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District 2A-1 football preview: DMA ready to tackle tough schedule with new coach

brad myers, delaware news journal
·5 min read

Matt Carre looked out across Fusco Memorial Field, saw the number of football players going through preseason drills at Delaware Military Academy, and smiled.

“It’s been a fun change of pace for me,” he said. “Being at McKean for the last nine years, we’ve always had relatively small rosters. So it’s nice to have 50-plus out here for camp, be able to do some things in practice that I haven’t been able to do in the past.”

Carre, a former All-State standout at Howard and All-Ivy League receiver at Penn, is the Seahawks’ new coach. He replaces Nick Lincoln, who was suspended by the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association for 30 days in October last year for violations stemming from using an ineligible player in DMA’s season opener.

Quarterback Odell Teel, shown here running for a Class 2A playoff touchdown against Lake Forest, returns for his sophomore season at Delaware Military Academy.
Quarterback Odell Teel, shown here running for a Class 2A playoff touchdown against Lake Forest, returns for his sophomore season at Delaware Military Academy.

The Seahawks forfeited that first game and finished 5-6, losing 27-20 at Lake Forest in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs. The year before, DMA went 10-2 and lost a 20-16 nail-biter to eventual state champion Archmere in the 2A semifinals.

So Carre doesn’t have to worry about motivation. The Seahawks expect to win.

“I wouldn’t say that I’m trying to bring something too much different,” he said. “I think that the standard was already high here. So we’re trying to keep a high standard, raise the standard.”

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The schedule is tough, with road games against two Class 3A title contenders – Aug. 31 at Salesianum and Sept. 22 at Sussex Central – and some difficult district opponents. But with quarterback Odell Teel returning for his sophomore season, DMA should put some points on the board.

“Very good athlete, dynamic passer,” Carre said of Teel. “He had a great summer, really took a leadership role. We were 8-2 in 7-on-7, so that’s a good sign of some of the passing success we were able to have.”

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Here is a team-by-team look at the District 2A-1 race, in predicted order of finish:

1. Caravel Buccaneers

COACH: John Reed

LAST YEAR: 12-1, lost in Class 2A championship game.

RETURNING STARTERS: LB Bryce McKinnon, sr.; WR-DB Vandrick Hamlin, sr.; QB-P Truman Auwerda, sr.; RB-LB Jordan Miller, sr.; RB Craig Miller, sr.; K Logan Keld, sr.; OL Priest Jones, sr.; OL-DL Ian Smith, sr.; OL-DL Alex Hall, sr.; LB-TE Brock Rhoades, jr.; OL-DL Zavion Tuck, jr.; TE-DE Ian Yates, so.; LB J.D. Devane, so.

Quarterback Truman Auwerda is among 13 starters returning for Caravel.
Quarterback Truman Auwerda is among 13 starters returning for Caravel.

KEY NEWCOMERS: OL-DL Owen Kemether, jr.; OL-DL Chalers Brittingham, jr.; OL-DL Dwight Williams, jr.; DE-TE James Steel, jr.; DE-WR Tisyn Witcher, so.; OL-DL Issac Chukwurah, so.; OL-DL Joanah Smith, so.; DB-WR Charles Broadard, so.; DB-RB Taj Boaten, fr.; QB Matthew Rice, fr.; QB Kevin Browning, fr.; WR Larry Duncan, so.

OUTLOOK: With 13 starters returning from a team that came within three points of an undefeated season and state championship, the Buccaneers are undoubtedly the district favorite and a serious 2A title contender.

2. Delaware Military Academy Seahawks

COACH: Matt Carre.

LAST YEAR: 5-6, lost in first round of Class 2A playoffs.

RETURNING STARTERS: WR-DB Malcolm Roy, sr.; RB-LB Edward Emmons, sr.; OL-DL Hunter Tate, sr.; OL-DL Caleb Howie, sr.; WR-DB Eric Dorsey III, jr.; LB Ethan Brantley, jr.; OL-DL Cael DeNigris, jr.; QB-DE Odell Teel, so.; RB-LB Josh Roy, so.; DB Saleem Frink, so.; DE Chris Trumbull, so.; WR Messai Maynor, jr.

