With the close of Delaware’s high school regular football season, and the playoffs already ongoing, here is a look at players who made special contributions to their teams.
They are among the leaders in rushing, passing, scoring and tackles. They thrilled home and visiting crowds alike with their skill and gutsy play. Or, while their stats may not be among the top performers, they proved to be crucial pistons in the engines of their teams.
Players were selected by coaches, sportswriters from within the Dover Post Co. and among the leaders in statistics compiled by PrepSportsDelaware.com.
Enjoy reading about players five through one this week and – if you missed it last week– click here to read about players 10 through six.
5- St. Mark’s wide receiver Brandon Baker is one of the top offensive players in the state, coach John Wilson said. He has 25 receptions for 671 yards, good for an impressive 26.8 yards per reception, and seven touchdowns, his longest of which was 98 yards, through 10 games. A former quarterback himself, Baker is a favorite target of Tyler Hrycak (76-of-132 for 1,588 yards). “Often double teamed, he still finds ways of getting open and making defenders miss,” Wilson said. “His average yards per catch is one of the best in the state. Brandon is also our punter, averaging 37 yards per punt, and he plays outside linebacker and safety on defense.” He was also the starting quarterback for two years, and could step in and play the quarterback position if need be. “In my opinion, this makes him one of the top ten football players in the state,” Wilson said.
4- Pencader quarterback Brandon Norman has completed 70 of 111 pass attempts (60.8 percent) for 1,738 yards, second in the state, and 23 touchdowns, good for first in the state, according to unofficial stats compiled by PrepSportsDelaware.com. As a result, Pencader wide receivers Brian Norman (46 receptions, 759 yards) and Darrell Miller-Smith (38 receptions, 575 yards) are the No. 1 and 2 receivers, respectively, in the state. As the offense’s leader, Brandon Norman has led the Titans to a 7-2 record by week 9 (5-1 in the Blue Hen Flight B Conference). With 35 playoff points, Pencader was fourth among the six teams vying to enter the Division II state football tournament.
3- There are many great players in the state, but Alexis I. duPont quarterback C.J. Jones shines on the short list. Jones has led A.I. to a football renaissance this season, with the Tigers 10-0. Jones has completed 19 of 39 passes for a respectable 199 yards through nine games, but his real threat comes on the ground. The speedy Jones has carried the ball 78 times for 1,015 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has also has played “a shut down cornerback” for A.I. duPont this year, coach Zeb Blum said. “He’s off to Boston College next year and will succeed there,” he said. A.I. had accumulated 49 playoff points (a 5.4 index), which ranked first among all Division I teams.-
