Laurel looking for a perfect ending in DIAA 1A state finals

By Andy Walter
Posted 12/9/22

LAUREL — Laurel High had a great football season last fall.

But it wasn’t perfect.

The Bulldogs lost a pair of regular-season games en route to the program’s first DIAA state …

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Laurel looking for a perfect ending in DIAA 1A state finals

Posted

LAUREL — Laurel High had a great football season last fall.

But it wasn’t perfect.

The Bulldogs lost a pair of regular-season games en route to the program’s first DIAA state title in 30 years.

On Saturday, top-seeded Laurel (12-0) will be trying to finish undefeated when it takes on No. 2 St. Elizabeth (11-1) in the DIAA Class 1A state finals. Kickoff is set for noon at Delaware Stadium in Newark with the contest being aired online on the NFHS Network and various radio stations.

The Bulldogs bring a 15-game winning streak into the contest as they try to capture the school’s fifth state crown in football.

“This group has latched onto becoming their own (team),” said Laurel coach Joey Jones. “And when they are who they are, man, these boys can play.

“Last year’s team, obviously winning the first state championship in 30 years that, was a big deal. But last year’s team also left a little bit on the table ... So, it’s kind of, ‘Hey, you have a chance to do even more. ... You can do even more than the group before you did.’

“We all get to do something we haven’t done before, together, and add to what we’ve already cemented in history,” he said. “They’ve really latched onto all of that.”

Laurel and St. Elizabeth have dominated Class 1A in its two seasons of existence. While the Bulldogs are 23-1 over the last years, the Vikings are 22-3.

Besides falling to Laurel, 28-14 in last year’s state finals, St. Elizabeth’s only other two losses have been to Class 2A state finalist Caravel.

Coached by former Wesley College player Mike Lemon, the Vikings are trying to win the program’s first state championship since 2010 and their fourth overall.

In last year’s state title game, St. Elizabeth led 8-0 in the first quarter before the Bulldogs reeled off 28 unanswered points.

Many of the names are the same for both squads. Laurel is led by quarterback Kaden Shockley, the Class 1A Offensive Player of the Year, and first-team All-Class 1A running back Kylse Wilson.

In all, the Bulldogs had nine players made first-team All-Class 1A, including Defensive Player of the Year Evan Collins at linebacker and Lineman of the Year Brayden Hearn.

St. Elizabeth had five players make All-Class 1A led by senior running back Quasim Benson.

“He’s a fantastic athlete,” Jones said about Benson. “If you give him a lane, he’s going to take it before you realize you gave it to him.

“I do think we play team defense very well. ... It’ll be fun, it will be interesting but certainly a challenge.”

Laurel’s stats this fall are remarkable. The Bulldogs are scoring 45.1 points per game while giving up just 6.6.

The Vikings’ numbers aren’t bad, either. They’re scoring 38.9 and surrendering 13.3

The Bulldogs are a veteran squad, with 17 seniors on the roster. Given their success the last two seasons, both programs are candidates to move up to Class 2A in the next classification cycle.

A few days before the game, Jones was anxious for the moment to arrive. But, as long as the wait seems, he’ll remind his players that a moment like this passes quickly.

“It’s the fastest long day of your life,” Jones tells them. “You get all this buildup, especially now that there’s a bye week leading up to this game. ... But, before you know it, somebody is celebrating and you’ve just got to hope you were in the moment enough to be the team that’s on top.”

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

In the state finals

LAUREL (4-4)
CLASS 1A

2021: Laurel 28, St. Elizabeth 14

DIVISION II

2014: Hodgson 42, Laurel 0
2008: Milford 20, Laurel 0
1992: Dickinson 31, Laurel 0
1991: Laurel 29, Indian River 2
1987: Laurel 7, Archmere 2
1986: Laurel 13, Indian River 6
1985: Delmar 6, Laurel 0, OT

•••

ST. ELIZABETH (3-3)
CLASS 1A

2021: Laurel 28, St. Elizabeth 14

DIVISION II

2010: St. Elizabeth 35, Archmere 0
2000: Delmar 41, St. Elizabeth 34
1999: Middletown 9, St. Elizabeth 7
1996: St. Elizabeth 20, Delmar 14, OT
1994: St. Elizabeth 42, Dickinson 20

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