Middletown is our pick as the top team in the state this season.
Caravel and Pierce Ripanti will look to break away from all other Delaware schools and improve their No. 5 ranking.
Photo by Jim Stout
2011 finish: 10-2
Head coach: Mark DelPercio
Team previewThe Cavaliers overcame a second-place finish in Blue Hen Flight A to capture the Division I championship with a 27-23 win over Newark. Underclassmen dominated the Middletown lineup last year.
Darius Wade (quarterback),
Jacob Bricker (defensive lineman) and
Chris Godwin (receiver) all earned All-League nods as sophomores last year while
Jamar Baynard (fullback),
Jacob Smulski (guard) and
Nick DiGati (tackle) earned similar honors as juniors. Middletown is featured on our list of
Delaware state football champions for the past 10 years.
2. Newark
2011 finish: 11-1
Head coach: Butch Simpson
Team previewA 27-23 loss to Middletown in the Division I state finals was all that kept the Yellowjackets from achieving a perfect season. Newark had defeated Middletown 27-14 early in the season and won the Blue Hen Flight A championship for the first time since 2004. Coach Butch Simpson will have to overcome the loss of three college-bound players, including tight end David Grinnage (North Carolina State), receiver Xavier Griffin (North Carolina State) and quarterback Taylor Reynolds (James Madison).
Dutch Vanderhout, a junior offensive lineman, is the top returning player for the Yellowjackets. Newark players were the most numerous on the
list of Delaware Class of 2012 Division 1 signees.
3. Salesianum (Wilmington)
2011 finish: 8-4
Head coach: William DiNardo
Team previewThe Sallies lost to both Newark and Middletown last year, but coach William DiNardo has a strong group of returning players who could lead Salesianum to its first state title since 2009. Besides Division 1 prospect
Randall Schiccatano (6-foot-1, 235 pounds) at linebacker, the Sallies also boast a defense with returning All-Conference picks
Brian O'Neill (junior) at defensive end,
Troy Reeder (junior) at linebacker,
Andrew McClelland at defensive back and
Daulton Gregory (junior) at linebacker. The offense is also in good shape with All-League selections
Pat Ryan returning at tackle and
Jesse June back at wide receiver. Salesianum tops our list of
Delaware's Top 10 most consistent football programs.
4. Indian River (Dagsboro)
2011 finish: 12-0
Head coach: Ray Steele
Team previewThe Indians went 12-0 last year behind the play of MLB draft pick Jamie Jarmon. While Jarmon is gone, Indian River returns six other starters on offense, including All-Conference picks
Marquel Knight at receiver,
Zac Hill at offensive tackle,
Joost Elling (junior) at center and
Sam Izzo (junior) at kicker. Senior
Aaron Moore will also be asked to carry the load at running back this year. The Indians won't be quite as solid on defense, however, where only two starters return from last year's Division II championship team. Search for Indian River players on our lists of
2011 Delaware All-League football teams.
5. Caravel (Bear)
2011 finish: 12-1
Head coach: John Reed
Team previewThe Buccaneers won 12 straight last year before falling to Indian River 35-13 in the Division II championship game. Caravel figures to challenge again for the state title, losing just 11 players from last year's 42-man roster.
Pierce Ripanti was one of two 1,000-yard rushers for Caravel last year, gaining 1,007 yards with 16 touchdowns. He also paced the defense with 83 tackles.
George Murray is the top returning receiver with 23 catches for 400 yards and four scores. Murray also had six interceptions on defense. Other returning defensive standouts include defensive end
Matt Boylan (74 tackles), defensive tackle
Troy Glenn (51 tackles) and defensive end
Tyler Chapman (55 tackles). Caravel ranks No. 7 on our June, 2011 list of the Top 10 Delaware
football dynasties.
