Going into its final game of the season, the Dover High School football team faces an interesting situation at what is often considered the sport’s toughest position.
With junior starting quarterback Kamal Abrams inactive due to a concussion sustained in the Nov. 6 loss to Milford High School (6-3, 5-1) and backup junior Xavier Allen out for the season, the Senators (4-5, 2-3) are set to start freshman QB Ian Gory this weekend.
Head Coach Carlton Brown said the coaching staff is reorganizing the game plan for the game against Caesar Rodney High School (6-3, 4-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13.
Starting a third-string quarterback has forced Dover to rearrange how it will approach the game, as it limits the team in some areas.
“It’s hard when you lose your starter and your backup is hurt,” Brown said. “We’re trying to figure out what we’re going to do.”
Brown added, however, that Dover has more weapons it can take advantage of on offense, it’ll just have to do its damage with fewer plays in the plan.
“I would say this would be a running game now more than before Kamal got hurt,” he said. “Ian can throw the ball but the playbook is not as open as you would like it to be.”
The Senators are coming off another in-conference loss against Milford, 40-28, a score Brown said was more lopsided on paper than it was on the field.
With Dover leading after the first half, 14-13, Abrams was knocked out in the third quarter, which Brown said left the offense scrambling for options the rest of the game.
“When Kamal got hurt, that’s when things got crazy,” he said. “Our playbook got really small and things kind of went astray. From there it was just trying to maintain things.
“But the kids played well, they came out and really played hard.”
This year’s rivalry between the Sens and Riders does not hold as much weight as it did a year ago for Brown’s group.
Last year, with a win, Dover could have found itself in the state tournament, but it ended up losing, 33-20, in a tight game.
This year, with the Senators mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, Brown’s group can play the role of spoiler as CR is in a win-and-they’re-in situation relative to the tournament.
Still, with the excitement of the rivalry and the chance to end their cross-town rival’s season, Brown is unsure what to expect Friday given the team’s injury situation.
“It’s a little hard to project what will happen when you’re going in with one hand tied behind your back,” he said. “We’re just going to try and finish out strong, go out and compete.”
Email Brian Citino at brian.citino@doverpost.com
UP NEXT
WHO Dover High School (4-5, 2-3) at Caesar Rodney High School (6-3, 4-1)
WHEN 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13
WHERE Caesar Rodney High School, 239 Old North Road, Camden
