DE State Finals: Winners & Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Delaware State Finals were this past weekend and we had some elite performances in crunch time from players that need to be highlighted. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each Class of the DE State Finals had spectacular games that were close and competitive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 3A: Middletown came back from 18 down at the half vs Salesianum to win in exciting fashion in OT.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 2A: Caravel won their 2nd straight state championship, in a game that was closer than the score. Caravel was only up 12-6 over Howard at the end of the 3rd quarter, before scoring 31 points in the 4th to win 43-6.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 1A: We had a shoot-out between Indian River and Tatnall in which Indian River scored last to win 47-45. In one of the biggest plays of the year IR won on a hook &amp; ladder player where Dylan Grise passed to [player_tooltip player_id='1611627' first='Michael' last='Peranteau'] who lateraled the ball to Javion Chandler who ran it in for a 53 yd TD to take the lead with 1:30 left in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1241916"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6750ed90de219"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">James wrecked havoc all game long and made some huge impact plays for Caravel. He had a stat line for the game that fills up the box score with 5 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 batted down passes, 1 FF, and 2 blocked punts that lead to recoveries for Caravel both times. That is an MVP performance for Steel and it is no wonder he is now a 2X DPOY for the state of DE. James holds multiple FBS/FCS offers right now and is gaining more interest by the week. He is a Power 4 kid in my mind and with his performance in the State Finals I expect some of those school to be reaching out to secure his signature on Feb. 5th.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ended the season off right!<br>3 sacks, 2 batted down passes, 2 blocked punts, 1 FF, and 5 tackles in our win over Howard in the State Championship game! <a href="https://t.co/7InQTQokf5">pic.twitter.com/7InQTQokf5</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1241916' first='James' last='Steel'] (@steelfb14) <a href="https://twitter.com/steelfb14/status/1863346265171296377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1572434,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1611588' first='Ira' last='Yates']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"234","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2407","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Caravel ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6750ed90de308"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Talk about stepping up when your team needs you, Ira did just that for Caravel this past weekend. Starting RB Josh Roy went down with an injury early in the game and Ira (who usually plays as a TE/H-Back) took on the RB role for the rest of the game and had himself a night. Ira rushed for 3 TDs on the night, 2 off them in the 4th quarter helping Caravel pull away. The 3 scores on the night doubled his season total rushing touchdowns, so talk about the right game to make such a big impact carrying the ball. Ira is a versatile TE who just made 1st Team All State TE as well. He will be one many schools will want to have come camp this summer, and a key player for Caravel's 3 peat attempt next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Blessed to be a 2x State Champion 💍 <a href="https://twitter.com/zayayates?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@zayayates</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CaravelFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CaravelFB</a> <a href="https://t.co/FGTBXtrri3">pic.twitter.com/FGTBXtrri3</a></p>&mdash; Ira “IJ” Yates Jr (@IraYates_c26) <a href="https://twitter.com/IraYates_c26/status/1863418789640991154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1314870"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1572747,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6750ed90de35f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Darius had a huge game vs Sallie and made the game winning TD catch in OT to secure the win for Middletown. On the day he had 12 catches for 171 yards and 3 TDs helping lead the comeback by making play after play. His game winning catch was an impressive one handed snag in the back of the end zone. He had another impressive TD catch where he went up between multiple defenders to high point the ball and come down with a very athletic play for the catch. He is a playmaker with elite ball skills and it showed in the game. Darius has had a huge junior season, being and impact player for Middletown all year and really showed that ability in the most important game. He has a couple Power 4 Offers currently and I expect that number to increase big time this winter/spring. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">12 Catches for 171 yds &amp; 3 Touchdowns with the 1 handed game winning td in OT!<br><br>Full szn tape dropping soon!<a href="https://twitter.com/MiddletownFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MiddletownFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianDohn247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrianDohn247</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/tdhald?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tdhald</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachjohnson302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachjohnson302</a> <a href="https://t.co/bCBsD8XC3O">pic.twitter.com/bCBsD8XC3O</a></p>&mdash; Darius (A1) pope (@DariusPope21) <a href="https://twitter.com/DariusPope21/status/1863573759531049241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1572421,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Austin Hamm","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"182","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2441","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Middletown (DE)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6750ed90de40c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kickers can be huge factors in big time championships games and their ability to be clutch can flip a game on and change momentum. It's usually by making game tying/winning FGs, but Austin was able to impact the game in a huge way from coverting to onside kickoffs for Middletown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The first was a sneak onside kick that Salesianum was not prepared for. Austin produced a perfect low and bouncy kick that made it tough for Salesianum players to get a hand on and was then recovered by Middletown at the 43yd line and leading a TD run by [player_tooltip player_id='1349631' first='Hanif' last='Miller'] later on the possession. The second one was pooch kick that dropped and settled at the 25yd line in between the lines of Sallie's kick return set up and Middletown was able to run down and scoop it up first. Both of these plays are very important kicks that allowed Middletown to continue their comeback charge in the second half and without Austin nailing these to perfection that comeback my never have materialized for Middletown so he deserves tons of credit for helping out the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1313454"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6750ed90de455"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Darnell had a monster of a game to help lift Indian River over Tatnall in what was one of the most exciting games of the playoffs. On the day Darnell had 152 total yards from scrimmage while scoring 4 times, two rushing TDs and 2 receiving TDs. Both of his rushing scores game off of jet sweep handoffs where he able to wiggle his way through the defense. He also had a 62 yard reception he beat the coverage over the top to score and then an impressive go up and get it grab mossing the defender in the back corner of the endzone for his second. Darnell was an MVP level performer for IR that game and was key to their victory. With two Power 4 Offers already, more are on the way after his performance this past weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">State Championship Highlights | finished with 2 rushing touchdowns &amp; 2 receiving touchdowns | end with 152 yards total | 3 tackles <a href="https://twitter.com/Phillip65773?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Phillip65773</a> <a href="https://t.co/S4OsNXf9nc">https://t.co/S4OsNXf9nc</a></p>&mdash; Darnell Stokes Jr. (@DarnellStokes1k) <a href="https://twitter.com/DarnellStokes1k/status/1863401178379546824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->