The volleyball regular season goes out with a bang this week, while boys soccer and field hockey are just a few days behind. Football marches on, with three weeks remaining in the regular season. Cross country, meanwhile, has reached the tournament stage. This week, it’s for conference supremacy.
In volleyball, the three unaffiliated Catholic schools all play each other, while Archmere meets up with the defending state champion. Saint Mark’s boys soccer team has another stiff test that will help prepare the Spartans for postseason success. All four football games involving Catholic schools this week have postseason implications.
Game dates are hard to change at this stage of the season, but be sure to check to make sure your team is still at the same day and time before heading out to the field or gymnasium.
Girls
Field hockey
Monday, Oct. 23
Ursuline (3-10) at Wilmington Charter (7-5), 3:45 p.m.
Sussex Academy (8-5) at Saint Mark’s (11-2), 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 24
Padua (4-10) at Saint Mark’s, 3:45 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 25
Wilmington Christian (4-7) vs. St. Elizabeth (5-7), 3:30 p.m. at Chase Fieldhouse
Thursday, Oct. 26
St. Elizabeth at Conrad (4-9-1), 3:45 p.m.
Archmere (7-6) at Tatnall (6-6), 4 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 27
Ursuline at Hodgson (4-6-1), 3:45 p.m.
Volleyball
Tuesday, Oct. 24
Archmere (8-5) at Tower Hill (11-1), 5:15 p.m. This trip to Carpenter Field House is an opportunity for the Auks to play top-quality competition just before the tournament starts. Tower Hill has won 10 straight matches and will be among the favorites in the postseason.
Delaware Military (4-8) at St. Elizabeth (2-11), 6 p.m.
Padua (9-4) at Saint Mark’s (13-0), 7:15 p.m. The final week of the regular season always means intense competition among these two teams and Ursuline. Both the Pandas and Spartans end their seasons with Ursuline, but not before battling each other in what promises to be a lively atmosphere.
Wednesday, Oct. 25
St. Elizabeth at Newark Charter (9-3), 3:45 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 26
First State Military (2-11) at Archmere, 6 p.m.
Ursuline (10-3) at Padua, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 28
Ursuline at Saint Mark’s, 7:15 p.m. This is the final regular-season match in the state. The DIAA volleyball committee will meet the next morning to figure out which 24 teams have qualified for the tournament, along with when and where they will play.
Cross country
Tuesday, Oct. 24
Archmere at Diamond State Athletic Conference championship, White Clay Creek State Park, Newark
Wednesday, Oct. 25
Padua, Saint Mark’s and Ursuline at Catholic Conference championship, 3 p.m. at Bellevue State Park, Bellefonte
Ss. Peter and Paul at Indian Creek
Boys
Soccer
Tuesday, Oct. 24
Saint Mark’s (7-3) at Wilmington Charter (9-2), 3:30 p.m. The Spartans continue to challenge themselves as they march toward the postseason. The Force will be the fourth Division I team have met this season, with another one against Newark looming next week. Charter’s lone losses have come to Salesianum and Delcastle, both of whom Saint Mark’s stayed with in their games against them.
Ss. Peter and Paul at St. Paul’s School for Boys, 4 p.m.
Archmere (7-6) at Salesianum (9-3-1), 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 26
Archmere at MOT Charter (2-9), 3 p.m.
Conrad (7-3) vs. St. Elizabeth (1-11), 3:45 p.m. at Banning Park
Salesianum at St. Augustine Prep (N.J.), 4 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 28
Saint Mark’s at Tower Hill (6-4-1), 7 p.m.
Cross country
Tuesday, Oct. 24
Archmere and St. Elizabeth at Diamond State Athletic Conference championship, White Clay Creek State Park, Newark
Saint Mark’s vs. Salesianum, 3:30 p.m. at Bellevue State Park
Football
Thursday, Oct. 26
Tatnall (6-1) vs. St. Elizabeth (3-4), 7 p.m. at Abessinio Stadium. The Hornets have been nothing short of explosive on offense this year, scoring 53 points one time and 55 on three occasions. They are the highest-scoring team in Class 1A, and they have surrendered the second-fewest points per game in the class. The Vikings have shown an ability themselves to put points on the board; they remain in the hunt for a tournament bid.
Friday, Oct. 27
Middletown (6-1) at Salesianum (6-1), 7:30 p.m. One of the biggest games of the week takes place at Abessinio Stadium. The winner gets the edge for the Class 3A District 1 title. District winners will receive the top two seeds in the eight-team state tournament. Austin Troyer is a threat every time he drops back to pass for the Cavaliers, while B.J. Alleyne has added a new dimension to the Sals’ offensive attack. If you’re attending this one, get there early. It will be packed.
Saturday, Oct. 28
Saint Mark’s (3-4) at William Penn (3-4), noon. The Spartans seek to end a three-game losing streak on Bruce Reynolds Field, where the Colonials have won twice and played undefeated Dover very tough. Freshman Josiah Everett continues to improve for William Penn at quarterback, but he’ll face pressure from a Spartans’ defensive front that includes Aidan Zellman and Jake O’Donoghue.
Archmere (4-3) vs. Howard (5-2), 7 p.m. at Abessinio Stadium. This prime-time matchup will be a key factor in determining the Class 2A District 2 champion. The Auks will need to figure out how to stop the Wildcats’ R.J. Matthews and his high-powered offense. Matthews promises to keep Archmere’s defensive backs busy. One way to limit Howard’s offense is to keep it off the field, so the running of Cole Fenice and P.J. Blessington will be important.
