By Andy Walter

SMYRNA — Nate Lesniczak, for one, knows right where it happened.

The Smyrna High senior linebacker hasn’t forgotten the spot in the right corner of the end zone where Sussex Central’s Chase Boyle pulled in a 15-yard touchdown pass with only five seconds left.

The dramatic play gave Sussex Central a stunning 38-34 win over the Eagles in the DIAA Division I state semifinals last December.

“I don’t want to feel like that again,” said Lesniczak. “I look at the corner of the end zone where he caught the game-winner and still give it dirty looks. I step on it sometimes.”

On Monday morning, Smyrna was back on that home field, hoping to create some better memories in the upcoming football season. It was the first day of preseason practice for an Eagles squad that’s headed for a Sept. 4 collision with highly-regarded Bergen Catholic, N.J. in its opener.

Smyrna has won the Henlopen North title in five of the past six seasons. But the painful loss to Central kept the Eagles from getting back to the DIAA Division I state finals for the first time since 2017.

Senior receiver Devin DeMoe said that setback definitely made him want to do better next time he’s in that situation.

“That motivated me to work harder in each thing I do, each sport I play,” said DeMoe, who also plays basketball and is a high jumper. “It feels like there’s less room for error in everything you do. I just noticed that more based off that loss.”

The Eagles’ season-ending setback was difficult for junior receiver Yamir Knight, too. He was home sick and could only watch the game online.

“I was pretty devastated,” said the first-team All-Stater. “It puts a really bad feeling in your gut.

“We have to do our details so we don’t come up short. (Offensive coordinator) Coach (Mike) Marks always says, don’t leave any stones unturned. ... Details matter.”

If the frustration of the way last season ended isn’t enough to get the Eagles motivated in camp, the stature of their first opponent this year should be.

Bergen Catholic is a national-caliber program with the individual talent to back it up. MaxPreps has rated Bergen cornerback Jaeden Gould — a USC commit — as the top high school football player in New Jersey this fall.

The Crusaders, who have sent 11 players to the NFL, were the No. 1-ranked team in New Jersey in last-year’s shortened season.

Smyrna coach Mike Judy said he wanted to give his players a chance to test themselves.

“It’s an opportunity for our players to showcase their talents against some of the best players in the country,” he said. “And we’ve only got to drive two and a half hours to get there.

“You’re going to go and you’re going to get tested. And it could go a lot of different ways. ... This is a team we’re unfamiliar with and they’re unfamiliar with us. It creates a little bit of a mystery, an aura. I think it’s good for your program.”

“I know they’re a fast, physical and big team,” said Knight. “It’s big. We’ve been studying them ever since we knew they were on the schedule. We’re just trying to get prepared.”

Of course, with the Eagles now playing in Class 3A, District II under the state’s new alignment, all of Smyrna’s games are expected to be challenging. The Eagles are in the same district with Caesar Rodney, Cape Henlopen, Dover and Sussex Central.
“The harder schedule will push us to be the top (team) in the state — where we want to be,” said Lesniczak. “It makes it a lot more competitive but that’s the type of football we like.”

Extra points

Former Dover High head coach Rudy Simonetti is on Judy’s staff this fall, helping coach Smyrna’s linebackers. ... Junior quarterback Cameron Edge, who came back home to Smyrna after playing at DeMatha Catholic, was named the top player in Delaware by MaxPreps. ... The Eagles’ Harvest Bowl showdown with Middletown is Smyrna’s third game of the season this year. It’s scheduled for Sept. 17 at Smyrna.