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With the close of Delaware’s high school regular football season, and the playoffs beginning, here is a look at players who made special contributions to their teams.
They are among the leaders in rushing, passing, scoring and tackles. They thrilled home and visiting crowds alike with their skill and gutsy play. Or, while their stats may not be among the top performers, they proved to be crucial pistons in the engines of their teams.
Players were selected by coaches, sportswriters from within the Dover Post Co. and among the leaders in statistics compiled by PrepSportsDelaware.com.
Enjoy reading about players 10 through six this week, and stay tuned for the top five next week.
10- Charter School of Wilmington linebacker Andrew Zaldivar has been the leading tackler for Charter since his 8th grade year, coach Tyran Rice said. Through nine games this season, he has notched 85 tackles at inside linebacker. Zaldivar was a Second Team All-Conference selection last year and has been on the All-Conference team since his 8th grade year.
He is a two-year captain and the team's starting left guard, which he has also played at a high level, helping pave the way for running back Brandon Ross (164 carries, 1,033 yards, 10 TDs).
| Coming Next Week ...
The top prep football player this year is a running back/safety with 18 touchdowns, 73 tackles, 3 interceptions and 2 defensive touchdowns, called by one coach as a “no weakness” athlete and the best two-way player he has ever coached. Find out who has earned such high praise next week, when the Community News names the best of the best this year. |
9- McKean wide receiver Mark Flakes, senior captain and three-year player, has 23 receptions for 493 yards (sixth in the state), seven touchdowns, four extra points and 10 carries for 55 yards. At the cornerback position, he has 55 tackles – including one tackle for a loss, and five interceptions (first in the state).
He has missed the last two games and part of the week 7 game due to an ankle injury and the Highlanders offense has suffered as a result, McKean coach Mike Ryan said. “Mark is a high character young man who has overcome adversity to become a student-athlete,” he said. “He is also one of the top performers in the state in track.” Flakes hopes to attend UD to play football.
8- Howard linebacker Keevis Thompson is the heart and soul of the Wildcats’ defense, coach Dan Ritter said. He has been an All-Conference selection from freshmen year on. Tatnall coach Jody Russell said Thompson, playing the middle linebacker slot, was one of the most special players he saw all season.
With the close of Delaware’s high school regular football season, and the playoffs beginning, here is a look at players who made special contributions to their teams.
They are among the leaders in rushing, passing, scoring and tackles. They thrilled home and visiting crowds alike with their skill and gutsy play. Or, while their stats may not be among the top performers, they proved to be crucial pistons in the engines of their teams.
Players were selected by coaches, sportswriters from within the Dover Post Co. and among the leaders in statistics compiled by PrepSportsDelaware.com.
Enjoy reading about players 10 through six this week, and stay tuned for the top five next week.
10- Charter School of Wilmington linebacker Andrew Zaldivar has been the leading tackler for Charter since his 8th grade year, coach Tyran Rice said. Through nine games this season, he has notched 85 tackles at inside linebacker. Zaldivar was a Second Team All-Conference selection last year and has been on the All-Conference team since his 8th grade year.
He is a two-year captain and the team's starting left guard, which he has also played at a high level, helping pave the way for running back Brandon Ross (164 carries, 1,033 yards, 10 TDs).
| Coming Next Week ...
The top prep football player this year is a running back/safety with 18 touchdowns, 73 tackles, 3 interceptions and 2 defensive touchdowns, called by one coach as a “no weakness” athlete and the best two-way player he has ever coached. Find out who has earned such high praise next week, when the Community News names the best of the best this year. |
9- McKean wide receiver Mark Flakes, senior captain and three-year player, has 23 receptions for 493 yards (sixth in the state), seven touchdowns, four extra points and 10 carries for 55 yards. At the cornerback position, he has 55 tackles – including one tackle for a loss, and five interceptions (first in the state).
He has missed the last two games and part of the week 7 game due to an ankle injury and the Highlanders offense has suffered as a result, McKean coach Mike Ryan said. “Mark is a high character young man who has overcome adversity to become a student-athlete,” he said. “He is also one of the top performers in the state in track.” Flakes hopes to attend UD to play football.
8- Howard linebacker Keevis Thompson is the heart and soul of the Wildcats’ defense, coach Dan Ritter said. He has been an All-Conference selection from freshmen year on. Tatnall coach Jody Russell said Thompson, playing the middle linebacker slot, was one of the most special players he saw all season.
Thompson has 70 tackles (18 for a loss), two sacks two forced fumbles and two recovered fumbles, Ritter said. He also calls the defensive signals. In 2008, Thompson notched 70 tackles and harassed opposing quarterbacks with an impressive 12 sacks.
7- Middletown High running back/safety Scott Adkins (5-10, 193 lbs.), a senior who also sees time at kicker/safety/punter, has scored 127 points in the first eight weeks, second best in the state. He was injured at the end of the season (ankles and elbow) but continued to play even at less than full strength. "He was the player we could least afford to be without," MHS coach Mark DelPercio said.
He began the season with a bang, scoring touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams in an opening win over school district rival Appoquinimink. He took direct snaps in Middletown's version of the Wildcat offense. He made 31 PAT kicks, third best in the state. He is also a standout student, team captain and three-year contributor. Last but not least, Adkins played a big role on Middletown's 2007 state title team.
6- Brandon LeGrand is the engine that drives Milford’s formidable rushing attack. He’s averaging 10 yards per carry, with 1,334 yards on 133 carries over eight games, with 22 touchdowns. He had the best game of his life on Oct. 30 against Cape Henlopen, running for 206 yards and a career-best five touchdowns on just eight carries — an average of 25.75 yards per run.
He suffered a hip injury midway through the season, and the Bucs missed him dearly; Milford’s offense sputtered in their 22-0 loss at Caesar Rodney. But he’s come back with a vengeance, scoring at least four touchdowns a night in every game since his return.
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Milford Beacon staff writer David LaRoss, Middletown Transcript Sports Editor Craig Anderson and PrepSportsDelaware.com Editor Richard Long contributed to this report.
