WILMINGTON — Five different players scored touchdowns for Archmere as the Auks displayed a diverse offense in a 39-20 win over St. Elizabeth in the opening game for both teams on Sept. 7 at Abessinio Stadium.
Working new starters into skill positions, the Auks spread the ball around all day. Eleven different players had at least one rushing attempt, with quarterback John Orsini leading the way with five carries for 30 yards and a touchdown. Orsini was efficient in the passing game as well, completing 10 of 14 attempts for 123 yards and two scores. His passes went to six different receivers. Ryan Hagenberg had four receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown.
Archmere won the toss, elected to receive and went right to work. On the first play from scrimmage, Orsini found Noah Blessington for a 13-yard gain to the Vikings’ 49.Orsini ran for 12 yards on an option. A few plays later, on third and 3 from the 30, Orsini and Michael Donovan connected for 18 yards. Two plays later, Orsini ran it in from 6 yards out with 6:41 to go in the quarter. The point after was no good.
The Vikings moved the ball a bit before punting, and Archmere took possession at its own 34 late in the first. Christian Witmeyer got the drive started with a 17-yard rush, and the Auks kept moving. Fifty-five seconds into the second quarter, Orsini found John Shahan for a 10-yard touchdown.
Hagenberg increased the lead a few minutes later with a 46-yard interception return. Hagenberg made several defenders miss as he danced down the sideline.
St. Elizabeth embarked on a 92-yard drive that ate more than eight minutes off the clock, using most of the second quarter to score their first points. Nick Mancini and Ryan McCormac handled most of the rushing duties on the drive, but the Vikings turned to Ne’Hemiah Hamilton to convert a fourth down midway through the drive.
Quarterback Cole Andrews his Jamel Hammond for 15 yards on a second and 16, and a penalty on the Auks moved the ball to the 9. Mancini picked up eight yards, and Andrews scored on a keeper with 23 seconds to go in the half.
A Donovan interception and long return helped set up the Auks’ next score, which came late in the third. After the pick, Archmere needed just two plays to cover 15 yards, with Donovan getting the touchdown on a 4-yard run.
Another interception, this one by Patrick Bellew, sent Archmere on the way to its next score, a pass to Hagenberg, and on the kickoff, the Auks recovered a fumble at the Vikings’ 26. Freshman Wyatt Beekley, playing his first high school game, covered that yardage on first down to push the lead to 39-7.
St. Elizabeth got one touchdown back on a 50-yard pick six by Terrence Williams. Jose Maldonado ran for a 45-yard score in the closing seconds for the final margin.
Defensively for the Auks, Wittmeyer led the way with 12 tackles, while John Bradley had nine and Beekley and Francis Morda each recorded eight. The Auks (1-0) stay on the road next Friday, battling Saint Mark’s in the Graveyard at 7 p.m.
St. Elizabeth (0-1) travels to Dagsboro next Friday to meet Indian River at 7 p.m.
Photos by Mike Lang.
