TRIBUTE TO 2015 STATE CHAMPIONS

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1 Smyrna High School Football Special Section TRIBUTE TO 2015 STATE CHAMPIONS Smyrna/Clayton Sun-Times Dec. 9, 2015 MIKE SANTA BARBARA PHOTO Smyrna players and coaches raise the DIAA Division I Football State Championship trophy after defeating Salesianum on Saturday afternoon,

2 2B SCSUNTIMES.COM / DEC. 9, 2015 MIKE SANTA BARBARA PHOTO Smyrna quarterback Nolan Henderson (2) throws a crisp pass during the Eagles win over Salesianum on Saturday at the University of Delaware. Smyrna High School football finishes amazing season with state title Highlights from each 2015 game By Mike Santa Barbara WEEK 1 Sept. 11 vs. Delcastle, 56-0 win (1-0) The Eagles began the year in style, defeating Delcastle 56-0 in their season opener. Smyrna took control early, scoring 36 first-half points on their way to the shutout victory. Will Knight and Stephen Whaley finished with two scores on the ground, while quarterback Nolan Henderson connected for two touchdown passes to Donte Ritchie and Brandon Bishop. The Eagles also added a special teams touchdown on a blocked punt recovered in the endzone by Larsen Wilson. WEEK 2 Sept. 18 at Appoquinimink, 64-0 win (2-0) The Eagles improved to 2-0 with another shutout victory, defeating Appoquinimink Smyrna scored a remarkable 56 first-half points to run away with things early. Will Knight led the way with three touchdowns on the day, and Nolan Henderson threw three touchdown passes in the victory. Moses Carter added a 36- yard punt return for a touchdown and Stephen Whaley scored twice for the Eagles. WEEK 3 Sept. 25 at Salesianum, loss (2-1) The Eagles tasted defeat for the first time in week three, falling to Salesianum in a shootout, After falling behind SEE TITLE, NEXT PAGE

3 SCSUNTIMES.COM / DEC. 9, B TITLE FROM PREVIOUS PAGE 21-0 the Eagles stormed back to take a lead in the third quarter before Sallies pulled away. Will Knight finished the game with four touchdowns on the evening and quarterback Nolan Henderson threw four touchdowns passes and ran for another in the loss. WEEK 4 Oct. 3 at Dover, win (3-1) Smyrna bounced back in week four to defeat the Dover Senators Will Knight had another spectacular week scoring all 40 of the Eagles points. Knight rushed for five touchdowns on the ground and converted five separate two-point conversions in the victory. WEEK 5 Oct. 12 vs. Howard, 56-6 win (4-1) The Eagles continued to roll in week five, defeating eventual Division II state champs Howard, 56-6 to improve to 4-1. The Homecoming game was postponed from Friday night to Monday night because of a thunderstorm with lightning. Knight once again led the way for the Eagles, scoring three times on the ground, while, Nolan Henderson threw a touchdown pass to Charlie Taylor and broke off a 76-yard touchdown on the ground in Smyrna s victory. WEEK 6 Oct. 17 vs. Sussex Tech, 42-0 win (5-1) Smyrna improved to 5-1 on the season with a 42-0 shutout of defending Northern Division champion Sussex Tech. Four different Eagles scored touchdowns in the victory. Will Knight scored twice on the ground including a 72-yard touchdown. Nolan Henderson connected on four touchdown passes against the Ravens to Brandon Bishop, Donte Ritchie and Charlie Taylor who caught two scores. WEEK 7 Oct. 23 vs. Sussex Central, win (6-1) The Eagles continued their winning streak in week seven, defeating Sussex Central Knight was a force on the ground again for Smyrna, scoring four rushing touchdowns in the victory. Nolan Henderson threw two touchdown passes to Donte Ritchie and Brandon Bishop while also rushing for another to help lead to the Eagles to their fourth straight win. MIKE SANTA BARBARA PHOTO Will Knight (25) drops back to throw a halfback pass to Jared Gillis (9) during the Eagles win over Salesianum in the Division I hip Saturday. WEEK 8 Oct. 30 at Caesar Rodney, win (7-1) In week eight, Smyrna kept rolling, dispatching Henlopen North Division foe Caesar Rodney The Eagles scored all 52 of their points in the game s opening half, including 38 in the first quarter alone. Nolan Henderson threw four SEE TITLE, NEXT PAGE

