For the past two weeks the Caesar Rodney High School football team was essentially playing playoff football.

The Riders (7-3, 5-1) needed to win its final two regular season games to claim a share of the Henlopen Conference North title and get into the postseason.

Not only did Head Coach Mike Schonewolf’s team win those games, it dominated them, first beating Smyrna, 34-13, Nov. 6, then taking down cross-town rival Dover, 42-12, Nov. 13.

“We lost the game to Sussex Tech and we were in a position where we had to do what we did to move forward,” Schonewolf said. “The Smyrna game was important for being the Smyrna game, and [the Dover game] obviously, because of the rivalry, was important for what it was.

“But we knew we were confident enough to play in the tournament, and we’re excited to have the chance to do that.”

Schonewolf said despite the hiccup CR had in its Oct. 30 game against Sussex Tech — a 21-14 loss — his team is playing as well as he could hope for right now.

“I would feel really confident about saying we hit our stride if we put a better performance out against Sussex Tech, because that certainly was a step back,” he said. “But we’re playing good now and the guys have the experience that they need and we’re getting better and better, so we’re excited to keep on going.”

The Riders, with the win, earned the No. 5 seed in the tournament and will get a shot at redemption against No. 4 Tech (9-1, 5-1) when the teams meet in the first round at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at Tech.

The lethal running combination of seniors Daqaun Harris, Malcolm Yowk and Brandon Bowman produced all six Rider scores this past weekend and are red-hot heading into the postseason.

Yowk, who scored two of the CR touchdowns against Dover, said things have fallen into place for his team’s running game at the right time.

“Everybody has learned and knows their assignments now,” he said. “That is what is making things work for us right now.”

On the other side of the ball, the defense has been stellar, as it has not allowed any first-half points in the first two games, and has not given up a touchdown in either of those games until the offense had built a sizeable lead.

Senior defensive end Josh Ferris said it’s a comfort knowing the defense is playing so well, and thinks the team can win on that strength.

“Knowing we can count on our defense to win, it’s a great feeling,” Ferris said. “Our coaches always say, ‘If they do not score, they cannot win.’ That’s the motto that we go by.”

The playoff standings this season ended up closer than in years past, with a lot of parity from seeds No. 1 to No. 6. Because of that, Schonewolf said it’s anybody’s game now.

“Any time the tournament starts, you have teams that are qualified and deserve to be there for various reasons,” he said. “The only team we haven’t seen is [No. 1 A.I. DuPont High School], so I don’t know what talent level they have. But I know they’re very good. Everybody else we’ve seen or played and I think there’s a lot of scenarios that could play out.”

And as for the first-round game, Schonewolf said there is no revenge factor involved based on the loss three weeks ago.

“I think the motivation is looking at what the playoffs are all about,” he said. “It’s the possibility of winning and going on, or the fear of losing and going home that motivates us.”

Other games…
The No. 3 seed, Concord High School, will play host to No. 6 St. Mark’s High School at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21.

No. 1 A.I. DuPont High School and No. 2 Salesianum School each received a BYE through the first round.

Email Brian Citino at brian.citino@doverpost.com

UP NEXT
WHO Caesar Rodney High School (7-3, 5-1) at Sussex Tech High School (9-1, 5-1)
WHEN 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21
WHERE Sussex Tech High School, 17099 County Seat Highway, Georgetown