It may be hard to fathom, but the regular seasons for fall sports except for football are just about over. Volleyball is in its final week, and the top teams are preparing for the postseason with challenging matches. Field hockey and soccer are in their final full week, and there are some enticing matchups in those sports as well.
On the gridiron, Catholic schools are taking part in two of the biggest games of the season. Unfortunately, they will overlap each other. Salesianum travels to Smyrna, while St. Elizabeth is home at Abessinio Stadium against Wilmington Charter.
Girls
Field hockey
Monday
Wilmington Charter (11-1) vs. St. Elizabeth (4-6), 3:45 p.m. at Hockessin Montessori School
Tuesday
Archmere (11-2) vs. Newark Charter (8-2-1), 3:45 p.m. at Newark Charter Junior High School
Saint Mark’s (8-4) vs. Padua (5-6), 3:45 p.m. at Chase Fieldhouse
Ursuline (4-7) vs. St. Elizabeth, 3:45 p.m. at Hockessin Montessori School
Thursday
Ursuline at Saint Mark’s, 3:45 p.m.
A.I. DuPont (1-9) vs. St. Elizabeth, 3:45 p.m. at Hockessin Montessori School
Delmar (13-0) vs. Padua, 4:15 p.m. at DE Turf
Saturday
Odessa (8-5) vs. Padua, 7 p.m. at Chase Fieldhouse
Volleyball
Tuesday
Tower Hill (12-1) at Archmere (10-3), 6 p.m. The final week of the regular season includes this battle in Claymont. The Hillers have quietly put together a season to remember, but they will be tested at the Auks’ nest.
Saint Mark’s (12-1) at Padua (5-7), 7:15 p.m.
Wilmington Charter (6-6) at St. Elizabeth (4-9), 7:15 p.m.
Thursday
St. Elizabeth at A.I. DuPont (2-9), 4:45 p.m.
Padua at Ursuline (5-8), 7:15 p.m.
Friday
Archmere at Newark Charter (12-1), 6:15 p.m.
Paul VI (N.J.) at Padua, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday
Ursuline at Saint Mark’s, 7 p.m. The last night of the regular season always includes this Catholic rivalry between the two schools with the most state championships. Once this one goes final, amateur bracketologists will begin projecting their state tournament field, but they’ll have to wait until the next day before the volleyball committee makes it official.
Boys
Soccer
Monday
St. Elizabeth (0-11) at Wilmington Charter (9-1), 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Wilmington Charter at Saint Mark’s (10-2), 3:45 p.m. This should be a fast-paced, entertaining battle between a top team from Division I and another from Division II. The Force and the Spartans both play an aggressive, offensive style, but neither surrenders much defensively.
Annapolis Area Christian at Ss. Peter and Paul (4-8), 4 p.m.
Thursday
Brandywine (8-4) vs. St. Elizabeth, 3:30 p.m. at Alapocas Run State Park
Archmere (6-5-1) at Caravel (11-1), 6:15 p.m.
Saturday
Archmere vs. Newark Charter (3-6-3), 11 a.m. at Newark Charter Junior High School
Delaware Military (6-4-2) at Salesianum (11-2), 7:30 p.m.
Football
Friday
Delcastle (0-7) at Saint Mark’s (7-1), 7 p.m.
Salesianum (6-1) at Smyrna (5-1), 7 p.m. The Sals and Eagles lead their respective districts in Class 3A, and this game will be for the No. 1 overall ranking. Smyrna has an explosive offense, but the Sals have had a stout defense all season. Speaking of defense, no team in the Class 3A has allowed fewer points than the Eagles.
Wilmington Charter (7-0) vs. St. Elizabeth (7-0), 7:30 p.m. at Abessinio Stadium. The Force are 7-0 for the first time in school history, and they will meet fellow undefeated St. Elizabeth in prime time at Abessinio Stadium. The winner has the inside track on the District I title in Class 1A. The running backs will take center stage as Tenye Martin of Charter and Quasim Benson of the Vikings will be in the spotlight.
Cross country (co-ed except where noted)
Tuesday
Archmere and St. Elizabeth at Diamond State Athletic Conference Championship, 3:30 p.m. at Bellevue State Park
Wednesday
Catholic Conference Championship, 3:30 p.m. at Bellevue State Park
