their 14 - 0 victory and a photo gallery from the contest.