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District 3A-1 football preview: Saint Mark's ready for challenge at highest level

brad myers, delaware news journal
·6 min read

Saint Mark’s is back at the highest level of Delaware high school football.

The Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association voted to move the Spartans up from Class 2A to 3A in December, a move made to give 3A an even 12 teams in two six-team districts.

Saint Mark’s will have the lowest enrollment of all 3A schools, and there were some initial objections. But now, the Spartans are all in and doing the extra work required to compete against new, larger and unfamiliar opponents.

Keigan Barnes is among many experienced returnees for Saint Mark's, which moves up to Class 3A this fall.
Keigan Barnes is among many experienced returnees for Saint Mark's, which moves up to Class 3A this fall.

“Obviously, we’re going to be playing some different teams that we haven’t played in a while,” Saint Mark’s coach Joe Wright said. “… We’ll be doing a lot more film work, because we haven’t seen them in the past.

“But we’re excited for the opportunity. You always want to play the top competition. That’s what we’ve been preaching to our kids.”

The Spartans were once one of Delaware’s top football programs, earning four state championships and reaching four more state finals in Division I. But declining enrollment prompted the school to drop into Division II athletics before the 2015-16 school year.

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Saint Mark’s didn’t reach the D-II football playoffs until 2021. But the Spartans had their best season in years last fall, going 10-2 and losing a muddy, 14-0 2A semifinal to eventual state champ Wilmington Friends.

Now, with the school’s enrollment on the rise again, Saint Mark’s is stepping up again – at least in football. Wright said the tougher schedule – including a season-ending meeting with archrival Salesianum for the first time since 2019 – motivated about 10 current students to try football for the first time this summer.

“I think we’ll be fine,” Wright said. “We can’t control what anybody else does. … We’re going to prepare our guys and play our brand of football.”

Here is a team-by-team look at the District 3A-1 football race, in predicted order of finish:

1. Middletown Cavaliers

COACH: Zach Blum.

LAST YEAR: 7-5, lost in Class 3A semifinals.

KEY RETURNEES: QB Austin Troyer, sr.; DE Tristen Graham, sr.; WR Matt Priestley, sr.; G-DL Eli Curran, sr.; DT Kaseem Powell, sr.; DB Ronnell Davis, sr.; K Austin Hamm, jr.; P Matthew Kolbjornsen, sr.; RB Makai Walker, so.

Receiver Matt Priestly returns for Middletown.
Receiver Matt Priestly returns for Middletown.

OUTLOOK: Troyer and Graham are among the best in Delaware high school football. The Cavaliers also have some experience at other key spots, and nobody does a better job of replacing graduated stars with talented, up-and-coming players. So, as always, Middletown should be a serious Class 3A state title contender.

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2. Salesianum Sals

COACH: Gene Delle Donne.

LAST YEAR: 7-4, lost in first round of Class 3A playoffs.

RETURNING STARTERS: QB Ryan Stoehr, so.; RB Andrew Ransome, sr.; WR Lukas Ryan, sr.; WR Jasir Gaymon, so.; WR Ben Anton, sr.; TE Hunter Balint, sr.; OL Andrew Tiberi, sr.; OL Tommy Medico, sr.; OL Cam Black, sr.; DE Robbie (R.J.) Johnson, jr.; DT Andrew Semmel, sr.; DE Ahmaad Foster, sr.; LB Jacob Urban, jr.; LB Lamar (L.J.) Smith, jr.; DB Jasyn Truitt, sr.; SS Jacob Ziegler, sr.; FS Nick Strusowski, sr.

Running back Andrew Ransome (7) is among many experienced returnees at Salesianum.
Running back Andrew Ransome (7) is among many experienced returnees at Salesianum.

KEY NEWCOMERS: RB-S B.J. Alleyne, sr.; WR Billy Neumann, jr.; RB-S Reggie Lea, jr.

OUTLOOK: Delle Donne moves up from offensive coordinator to replace the legendary Bill DiNardo, who stepped down last spring with the second-most coaching victories (305) in Delaware high school football history. He takes over a team with 17 returning starters, perhaps the most ever at Salesianum. If everything goes smoothly, the Sals could be primed for their first state title since 2013.

3. Appoquinimink Jaguars

COACH: Brian Timpson.

LAST YEAR: 6-5, lost in first round of Class 3A playoffs.

KEY RETURNEES: QB Greg Nielsen, so.; RB Daniel McConomy, sr.; WR Noah Hoff, jr.; WR Ethan Osiegbu, sr.; OT Renard Dugue, sr.; G Jarren Polk, sr.; G Aaron Hall, jr.; C Miko Gibson, sr.; NG Dae’mir Milem, sr.; LB Tyler Schaen, sr.; LB Edge von Brandt, so.; LB Antwon Osborn, jr.; LB Omari Cofield, jr.; S Dillion Griffith, jr.; CB Ja’den Glover, sr.

