Mid-Atlantic Pigskin Classic Day 1 Recap
Tagged under: Beyond The Keystone, News, Non-PIAA
Willie McGonigle | August 29, 2024
WILMINGTON: Thursday marked the opening day of the 2024 High School Football season in the state of Delaware with it came the 2nd Annual Mid-Atlantic Pigskin Classic. The event held at Salesianum School’s Abessino Stadium is a three-day event that brings some of the best teams in the Mid-Atlantic Region to one place.
Hodgson Vo Tech Silver Eagles and Howard School of Technology Wildcats for the second year in a row kicked off the classic. Last year the Wildcats mauled the Silver Eagles 43-12. This year the Silver Eagles got their revenge taking down the Wildcats 21-6.
The Wildcats struck first on the afternoon with Amir Maddrey breaking through the Silver Eagles’ defense and racing 63 yards for the Wildcats touchdown. The Silver Eagles stopped the two-point conversion. Maddrey led the Wildcat’s offensive attack rushing for 91 yards on 13 carries.
QB Xavier Brown gave the Silver Eagles the lead connecting with Dareon Lockhart for a 32-yard touchdown making it 7-6 with 7:08 to play in the first half.
In the third quarter, Brown’s arm once again led to another to another touchdown this time connecting with Brysheem Davis for a 29-yard touchdown making it 13-6.
From that point forward the Silver Eagles took over limiting the Wildcats’ offense to 204 yards and adding a touchdown with a Davis pick-six to seal the game with 1:39 left to play in the game
“That was our goal, our game plan was to do anything we could to slow down number 8(Maddrey).” Silver Eagles Head Coach Dave Collins said of his defense’s ability to limit the damage done by Maddrey.
The main event of the night was supposed to be a heavyweight fight between Inter Ac Power Episcopal Academy Churchman and the host Salesianum Sallies. The Sallies entered the game ranked as the number-one team in the state of Delaware. Fans certainly got their money’s worth in the battle of those two teams before Mother Nature decided to intervene forcing the postponement of the game’s second half till Friday at Noon.
Jasir Gaymon started the game off with a bang returning the opening kickoff 73 yards down to the Churchman 26-yard line. Six Plays later he gave the Sallies the early 7-0 lead with his 4-yard touchdown run.
The Sallies defense forced the Churchman into a three-and-out and after another big return by Gaymon put the Sallies at the Churchman 13. Aiden Lego added on to the lead with his one-yard plunge making it 14-0.
The Churchman came storming back with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Brody Garrison to Jackson Orcutt making 14-7.
The Sallies appeared poised to add on the lead in the final minute of the first half but Anik Vossschulte intercepted Brady McBride allowing the Churchman to only trail 14-7 heading into the locker room at half.
After a lengthy lightning delay that extended halftime till Friday at noon, the Churchman will receive the second half kickoff.
Maryland’s McDonogh School and New York’s Archbishop Stepinac will be the first full game of day two of the Classic followed by Downingtown West taking on Smyrna at 8 pm.
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