By D. Matt Dale
MaxPreps.com
The ramifications were easy to understand. Win this game and the playoffs and conference title will be the reward. Lose, season over. The were the two options facing Howard and Concord when they met Saturday at Baynard Stadium.
Howard was able to walk away with a 16-6 victory to clinch a birth in the Division II state tournament.
Running back C.J. Wade ran for 147 yards and a touchdown to lead Howard to a season-extending, 16-6 victory. Wade also picked off a pass late in the fourth quarter.
Concord running back Travis King had a big day with 126 yards on 16 carries, but his team cam up short in the end.
Howard linebacker Keevis Thompson did his part with two forced fumbles and a sack on Concord’s final possession.
After a slow start, Thompson’s first forced fumble helped set up the game’s first touchdown in the second quarter. The Wildcats recovered the ball on the Howard 45, and Wade found the end zone later on that possession and then ran in a two-point conversion to give Howard a 8-0 lead.
Undaunted, Concord answered with a touchdown from quarterback Ryan McCarthy to Justin Brown, but a failed two-point conversion attempt left Howard with an 8-6 halftime lead.
The final points of the game were scored when Christopher Green ran for a three-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Football: William Penn Finishes Strong
With a 52-25 win over Charter of Wilmington on Saturday, William Penn maintained a perfect record against Flight A foes this season.
Brian Fields was all over the place for the Colonials in this game. The running back scored on runs of 1 and 69 yards, and also recovered a fumble in the end zone for a defensive touchdown and returned an interception 40 yards for yet another score.
William Penn is carrying a lot of momentum into the state tournament this season. The Colonials went 7-0 in conference and are 8-2 overall.
Volleyball: Ursuline Takes Home Another State Title
The Raiders are champs again. Ursuline Academy was able to pull off a repeat as girls volleyball state champs Saturday, defeating Archmere in straight matches.
Ursuline won 26-24, 25-19, 25-14, in front of a crowd of over 1,700 at the Bob Carpenter Center. The victory not only ensured the state title would stay in Wilmington, but also paid the Auks back for handing the Raiders their only in-state loss this season.
Nicole Wiechecki had 14 kills, Courtney Seitz contributed 34 assists and Mariah Henley managed 13 digs as The Raiders cruised past Archmere.
Ursuline went undefeated in tournament play this year and was able to finish the season with 15 consecutive wins. With 10 total state championships, and six in the last seven years, the Raiders have cemented themselves as the premier program.
