By D. Matt Dale
MaxPreps.com
Hodgson cruised to a 48-8 victory over Archmere Saturday morning behind an incredible performance by junior running back Jamaal Jackson. Despite playing in the first half only, Jackson ran for 157 yards on eight carries for four touchdowns.
With 6:52 remaining in the first half, Jackson had already racked up four touchdowns on six carries. Even more astonishing, 145 of Jackson’s 157 total yards came on touchdown runs.
Hodgson went three-and-out after on the first drive of the game as quarterback Jamie Treml could neither throw or run for a first down. After a stalled Archmere drive gave Hodgson the ball on its own 42, Jackson took his second carry of the day 58 yards for a touchdown, putting the Silver Eagles up 7-0 with 6:42 to go in the first quarter.
Hodgson’s defense forced a fourth-and-three situation from Archmere’s 30-yard line and coach Jerry Ambrogi decided to go for it to no avail. Jackson needed two carries to find the end zone on this drive, housing a 29-yard romp up the sideline and giving Hodgson a 14-0 lead with 4:18 to play in the first quarter.
Before the half, Treml found Jamil Merrell, who literally jumped over an Archmere defender, to score a 16-yard touchdown, making it a 41-0 game at halftime.
On Hodgson’s first drive of the second half, Treml found Jamil’s brother, Jamal Merrell, for a 35-yard touchdown pass.
With time running out late in the fourth quarter, Archmere quarterback Freddy Casino hit McNeal in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Fullback Brian Gitlin ran in the two-point conversion resulting in the 48-8 final score.
Football: Sussex Central Shocked by Spartans
St. Mark’s stunned what many considered to be the best team in the state, Sussex Central, on Saturday night at Baynard Stadium. The Spartans defense stifled Sussex Central’s offense, pitching a shutout in the first, third and fourth quarters and surrendering only 175 total yards.
The Golden Knights took the first lead of the game in the second quarter with a 25-yard field goal by D.J. Hickman with 10:22 left before halftime.
St. Mark’s came right back and scored on a 28-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brandon Baker to Kyle Sullivan, who could not be brought down by Sussex Central defense, giving the Spartans a 7-0 lead with less than a minute to play in the first half.
After a scoreless third quarter, Baker threw a 43-yard pass to Stephen Hamberger who was brought down at the Golden Knights one-yard line. Matt Lennon punched in the touchdown shortly after, and the Spartans went ahead 14-3 with 9:02 to go in the game.
Baker and Sullivan helped to shutdown Sussex Central’s passing attack from the safety position. Linebackers Corey Olsen, Chaz Malewski, Warren Wood and Mike Kemske also did their part to keep the Golden Knights out of the end zone and the Spartans improved to 3-0 on the season. St. Mark’s is now ranked No. 1 in the state by The News Journal.
Field Hockey: Brandywine Bests Concord
Brandywine defeated rival Concord 3-1 on Tuesday as the Bulldogs improved to 3-0 behind two second half goals by Mary Meier.
Concord played excellent defense throughout the game which denied Brandywine on numerous scoring opportunities. The Raiders took the first lead of the game off a corner hit by Caroline Phillips to give Concord a 1-0 advantage.
Less than a minute later Drew Hayes hit an equalizing goal, and from that point Meier took over and assured a Brandywine victory.
Alicia Fields, Megan Camper and Alexa Borrelli had assists, as Brandywine improved to 2-0 in Blue Hen Flight B league play.
