Desai Drummond Leads Appo in win over Dover

Appoquinimink football Desai Drummond threw 5 touchdown passes and ran for another in their win over Dover. Photo by Ben Futon

In the 1990’s “boy bands” were all the rage, including Justin Timberlake and his group called NSYNC. Friday night at Dover Stadium, the visiting Appoquinimink Jaguar passing attack was definitely in sync. Junior quarterback Desai Drummond completed 11 of 13 passes for 248 yards and 4 touchdowns in the first half alone as the Jags cruised to a 45-21 win over Dover.

Drummond connected with Noah Hoff in the third quarter to complete his evening as he ended the game with 275 yards passing for 5 touchdowns and ran 2 yards for the other score. He told us after the game, “I’ve been dreaming of this. I waited two years behind R-J (Matthews) at Howard. I came here (Appo) and worked hard before the season to show I can be the #1 quarterback in the state, and I guess tonight was the night.”

The Jags offensive line protected their signal caller long enough for him to complete passes to 4 different receivers for scores in the opening half. The first was to Hoff who got behind the secondary for a 35-yard touchdown. On the very next possession, Drummond found Jahsier Rogers streaking down the sideline and caught the ball in stride for a great “over-the-shoulder” catch in the end zone. After the Senators scored on a 67-yard screen pass from Cam Wagner to Elijah Bowers to slice the lead in half (14-7), Drummond connected with Rogers again down the sideline for 61 yards. That play set up Drummond’s two-yard score to give Appo a 21-7 lead after one quarter.

The Jaguars scored twice in the second quarter on passes from Desai Drummond to his cousin Francis (Drummond) and Dominic Montebell, taking a 35-7 advantage into the locker room at the break.

Drummond completed one more touchdown pass to Hoff (his second of the game) for 17 yards midway through the 3rd quarter. All-state soccer player Jack Talley booted his sixth extra point that gave the Jags a 42-7 lead to start a “running clock” at the 6:40 mark. Talley would add a 29-yard field goal, his second in two weeks, to go along with a perfect 12-for-12 on extra point attempts in the 2-game span. That special team unit includes long snapper Hank Moudy, and holder Noah Hoff.

Dover added two late touchdowns on passes from Cam Wagner to Bowers and Nehemiah Costen to make the final 45-21.

Wagner (transfer from Caesar Rodney) ended the night with 176 yards passing and Dover ran the ball well, gaining well over 100 yards led by sophomore running back Shameek Morris. However, Drummond’s ability to spread the field with his talented receivers was the difference. Rogers caught 3 passes for 123 yards, Hoff had 4 receptions totaling 68 yards and Montebell collected 3 for 56 yards. In all, six different players caught a pass from Drummond. “We work on it in practice…it’s all about timing. I tell my receivers, give me all you got and you will be rewarded,” as Drummond praised his teammates.