Greg Nielsen returns at quarterback for Appoquinimink.
Greg Nielsen returns at quarterback for Appoquinimink.

KEY NEWCOMERS: QB Blake Caccamo, so.; WR Francis Drummond, fr.; OL Hank Moudy, jr.; OL CJ Marinucci, jr.; OL Layton von Brandt, fr.; DL Micah Jones, jr.;  DL Cameron Johnson, jr.; DL Gavin Johns, jr.

OUTLOOK: The Jaguars return much of a team that won four of its last five regular-season games and surprised everyone by earning a share of the 3A-1 title. McConomy may be the state’s top offensive threat. Expectations are high, and don’t be surprised if Appo is able to go toe-to-toe with Middletown and Salesianum and perhaps even contend for all of the marbles in 3A.

4. Hodgson Silver Eagles

COACH: Dave Collins.

LAST YEAR: 1-9.

RETURNING STARTERS: QB Xavier Brown, jr.; RB-LB Jace Hawkins, jr.; RB-CB Maki Beach, sr.; WR Brysheem Davis, jr.; WR Marlon Sparks, jr.; TE-DL Rikye Jenkins, sr.; OT-DL Dwain Baker, sr.; C Karon Johnson, sr.; G Richard Brown, sr.; LB John DeFelice, jr.; LB Charles Drummond, so.; LB Dareon Lockhart, so.; S Jayden Harper, jr.

The return of quarterback Xavier Brown should provide a boost for Hodgson.
The return of quarterback Xavier Brown should provide a boost for Hodgson.

KEY NEWCOMERS: RB-DB Dominick Barbary, sr.; OL-DL Vierre Jefferson-Boardley, sr.; RB Mark Nelson, sr.; LB Joseph Jones, sr.; WR Charonn Smith, sr.; FB-LB Gary Blalock, jr.; OT Johnathan Jackson, jr.; TE-LB Colin Pyle, jr.; OL-DL Isaiah Brown, so.; OL-DL Kobi Cocke, so.; TE-DL Nybree Davis, so.

OUTLOOK: Longtime offensive coordinator Collins replaces Frank Moffett, who retired after more than 150 wins and four state championships. The Silver Eagles return much of a team that improved late in the season last year and should be much better in 2023.

5. Saint Mark’s Spartans

COACH: Joe Wright.

LAST YEAR: 10-2, lost in Class 2A semifinals.

RETURNING STARTERS: DB-WR Mas Paoli, sr.; WR-DB Jude Campbell, jr.; QB James Campbell, jr.; WR-DB Logan Klein, sr.; RB-DB Keigan Barnes, sr.; LB-RB Daniel Egan, sr.; CB-RB Tahj Johnson, sr.; DL-OL Jake O'Donoghue, sr.; LB-RB Caleb King, sr.; OL-DL Tristan Hanson, sr.; OL-DL Aidan Zellman, sr.; OL-DL Peter Lorang, sr.; OL-DL Connor Kilby, sr.

Jude Campbell (left) has experience at defensive back and wide receiver for Saint Mark's.
Jude Campbell (left) has experience at defensive back and wide receiver for Saint Mark's.

KEY NEWCOMERS: TE-LB Wesley Millman, sr.; DB-WR Liam MacDonald, sr.; WR-DB Michael Burgos, jr.; QB-DB Aidan Lehane, jr.; WR-DB Chase Thornton, jr.; WR-DB Tyler Cormier, jr.; TE-DE Brady Dugan, jr.; TE-LB Tyler Iudica, jr.; OL-DL Connor Sullivan, jr.

OUTLOOK: The Spartans become the first team to take the difficult step up from Class 2A to 3A. Saint Mark’s has plenty of experience returning from a good team that should make a competitive transition back to the state’s highest level.

6. William Penn Colonials

COACH: Matt Sabol.

LAST YEAR: 2-8.

RETURNING STARTERS: DE Judah LeCompte, sr.; OL-DL Ahman Pickett-Banks, sr.; DB Huthafa Ibn-Hendricks, sr.; WR Rayan White-Taylor, sr.; LB Franklin Norris, jr.; OL Marcus Williams, jr.; C Trevon Lewis, jr.; WR-DB Mark Moore, so.

Rayan White-Taylor has experience on offense for William Penn.
Rayan White-Taylor has experience on offense for William Penn.

KEY NEWCOMERS: WR-DB Phillip Exum, sr.; LB Mahkai Allen, jr.; OL-DL Mekhi Gaiters, jr.; QB Josiah Everett, fr.

OUTLOOK: The Colonials have some of the ingredients needed to improve this season, but it may be tough to make headway within a brutally tough district.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on X (a.k.a. Twitter): @BradMyersTNJ

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware high school football: District 3A-1 team-by-team preview