Things did not exactly start off the way the Caesar Rodney High School football team had planned in its Homecoming game this past Friday.

    With all the hype and momentum surrounding the week, the pep rally earlier that day and the parade just prior to the game, the Riders expected to come flying out of the gate against Smyrna High School.

    On the opening kickoff, CR kick returner Malcolm Yowk mishandled the ball, then lost his direction on the field and ended up getting tackled in end zone for a safety.

    And just like that it was 2-0 Smyrna.

    The Riders, however, did not let that mishap dampen their Homecoming celebration, as they racked up 18 points — including a safety of their own — in the following five minutes en route to a 58-15 victory and their eighth win of the season.

    One score contributing to those first 18 points was a 70-yard kickoff return by Yowk for a touchdown, redeeming his earlier error.

    Head coach Mike Schoenwolf said Yowk just lost his place on the field for the safety, a simple mistake, and that his touchdown return did not have extra fuel or a redemptive charge.

    “He didn’t realize he ended up in the end zone and that’s obviously a mistake he’ll learn from,” Schonewolf said. “Malcolm is a pretty intense young man. He’s very sincere with how approaches the game and he plays with that intensity all the time.

    “He approaches things the right way and has a pretty good mentality.”

    With the win, CR (8-0) inched a bit closer to a perfect regular season. With only two more games to play, though, their toughest challenges may be in front of them.

    This weekend the Riders will host Sussex Central (7-1), a team that’s also undefeated in the Henlopen Conference, making the match-up important for both teams in pursuit of a conference title.

    “It’s gonna be a barn burner,” Schoenwolf said of the upcoming game. “It’s two teams that over the last decade have had traditionally successful programs.”

    He said the Riders might see something they recognize when facing Central this weekend — themselves.

    “There are a lot of similarities between what we do and what they do,” Schoenwolf said. “They’re a pretty balanced offensive team. They’ve used the pass a good bit but also have a good running team.”

    Following a week where CR put up 58 points, momentum should not be a problem going into this weekend. But getting a win and maintaining that momentum is important for the Riders to take to the final game of the season against Dover, and then into the state tournament.

    Schoenwolf said, however, that Dover and the tournament are not in the minds of the Riders at this point. Instead, they’re just focused on getting better every day.

    “We’ve tried to reach a different level with each day and each game we’ve gone through,” he said. “For us, the tournament is so far removed from our thoughts right now.

    “We’re looking at it straight up. For us right now, there’s a game on Friday that’s going to be a big game. This is the time of year you like to be playing.”

    The Caesar Rodney High School football team will play host to Sussex Central at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at Rider Stadium, Camden.

Email Brian Citino at brian.citino@doverpost.com