The Caesar Rodney High School football team got something it very much needed this past week — a break.

    After 10 straight weeks of football starting all the way back on Sept. 8, the Riders were granted a weekend off as they were seeded No. 1 in the state tournament and received a bye through the first round.

    “The layoff has been good,” head coach Mike Schoenwolf said. “We had some solid practices working on some things to make us better, and we got a chance to recover a little bit.”

    Schoenwolf added that although his team enjoyed taking the time to heal and fine tune, this weekend’s game could not come fast enough.

    “They’re ready to go,” he said of his team. “These guys are anxious to play. They’re in a situation they’ve dreamed about all year, and to be able to live that dream has them ready to go.”

    CR (9-1) will get its chance to try to fulfill that fantasy as its road to a state championship begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, as it hosts No. 5 St. Mark’s (8-3) at Rider Stadium.

    The Spartans are on a quest of their own right now, stunning No. 4 seed and defending state champion Middletown in the first round of the tournament, 20-15, Nov. 14.

    Schoenwolf said his team will have to be extremely careful with a team like St. Mark’s, because it knows how to win in the postseason.

    “St. Mark’s is a traditionally powerful football team in the state,” he said. “And they’re a team that has some real playoff experience.”

    Going into the tournament as the No. 1 seed seemingly gives the Riders an advantage, but Schoenwolf and his players are not viewing it that way.

    The head coach said the seeding is only a reflection of regular-season performance, and the No. 1 seed is a testament to CR’s strength of schedule out of conference early in the season.

    “These guys did a great job with the tough schedule in the beginning of the year,” Schoenwolf said. “The tough schedule is a double-edged sword though. If you win, you get those extra points, but if you lose it hurts you.”

    Another thing he said the tough out-of-conference schedule helped his team with was preparing it for the challenges it would face once the playoffs did roll around.

    “It establishes a mentality that you need to be your best and you need to play tough, physical football,” Schoenwolf said. “Win or lose in those games, it provides a lesson. You’ll face the same kind of teams at the end of the year, and you’re better prepared to handle them.”

    Now that the Riders are readying to embark on their tournament journey, he said being considered the top team left goes right out the window.

    “Once you get the spot it means nothing,” Schoenwolf said. “We’re no different than anyone else. There are six teams that get the opportunity in the tournament, and now we’re one of four equal teams remaining.

    “And we’re going to do what we have to do to win.”

    The No. 1 Caesar Rodney High School football team will play host to No. 5 St. Mark’s at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at Rider Stadium.

    The winner of that game will go on to the state championship game and face the winner of the No. 3 William Penn at No. 2 Sussex Central game, being played at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22.

Email Brian Citino at brian.citino@doverpost.com