Tech poses legit threat to Riders

Two weeks ago, it was a contest between last year’s Division I and II state champion football teams of 2008.

This past week, it was a rematch of the 2008 Division I state championship game.

The common denominator between the two games: the Caesar Rodney High School football team came out on top.

A week after taking out Milford High School (4-3, 3-1), 22-0, the Riders (5-2, 3-0) successfully disposed of Sussex Central High School (3-4, 0-4), 34-7, Oct. 23 at Rider Stadium.

Even though Central has had a bit of a down year, struggling to find an in-conference win up to this point, Head Coach Mike Schonewolf said the Golden Knights were a tough opponent.

“Every game you play in the Henlopen is tough,” Schonewolf said. “This game was no different, and even though they struggled a little this year, it’s a game that has been a big one the past few years and certainly it carries its own little rivalry. But we came out and executed.”

Senior running back Daqaun Harris, who scored a rushing touchdown in the win, said the subplots of the game made victory that much more satisfying.

“We haven’t really beaten them in the conference in a while, so it was a big game,” Harris said. “Last year they ruined our senior night, so this year it was fun to play them on their senior night and come out with a W.”

The game marks the third consecutive week CR has held its opponents to two scores or less, something Schonewolf credits to the maturation process of his players.

“I think we’re getting better and better each week,” he said. “The key is that younger guys that weren’t playing are getting a chance to play now, and they’re getting experience.”

That experience could prove to be a huge benefit this week as the Riders prep for a game that could factor immensely into who walks out on top of the Henlopen Conference this season.

CR will host Henlopen foe Sussex Tech High School (6-1, 4-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at Rider Stadium.

If Schonewolf’s team is able to come out with a victory, it will remain the only undefeated team in conference play and will gain a two-win advantage on a very tough Ravens squad.

Winning the conference, Schonewolf said, is not what his team is thinking about. Their primary goal is to win Friday’s game first, and then begin to worry about Smyrna for the following week.
Everything else, he said, will work itself out.

“The thing we’re talking about right now is Sussex Tech,” Schonewolf said. “I know it’s a cliché to say one week at a time, but it’s not a joke. If you lose focus and you’re not in tune with what’s in front of you, you hurt yourself.

“This game is huge though and we know what this one is about.”

Harris agreed and said while he and his teammates understand the spot they’re in, they need to remember that they haven’t won anything yet.

“We’re in a good position but we’ve got to stay level-headed,” he said. “We can’t just come in thinking we’re going to run over top of teams. Every team wants it just as much as we do.”
One major weapon the Riders will look to use to their advantage of is their very potent running attack, which includes the 1-2 punch of Malcolm Yowk and Harris, along with Brandon Bowman.

Add in steady quarterback Keith Boris, who threw a touchdown pass to receiver Jordan Henry in this past weekend’s win, and Schonewolf said the team’s got a pretty scary offense right now.

“You like to have balance in every thing that you do,” he said.

Harris said sharing the workload with Yowk makes it much easier to expose defenses, as well as help keep the two backs fresh throughout the game.

“My legs and his legs are fresh,” he said. “When I’m having a big game the defense keys on me and it helps him to go outside, and when he’s having a big game it helps me out because it opens up the middle.”

And it is up the middle where Harris has done a lot of his damage this season, quite literally, as unsuspecting defensive players have been crushed by the full-steam-ahead 6-foot, 215-pound back.

“I take a lot of pleasure in that,” he said of the punishing hits he’s been laying on the opposition during his runs. “They think they’re going to hit me and I’m just gonna be like other backs and try to get around them. But I’m more of just a running ahead guy, and I’m not going to be taking all the blows. I’m gonna give it to you, too.”

UP NEXT
WHO Caesar Rodney High School (5-2, 3-0) vs. Sussex Tech High School (6-1, 4-1)
WHEN 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30
WHERE Rider Stadium, 239 Old North Road, Camden

Email Brian Citino at brian.citino@doverpost.com.