MIDDLETOWN — It can be difficult to play catch up for 48 minutes.

Before the offense was even able to take the field, Dover High already trailed by a touchdown.

And less than five minutes into the game, Appoquinimink High had built up a two-score lead on the way to a hard-fought 34-28 victory at Jaguar Stadium Friday night.

The Class 3A loss snaps Dover’s four-game win streak while Appoquinimink picks up their second win of the season to improve to 2-3.

Dover will now prepare to host Class 3A-District II opponent Sussex Central High next Friday night for homecoming.

Even after falling behind 28-7 at the halftime break and 34-7 early in the third quarter, Dover battled back to score 21 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarters to nearly pull away with a comeback.

The Senators (4-2) pulled to within six points in the fourth quarter and, after the defense forced a late turnover on downs, got the ball back with 1:46 remaining with an opportunity to win the game.

Appoquinimink’s defense registered three consecutive sacks, two by senior Tyrone Cooper, and Jeremiah Riley picked off a pass on fourth down as time expired to preserve the win for the Jaguars.

Senior quarterback Ryan vonBrandt tossed for 140 yards and a touchdown on 5-of-10 passing to lead the Jags offense. He also ran for two first-half touchdowns from two and nine yards out.

Sophomore running back Daniel McConomy rushed for 49 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Senior Xavier Rodgers scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown for the Jags.

Senior quarterback Jordan Moran completed 17 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown with three interceptions for Dover. Sophomore running back Jakwon Kilby ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns on his 18 carries.

Junior Tyron Abrams tallied a pair of second-half touchdowns for the Senators, catching a 14-yard touchdown and running the ball in from two yards out.

After receiving the first-half kickoff, it took just five plays for Appo to strike first when vonBrandt punched the ball in from two yards out at the 10:14 mark. He set up the touchdown with a 73-yard strike to senior Jaden Weatherspoon that set them up inside the 10-yard line.

After a quick three-and-out from Dover’s offense on the ensuing possession, vonBrandt used just two plays on the next drive to hit Weatherspoon on a 45-yard touchdown connection to put his team ahead 14-0 with 7:20 in the first quarter.

The lead was extended to three touchdowns when Rodgers squeezed into the end zone from a yard out on the first play of the second quarter.

Kilby finally put the Senators on the board with a 54-yard touchdown run with 9:10 to play in the half.

Appoquinimink’s offense took advantage of great field position after a Dover punt and vonBrandt’s second rushing touchdown at 3:10 capped the scoring for the half to pull ahead 28-7.

The disaster continued for the Senators a couple minutes into the second half when Weatherspoon intercepted a pass and returned it inside the Dover five-yard line to set up McConomy’s three-yard score and make it a 34-7 game.

Three unanswered scores from Abrams, and Kilby made it a game but there wasn’t quite enough time left on the clock for the Senators to complete the comeback.