Edward Emmons expects to play key roles at running back and linebacker for DMA this fall.
Edward Emmons expects to play key roles at running back and linebacker for DMA this fall.

KEY NEWCOMERS: DB John Lednum, jr.; TE Alexios Mozol, so.; TE Davar Rice-Jackson, so.; DB Jamir Crawford, so.; OL-DL Gavin Scott, so.; OL-DL Steven Vance, so.

OUTLOOK: Carre comes over from McKean and inherits a team with 12 returning starters. A tough schedule awaits, but no one will be surprised if the district title is on the line when the Seahawks travel to Caravel on Nov. 3.

3. Red Lion Christian Lions

COACH: Ken Anderson

LAST YEAR: 8-4, lost in quarterfinals of Class 2A playoffs.

KEY RETURNEES: K-P Sam Crossan, sr.; RB-DE Malik Pinkett, so.; DT-OL Carter Sareyka, sr.; LB-FB Jac Wilson, so.; QB Evan Budinger, so.; WR-CB Jahsiear Rogers, so.; WR Dashai Williams, sr.; RB-LB Jake Ebaugh, jr.; LB Shane Caleb, sr.; DL Neil Rose, so.

Quarterback Evan Budinger is among several experienced young players returning for Red Lion Christian.
Quarterback Evan Budinger is among several experienced young players returning for Red Lion Christian.

OUTLOOK: Several freshmen and sophomores played key roles for the Lions last season, so they have every right to expect to challenge for another 2A playoff spot.

4. Newark Yellowjackets

COACH: Jody Russell.

LAST YEAR: 8-4, lost in quarterfinals of Class 2A playoffs.

RETURNING STARTERS: OL-DL Mayaire Elliot, jr.; TE-DE Samir Rollins, sr.; OL-DL Justin Luna Guzman, jr.; RB-DB Shaun Whyte, sr.

Samir Rollins (right) is among the defensive standouts returning for Newark.
Samir Rollins (right) is among the defensive standouts returning for Newark.

KEY NEWCOMERS: QB-DB Makeevis Rogers, sr.; OL-DL Tauren Wise, sr.; FB-LB Diego Diaz, so.; RB-LB Sa’mir Coleman, so.

OUTLOOK: The Yellowjackets have several holes to fill, but return a couple of experienced linemen and could get a turbo boost from the speedy Rogers, a transfer from McKean.

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5. Concord Raiders

COACH: Tom Wood.

LAST YEAR: 4-7, lost in first round of Class 2A playoffs.

KEY RETURNEES: RB-DB Jerah Wright, sr.; LB-TE Ryan Brooks, sr.; OL-DL Amil Odom, sr.; QB Jack Pope, sr.; OL-LB C.J. Walker, jr.; OL-DL Nick Pope, jr.

Jack Pope has experience at quarterback for Concord.
Jack Pope has experience at quarterback for Concord.

OUTLOOK: The Raiders face an uphill climb, but the return of Wright at running back and Jack Pope at QB provides optimism.

6. Delcastle Cougars

COACH: Kerry Galloway Sr.

LAST YEAR: 0-10.

RETURNING STARTERS: ATH T'zion Allen, sr.; TE Jahlil Fell, sr.; ATH Marquez Langford, sr.; OL-DL Harper Laws, sr.; OL-DL Leaire Price, sr.; OL-DL Shaleer Singleton, sr.; G Mike Tolson, sr.; DT Andre Fredrick, jr.;  ATH Aidan Hill, jr.; LB Amir Bambaata, jr.

KEY NEWCOMERS: RB Thomas Colon, jr.; RB Sha Mustafa, jr.; WR Jaydon Kale, fr.; DB Jerry Delbridge, fr.

OUTLOOK: Most 0-10 teams don’t score much, but the Cougars put up 192 points and reached 20 seven times. So the defense must improve for Delcastle to get in the win column this season.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware high school football: District 2A-1 team-by-team preview