Smyrna High was looking to really challenge itself when it decided to schedule mighty Bergen Catholic in its football season opener.

The Eagles got what they were looking for.

The Crusaders, ranked No. 8 in the country, scored on all six of their first-half possessions and never looked back in posting an impressive 52-6 win over Smyrna on Saturday afternoon.

Notre Dame-bound quarterback Steve Angeli threw four first-half touchdown passes as Bergen Catholic (2-0) was in control, 38-6 by intermission. The Eagles had a few defensive breakdowns that left receivers open and also gave up a 93-yard TD on a screen pass.

“They were just as good as advertised,” said Smyrna coach Mike Judy. “It was a great test for us as a program and as a team. “Our kids really, really fought hard throughout the whole ordeal. ... The best case scenario when you face a team like that is that you can get back on the bus pretty much intact and know that your kids fought hard. That’s what they did.”

The Eagles’ high-scoring offense, making its debut under highly-recruited QB Cameron Edge, held its own at times.

Smyrna got its lone TD on a five-yard by senior running back Wayne Knight with 6:34 left in the second quarter.

The Eagles, though, had two other drives end on fourth-down stops inside the five yard line.

Smyrna started the second half with a nice eight-play, 70-yard march. Edge hit Yamir Knight with a 25-yard pass to begin the possession before Wayne Knight broke off a 27-yard run.

On fourth down, though, Bergen defensive tackle Dominick Brogna broke through to tackle Wayne Knight in the backfield. The 6-foot-3, 285-pound Brogna is a University of Delaware commit.

Angeli then hit a 48-yard scoring pass — his fifth of the game — to send the contest to a running clock as the Crusaders led 45-6 with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter. Bergen got a fourth-quarter TD from its second-team offense.

Six different players caught TD passes for the Crusaders.

Edge, who played his first two seasons at DeMatha Catholic, was under pressure much of the game as DeMatha sacked him several times.

“He’s as tough as nails,” said Judy. “He got hit a couple times today by these high-level Division I kids. He’d just pop right back up, and get right back to the line ready to rock.

“He showed great leadership throughout the whole game. It was a good showing for the young man and the whole offense. They did a great job. Those were not easy matchups out there today. ... That team is just loaded — loaded — with talent.”

It was the first time Smyrna has been limited to as few as six points since 2019 when it opened the season with a 17-6 loss to Middletown. On the other hand, Bergen might have been the most highly-regarded team that Smyrna has ever faced.

“We held it together for a long time,” said Judy. “We kept swinging. I’m real proud of them.

“The one thing is, we’re not intimidated by anybody. I’m really impressed with Bergen, their program and their play today. But I’m also very proud and impressed with our kids for fighting the way they did.”

Smyrna plays at home on Friday when it hosts Arundel at 7 p.m.

Arundel 28, Dover 27, OT: Senior quarterback Jordan Moran threw a touchdown pass to tight end Elijah Sessoms and also scored on a sneak in the Senators’ season-opening loss on Friday night.

Dover also got TD runs from Jakwon Kilby and John Parker, who scored in overtime. The Senators host Hodgson (1-0) this Friday at 7 p.m.

Laurel 41, Sussex Tech 8: Javier White pulled in an 88-yard scoring pass from Kaden Shockley for the Bulldogs’ first touchdown before they went on to the season-opening win on Friday night.

White also scored on a 20-yard reception from Shockley as well as on a two-yard run. Shockley threw a total of three TD passes, including a 28-yarder to Brady Lee.

Laurel, which led 14-8 at halftime, also got rushing TDs from Omori’Yon Cannon and Pat Belle.

Sussex Tech’s lone touchdown came in the second quarter on a 16-yard pass from Justin Moore to Ian Rieley.

Seaford 25, Southern, Md. 17: The Blue Jays opened up a 25-10 lead going into the fourth quarter as they made their debut in Class 1A with the non-conference win on Friday night.

Seaford hosts Tower Hill on Friday at 7 p.m.

College volleyball

Delaware State 3, Georgetown 2: The Delaware State volleyball team dropped its first two sets of the season before clawing back to defeat Georgetown 3-2 in the Red Flash Invitational at St. Francis on Friday.

The 19-25, 18-25, 25-18, 25-21, 15-11 gave the Hornets a 4-0 start for the first time in team history. On Saturday, though, DelState fell to host St. Francis, 3-1 (25-23, 27-25, 21-25, 25-20) for its first loss.

Against Georgetown, the Hornets trailed 6-4 in the fifth set before running off the next four points to open up an 8-6 lead.

DSU capped off a 3-0 run with a service ace to open up a 14-11 lead and clinched the win on a kill by Ariana Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, the MEAC leader in hitting percentage entering the match, recorded eight kills on 14 attacks for a .500 pct. in the contest.

Valerio Otero had a team-high 16 kills, while Alondra Maldonado added 12 and Mayah Ngundam 10 to lead the Hornets.

DSU’s Sydney Lewis had a match-high seven blocks and Ngundam collected five.

Delaware State’s Kristi Gomez and Otero tied for match-high honors with 22 digs each.