Dover edges Smyrna for first time in 5 years

Before last night’s game the Dover Senators had not been able to beat the Smyrna Eagles since 2018 and for the first time in head coach Chipp Knapps Career. In 2018 Dover defeated Smyrna 46-38 in front of a homecoming crowd at Dover. In that game they were powered by Jordan McGee (Temple) and Javon Peace (Central Connecticut State) who accounted for six touchdowns in the game

 

This game it would be quarterback Nahseem Cosme and John Parker who is playing both wide receiver as well as running back filling in for the injured Jakwon Kilby. The duo accounted for all  three touchdowns in the game. 

 

After a scoreless first quarter Smyrna struck first on a 9 yard run from Kahmaj Kearney who then ran in a successful 2 point conversion for an 8-0. Dover answered a few minutes later on the first of two touchdowns for Parker as he plunged in the endzone from 1 yard out, but failed on their 2 point conversion attempt the lead was 8-6 at halftime. 

 

Midway through the third quarter Cosme scored on a QB keeper from 1 yard out to give the Senators a 12-8 lead. Smyrna then answered a few minutes later on a trick play. Smyrna quarterback Jacob Tiberi took the snap lateraled the ball to his left to Kearney who then wound up and threw a pass to a wide open Andre Ashley for a 67 yard touchdown giving the Eagles a 14-12 lead. 

 

Less than a minute later Parker scored his second touchdown of the game. Parker took the hand off up the middle, but was met in the backfield by Smyrna’s Caleb Blane. Parker made a nice spin move to spin out of the tackle from Blane and went 58 yards for the touchdown giving the senators a 18-14 lead which would stand as the final score of the game. 

 

Dovers defense was able to hold the potent Smyrna offense to just 14 points in the game. They were able to force two turnovers on the red zone which kept two touchdowns off the scoreboard. In the first quarter Cosme picked off a pass from Drew Marks in the endzone. The other turnover came right before the end of the second half on the 6 yard line Tiberi attempted to run, but Ryan Perkins was able to strip the ball away from Tiberi giving the ball back to the Senators. 

 

Dover improves to 7-0 on the season and still sits at the top of our Super 7 Rankings as the No. 1 team in Class 3A. Smyrna drops to 2-5 on the season.