Archmere Football to Play for State Championship Title
On December 4th the Archmere football team met a spirited Delaware Military Academy for the semifinal match up of the DIAA State Tournament. Playing at Abessinio Stadium in front of a large crowd, the Auks came back from a 10-0 deficit at halftime to a thrilling 20-16 win. They will play Woodbridge High School on Saturday, December 11 at 11:00am for the State Championship title. The game will be played at the University of Delaware stadium.
After a first half in which they could get little going on offense, the Auks came back from their halftime break with a spark. On the initial play from scrimmage, quarterback Chris Albero threw the ball to a wide-open Conor Udovich for a 72-yard touchdown. That play brought the Auks to within three points.
Mike Lang of the Dialog interviewed Chris after the game, writing, “That was a huge momentum shift,” Albero said. “I really feel that was the most pivotal play of the game. We had nothing really going in the first half, and then first play in the second half, we just get a bomb going, and it just lit a fire for the rest of the second half.”
Later in the quarter, seniors Kevin DiGregorio and Scott Luccarelli tackled the DMA running back three yards deep in the end zone. The safety made it 10-9 Seahawks, and the Archmere fans were in full voice. Chris Albero then gave the Auks a 15-10 lead on an 11-yard run before throwing the "catch of the year" to Conor Udovich for the two-point conversion; Conor made a leaping one-handed grab to extend the lead to seven points.
On DMA’s second play of the next drive, Scott Luccarelli picked up a fumbled pass reception along the sideline and took it back to the 10. After three rushing plays and a penalty on each team, the Auks found themselves unable to go forward. Chris Albero kicked the 23-yard field goal that extended the lead to 10.
The News Journal writes of the last few minutes:
"A long TD drive by DMA with less than three minutes to play set up a drama-filled ending. DMA recovered a fumble deep in Archmere territory and got inside the 10, but four straight stops by the Auks defense kept them in the lead with 1:53 to play. The Seahawks stopped Archmere on a third-down play with about 1:30 to go, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on DMA gave the Auks a first down and allowed them to run out the clock."
The win propels the top-seeded Auks into the initial DIAA Class 2A championship next Saturday against Woodbridge, also 12-0.
Pictures and full game details on Delaware Online can be found here.
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Mike Lang of the Dialog interviewed Chris after the game, writing, “That was a huge momentum shift,” Albero said. “I really feel that was the most pivotal play of the game. We had nothing really going in the first half, and then first play in the second half, we just get a bomb going, and it just lit a fire for the rest of the second half.”
Later in the quarter, seniors Kevin DiGregorio and Scott Luccarelli tackled the DMA running back three yards deep in the end zone. The safety made it 10-9 Seahawks, and the Archmere fans were in full voice. Chris Albero then gave the Auks a 15-10 lead on an 11-yard run before throwing the "catch of the year" to Conor Udovich for the two-point conversion; Conor made a leaping one-handed grab to extend the lead to seven points.
On DMA’s second play of the next drive, Scott Luccarelli picked up a fumbled pass reception along the sideline and took it back to the 10. After three rushing plays and a penalty on each team, the Auks found themselves unable to go forward. Chris Albero kicked the 23-yard field goal that extended the lead to 10.
The News Journal writes of the last few minutes:
"A long TD drive by DMA with less than three minutes to play set up a drama-filled ending. DMA recovered a fumble deep in Archmere territory and got inside the 10, but four straight stops by the Auks defense kept them in the lead with 1:53 to play. The Seahawks stopped Archmere on a third-down play with about 1:30 to go, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on DMA gave the Auks a first down and allowed them to run out the clock."
The win propels the top-seeded Auks into the initial DIAA Class 2A championship next Saturday against Woodbridge, also 12-0.
Pictures and full game details on Delaware Online can be found here.
Archmere Academy is a private, Catholic, college preparatory co-educational academy,
grades 9-12 founded in 1932 by the Norbertine Fathers.
grades 9-12 founded in 1932 by the Norbertine Fathers.
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