Sussex Tech uses ground game, defense to defeat Delmar, 28-7

The Sussex Tech varsity football team scored 21 second half points to defeat Delmar, 28-7, last Friday in the Wildcats’ homecoming game. The Ravens used their running and passing game and made some key defensive plays to move to 6-1 going into Saturday’s home showdown with district rival Indian River.

“I don’t care what kind of year they (Delmar) are having. Delmar is incredibly hard to beat at home, on homecoming,” said Sussex Tech head coach Brad Ellingsworth.“Once we get back to practice day we have to forget about it (win).”

Delmar’s Darius Carter returned the opening kickoff to the 37 yard-line. Dason Baine had two carries for 10 yards and Isaiah Schoolfield picked up four yards on a third and two run from the Sussex Tech 45. The Wildcats were forced to punt on fourth and 10 from the Sussex Tech 41, but a running into the kicker penalty on the Ravens kept the drive alive.

Senior Dason Baine catches an 11-yard pass from quarterback Storm Hoffman to set up first and goal for the Wildcats in last Saturday’s homecoming game against Sussex Tech.

Baine had a 12-yard run and caught an 11-yard pass from Storm Hoffman. Delmar’s Orian Church scored on a three-yard touchdown run and Caleb Melvin kicked the extra point for a 7-0 Delmar lead with 3:41 left in the opening quarter.

Sussex Tech’s offense opened with the ball on the 35. Eric Wright-McGlotten had an 11-yard on third and one from the 44. Wright-McGlotten added a six-yard run on third and two from the 25, Jayden Justice gained 10 yards on third and five from the 14, and Wright-McGlotten score on a one-yard run. Matthew Persaud’s PAT knotted the score at 7-7 (7:44).

The Ravens got the ball back following a Delmar punt before the Wildcats regained possession on an interception by Carter.

Delmar’s Lionel Hickman recorded a sack at the start of the second half to help force a Sussex Tech punt. Trouble on the snap on an attempted punt by the Wildcats led to an incomplete pass, giving the Ravens the ball on their own 38.

Wright-McGlotten rumbled 17 yards on a run and scored on an 18-yard run. Persaud’s PAT made the score 14-7 with 3:13 remaining in the third quarter.

The two teams exchanged punts with Delmar’s offense taking over on their own four early in the fourth quarter. The Ravens’ Rashad Holland intercepted a pass at the Wildcats’ 16. Justice scored on a 16-yard touchdown run and Persaud connected for his third extra point (9:32).

“The interception was a huge breaking point into the game,” Ellingsworth said. “Once our kids were able to get the momentum they just rode it.”

Sussex Tech’s Kayden Andrews had a sack to help force a Delmar punt. Ravens’ quarterback Knox Sheets completed a 28-yard pass to Braydon Hazzard on second and 20 from the 29. Holland added runs of 10 and 11 yards and Isaiah Fountain scored on a two-yard run.  Persaud’s extra point with 1:16 left in the game made the score 28-7.

“That’s (running the ball) our offense. At the end of the day, we want to control the ball,” said Ellingsworth. “It’s definitely a huge compliment to have that vertical pass threat along with our ball control run game.”

Wright-McGlotten ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns, Justice had 51 yards rushing and a touchdown, and Holland added 47 yards on the ground.

The Ravens rely on their physical running backs and have had their most effective year of throwing the ball downfield during Ellingsworth’s tenure. They also defeated Delmar for the first time.