By Andy Walter

DOVER — Dover High had been frustratingly close to making this trip before.

In 2018, the Senators fell by just a point on a last-second semifinal touchdown by Sussex Central.

Last year, Dover couldn’t get past Smyrna in the semis.

But this time, the sixth-seeded Senators broke through, downing No. 7 St. Georges, 42-14, on Saturday night to earn the program’s first trip to a DIAA football state championship game since 2001.

As the final seconds ticked away, Dover’s player dumped water over second-year head coach Chip Knapp. In their post-game huddle, they bounced up and down chanting, ‘We’re going to the ‘Chip, we’re going to the ‘Chip.’ ...’

“I was trying to get that point across to our team,” said Knapp, the former Wesley College coach. “This is how you create a legacy for yourself and get remembered. People always talk about who was in the state championship.

“One of the reasons you play is to create those memories and be remembered as a top team.”

“It’s a great moment,” said senior Tyron Abrams. “I’m just proud to be here and be on on the team that went to the ‘chip.’ Win or lose, I’m still excited to go.”

Dover (8-4) will face top-seeded Smyrna (11-1) in the Class 3A state finals on Dec. 10 at Delaware Stadium. The Class 3A championship game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. as the second of the three state title games on tap that day in Newark.

It will be the Senators’ fourth appearance in a state championship game but the first time they’ve played in UD’s 18,000-seat stadium. It’s also the first time two Kent County programs have met in a football state title game.

The Senators had won their last four meetings with St. Georges, including a 31-6 victory during the regular season. But four teams had already avenged regular-season losses in the first five games of this year’s Class 3A tournament.

Dover, however, kept the Hawks at arm’s length for most of Saturday’s rematch.

The Senators put the final touches on the victory when Abrams broke loose for a 39-yard scoring run with 3:35 remaining. It was the senior’s third touchdown of the night and fifth in the last two contests.

Abrams, who has been playing on defense, is able to make a bigger impact on offense after recently having a cast removed from his right hand.

“I love it, to help out,” said Abrams, who ran for 79 yards on five carries. “It’s great.”

It was just one of a number of big scoring plays for Dover.

With the Senators leading 21-7 at halftime, receiver John Parker took a short pass from quarterback Nahseem Cosme and turned it into a 51-yard scoring pass to give Dover a 28-7 advantage midway through the third quarter. It was also Parker’s third TD of the night.

“I’ve just got to make what I can out of it,” said Parker, who had 100 yards on six receptions. “If I see a hole, I’m going to hit it. Tonight, I just wanted to score. I smelled blood in the water.”

St. Georges answered with a 49-yard touchdown pass of its own.

But Dover answered right back, with Cosme finding Tyron Abrams on a 24-yard touchdown pass to give the Senators a 35-14 cushion.

A 40-yard run by Cosme helped set up the touchdown.

With Dover leading 7-0, the two squads traded touchdowns in the second quarter.

The Hawks scored when quarterback Donovan Brooks hit Jason Askins-Brooks with a 21-yard scoring pass on a fourth-down play.

But Parker returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards to set up Dover at the St. Georges 40. Three plays later, Abrams burst 32 yards up the middle untouched for a touchdown that gave the Senators the lead back at 14-7.

Dover then scored again on its next possession, this time going 59 yards for the touchdown. Parker picked up 10 yards on a fourth-and-one from the 11 before scoring from the one on the next play to give the Senators a 21-7 advantage with 2:57 left before halftime.

The Senators wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. On their first possession, Cosme found Parker in the flat and the sophomore receiver turned it into a 31-yard touchdown reception less than four minutes into the contest.

Against Smyrna in two weeks, Dover knows it will be the underdog.

“We can’t wait to get back to work,” said Parker. “We’ve got two weeks. We’ve got to lock in, pay attention, stay focused. We’ve got a goal, that’s what we’re trying to do.

“That’s cool,” he said about being the underdog. “We’re used to it. Nobody expected us to go to the chip. But we told (people) at the beginning of the season, meet us at UD. And that’s where we’re going to be.”

Extra points

Jakwon Kilby ran for 123 yards on 15 carries for Dover. ... Smyrna is playing in the Class 3A state finals for the second straight season. The Eagles won three Division I crowns in a row from 2015 to ‘17 — the first three in the program’s history — but none since. ... Dover owns two state championships in football, winning Division I titles in 1977 and ‘88. ... Defending champion Laurel will face St. Elizabeth in the DIAA Class 1A state title game.

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at  walter@iniusa.org. Follow on Twitter at @DSNSports.