Smyrna 50 Mount Pleasant 14……………Mount Pleasant had a surprising 7-3 season this year in a season that most people thought that they would struggle to adjust to playing with the big boys in DI Flight A. Their biggest win came in week 3 when they beat Concord 21-19 at Concord. Mount Pleasant ended the season with back to back victories over Howard (21-6) and Appo (37-8) holding both of those teams, that average over 25 points per game, to single digits. The Mount defense will surely face their toughest test this week against Smyrna. The Mount Pleasant offense averaged 27.6 points per game led by QB #7 Jashawn Johnson. Johnson might be the fastest QB in the state and his ability to run and throw makes him tough to stop. On the season Johnson has 12 TD passes and 7 rushing TD. His top receivers are Robert Myrick (5 TD) and Ronald Shipman-Scott (3 TD). Shipman-Scott, who is a big target at 6’2 and 230 pounds is a tough matchup for any defensive back. Running backs Dannon Williams and Jahleel Thomas both have 6 rushing TD on the season. The pre-season hype surrounding Smyrna this year was all true as the Eagles enjoyed their best regular season ever. Smyrna ended the regular season 9-1 with their only loss being to #1 ranked Salesianum 76-56 in the most entertaining game of the regular season. The Smyrna offense averaged 55 points per game and their lowest output offensively of the season came at Dover in a 40-14 win. Junior QB Nolan Henderson has enjoyed an outstanding season passing for 29 TD and running for 4 TD. WR Donte Ritchie is the Eagles leading receiver with 11 TD receptions on the season. Maybe the most overlooked and underrated player in the state is RB Will Knight. Only a sophomore, Knight has put up staggering numbers this season. Knight has 30 total TD on the season (26 rushing 4 receiving) and has even thrown a TD pass. His ability to beat you rushing and receiving makes him one of the top running backs in the state. He hardly ever gets tackled by the 1st defender and once he gets in the open field he’s gone. The biggest misconception about Smyrna is that they aren’t a physically tough football team. Their defense did allow 76 points to Sallies but that was in week 3. Since that game their defense has improved and only 1 opponent scored more than 20 points in a game after week 3 (Sussex Central scored 21 in week 7). Smyrna, who might just be the best team in the state, demolished everyone they played except for Sallies and there is no indication that this week will be any different.
Middletown 30 Sussex Tech 13…………….This is a rematch of last year’s DI semifinal game in which Middletown routed Sussex Tech 37-7. Unfortunately for Sussex Tech the game this year doesn’t look to be much different. Sussex Tech RB Patrick Griffin has over 1600 yards rushing with 17 TD on the season in just 9 games. He was held under 100 yards in just 2 games against Sallies and Sussex Central. His last game against Cape Henlopen he rushed for over 220 yards and scored 4 TD in a playoff clinching 38-21 victory. The Ravens defense has been very good at times but they’ve allowed 21 or more points in 4 out of their last 5 games. Middletown finished the regular season at 8-2 with a solid win over Concord 44-21. Losses to William Penn and Salesianum are the only set backs on the season. Middletown when playing well has been dominant as seen in blow out victories over Mount Pleasant (36-7) and Appo (41-0). With RB Frank Datillo back in the lineup the offense seems to be getting back to where it needs to be. Datillo scored 3 TD against Concord last week. The Cavalier defense is one of the best in the state. Statistically they rank #1 in DI in scoring defense only allowing 8.8 points per game. Last week Concord did have success running the ball against Middletown but the Cavaliers were without 2 starters on defense and should be at full strength this weekend. The key for Middletown is; don’t turn the ball over and don’t commit penalties. If the Cavaliers play to their capabilities they win this game and win going away. Middletown hasn’t lost a home playoff game since 2008 when they lost to St. Mark’s 20-15 and have won 5 straight home playoff games since then.
Last week: 20-1
Season: 163-44