4 4B SCSUNTIMES.COM / DEC. 9, 2015 Eli Hutchinson (38) and Diron Accoo (22) wrap up a Salesianum ball carrier during Saturday s Division I state title game. MIKE SANTA BARBARA PHOTO TITLE FROM PREVIOUS PAGE touchdown passes on the day and rushed for another to lead the way for Smyrna. Henderson, Will Knight, and Jared Gillis also connected on a halfback pass for a touchdown, a play they d use again in their hip victory over Salesianum. WEEK 9 Nov. 6 vs. Cape Henlopen, win (8-1) Smyrna conquered the Vikings Will Knight finished with four touchdowns on the night, one through the air from quarterback Nolan Henderson and three more on the ground including a 58- yard run for a score. Henderson finished with three touchdown passes to Knight, Brandon Bishop and Donte Ritchie. Also, the Eagle defense came up with a huge play when Eli Hutchinson recovered a Cape Henlopen fumble and returned it 77 yards for a score. WEEK 10 Nov. 13 at Polytech, 66-0 win (9-1) The Eagles closed out their regular season schedule with another impressive victory, shutting out Polytech 66-0 to finish with a 9-1 overall record at the Northern Division title heading into the postseason. Smyrna did most of their damage against the Panthers through the air as Nolan Henderson threw five touchdown passes, connecting with Charlie Taylor, Jared Gillis, Brandon Bishop and Donte Ritchie twice in the victory. Moses Carter added a special teams score for the Eagles, returning a Polytech punt 55 yards for a touchdown in the win. DIAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND Nov. 20 vs. Mt. Pleasant, win (10-1) Smyrna opened the postseason with win over Mt. Pleasant in the first round of the DIAA Division I state tournament. Nolan Henderson led the way for the Eagles, throwing five touchdown passes on the night, connecting with Donte Ritchie four different times. Will Knight added a score on the ground and Jake Kaiser picked up the defense with an interception return for a touchdown to help Smyrna advance to the semifinals. DIAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS Nov. 28 at William Penn, win (11-1) In the state semifinals, the Eagles came from behind to defeat defending Division I state champs William Penn on the road, After falling behind 13-0 in the first half, the Eagles scored 30 unanswered points to punch their ticket to the hip game. Will Knight took over for injured quarterback Nolan Henderson, scoring four times out of the wildcat formation including a 99-yard touchdown run to start the second half. DIAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Nov. 5 v. Salesianum, overtime win (12-1) The Eagles capped off their incredible season by winning their first state football championship, defeating Salesianum in overtime in the Division I title game at the University of Delaware. Nolan Henderson threw two touchdown passes while directing the Eagles offense. Will Knight ran for a score and threw a halfback option pass to Jared Gillis for another touchdown. Meanwhile, Charlie Taylor ignited the Eagles second-half comeback from an 18-6 deficit by catching a touchdown pass and returning a kickoff to the endzone for Smyrna. Linebacker Eli Hutchinson made the stop on Salesianum s Colby Reeder on fourth and goal at the one-yard line in overtime to clinch the title for the Eagles.

5 SCSUNTIMES.COM / DEC. 9, B Smyrna High School 2015 Football Schedule Sept. 11 Smyrna 56, Delcastle 0 Sept. 18 Smyrna 64, Appoquinimink 0 Sept. 25 Salesianum 76, Smyrna 56 Oct. 3 Smyrna 40, Dover 14 Oct. 12 Smyrna 56, Howard 6 Oct. 17 Smyrna 42, Sussex Tech 0 Oct. 23 Smyrna 58, Sussex Central 21 Oct. 30 Smyrna 52, Caesar Rodney 14 Nov. 6 Smyrna 60, Cape Henlopen 19 Nov. 13 Smyrna 66, Polytech 0 Regular season record: 9-1 HENLOPEN CONFERENCE NORTHERN DIVISION CHAMPIONS STATE TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND Nov. 20 Smyrna 56, Mount Pleasant 32 STATE TOURNAMENT SEMIFINAL Nov. 28 Smyrna 30, William Penn 13 STATE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME Dec. 5 Smyrna 32, Salesianum 26 (overtime) Final record: 12-1 DIVISION I STATE CHAMPIONS A group of Eagles pursue Salesianum running back Colby Reeder (28) during Smyrna s victory over Sallies in the Division I football state championshi p game Saturday. MIKE SANTA BARBARA PHOTO

6 6B SCSUNTIMES.COM / DEC. 9, 2015 Eli Hutchinson (38), Diron Accoo (22) and Josh Hutchinson (41) combine to make a tackle during Smyrna s Division I football hip victory over Salesianum on Saturday. MIKE SANTA BARBARA PHOTO

7 SCSUNTIMES.COM / DEC. 9, B SUBMITTED PHOTO COURTESY OF GENE SHANER For Saturday s Division I state high school football championship game at the University of Delaware, the Smyrna side of the stands were nearly full of fans.

8 8B SCSUNTIMES.COM / DEC. 9, 2015 Josh Hutchinson (41) makes a tackle during Smyrna s win over Salesianum in the Division I football hip game Saturday. Smyrna celebrates after a score during Saturday s victory over Salesianum in the Division I football hip at Delaware Stadium at the University of Delaware. MIKE SANTA BARBARA PHOTOS

9 SCSUNTIMES.COM / DEC. 9, B The cheerleaders reach new heights in cheering for the Eagles during the Homecoming football game Oct. 12 at Charles V. Williams Stadium. BEN MACE PHOTOS In Smyrna s first game of the season Sept. 11, quarterback Nolan Henderson (right) runs for a big gain against Delcastle in the Eagles 56-0 home victory. In the foreground is William Knight (25) who scored two touchdowns in the game.

10 10B SCSUNTIMES.COM / DEC. 9, 2015 The 2015 Smyrna High School Varsity Football Team Division I State Champions

11 SCSUNTIMES.COM / DEC. 9, B The Smyrna defense lines up against Howard during the Eagles 56-6 Homecoming victory Oct. 12. BEN MACE PHOTOS In the Eagles state tournament first round victory over Mount Pleasant, Smyrna High head coach Mike Judy congratulates Ryan Seymour (3) after a key defensive stop Nov. 20.

12 12B SCSUNTIMES.COM / DEC. 9, 2015