Sports

Sports & Recreation www.oceancitytoday.com Nov. 25, 2022 Page 56

PHOTOS COURTESY BAYSIDE SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY The Stephen Decatur football team is headed to the 2A state semifinals – for the first time since 2004 – after a decisive 36-7 victory over the Potomac Wolverines last Friday in Oxon Hill. (Left) Sophomore Nate Tapley carries the ball. (Right) Junior quarterback Brycen Coleman was 7-for-11 passing for 79 yards and throwing two touchdowns. He rushed 18 times for 108 yards and a touchdown.

SD football squad advances to state semis

Seahawks ‘dominated all three phases of the game’ against Potomac Wolverines

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Nov. 25, 2022) The Stephen Decatur football team is headed to the 2A state semifinals – for the first time since 2004 – after a decisive 367 victory over the Potomac Wolverines last Friday in Oxon Hill.

“Defense played lights out, special teams caused two turnovers and the offense had championship drives. We kept the pedal to the metal and the kids went out there and they finished them,” said Decatur Coach Jake Coleman. “We dominated all three phases of the game. It’s something I don’t think anyone expected to see. The kids went out there and played unbelievable.”

Fourth-seeded Potomac struck first, scoring less than two minutes into the game.

“I felt like they were ready to go. We had a couple drops and early penalties, but they settled down very quickly and realized they could dominate the game and win,” Coleman said. “We out-willed them. I think it was good for us to get scored on first. It kind of woke us up. I don’t think they ever lost their confidence.”

Fifth-seeded Decatur tied it up when junior quarterback Brycen Coleman found senior Luke Mergott with 4:53 to play in the first quarter. Junior Brogan Eastlack’s kick was good. “Going down on the next drive was pivotal,” the coach said. “They’ve only given up 33 points in 11 games so I think that was probably a little shocking to them.”

Coleman ran the ball into the end zone about two minutes later to put the visiting Seahawks up 13-7.

“I told them all week, if we were tied or leading after the first quarter we were going to win,” Coleman said. “They did this by staying positive, believing in themselves and each other.”

Senior Daegan Risser recovered a fumble and scored to boost Decatur’s advantage to 19-7 with a little under nine minutes remaining in the first half.

“Many guys played their best games, but Daegan Risser and [senior] A’zavion Manuel had the best games of their careers,” Coleman said. “They were both absolutely dominant.”

Coleman threw to Mergott for another score with 1:05 left in the second quarter. Eastlack was successful on the two-point conversion.

The Seahawks were on top, 27-7, at halftime.

After a blocked punt, junior Gavin Solito returned the ball 41 yards and Decatur pulled ahead, 33-7, with 9:50 on the clock in the third quarter.

Eastlack put three final points on the board with a 25-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

“Scoring 36 points on them, that’s kind of a big deal,” Coleman said. “PG County, there’s a lot of talented kids there. It speaks how good the Bayside Conference is here.”

Coleman was 7-for-11 passing for 79 yards and throwing two touchdowns. He rushed 18 times for 108 yards and a touchdown.

Mergott caught four passes for 59 yards and two touchdowns.

The Decatur defense was led Solito (five tackles, assisted) and sophomore Amarian Manuel (three solo, two assisted).

Sophomores Sully Auker (three assisted tackles) and Ethan Bradshaw (one solo, two assisted) also contributed on defense.

“The kids have showed improvement throughout the season. We’re continuing an upward trend on all three phases of the game,” Coleman said. “They’re playing their best football in the playoffs. They trust each other, they communicate and they’re playing for each other. The kids have great character. It’s a pleasure to coach this group.”

Decatur has advanced to the state semifinals three times, with the most recent in 2004, Coleman said, noting this is the first time the Seahawks have won three playoff games in the same season as the format and number of teams participating has changed over the years.

“It went from eight to 16 to 32 teams. Now you have to win three to get to the semis,” he said. “It’s a cool accomplishment for the kids.”

Decatur will play top-seeded Milford Mill tonight, Friday, at 6:30 p.m. in Baltimore.

“We have to play better than we did against Potomac in all three phases of the game,” Coleman said. “We’re going to be smaller and slower, so we’ve got to be strong together as a team and be gritty. We weren’t supposed to win last week and we dominated. Anything can happen. I know this team will never give up. They just don’t have it in them.”

Jake Coleman

LISA CAPITELLI/OCEAN CITY TODAY Stephen Decatur junior forward Brogan Eastlack and senior captain Mia Kemp both earned spots on the Bayside Conference South First Team and were named to the Second Team All-State.

Decatur soccer players earn Bayside awards

Junior Brogan Eastlack and senior Mia Kemp Second Team All-State awardees

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Nov. 25, 2022) Several Stephen Decatur soccer players were presented All-Bayside South Conference recognition for their performances during the fall season.

Boys’ soccer:

Juniors, forward Brogan Eastlack and goalie Nick Hernandez, and senior defender, captain Ryan McLaughlin earned spots on the Bayside First Team.

Eastlack led the team in goals, with 17. He also had seven assists.

It was also announced this week that Eastlack was named to the Second Team All-State.

McLaughlin chipped in with eight goals.

“For a defender scoring eight goals is pretty impressive,” Decatur Coach Jamie Greenwood said.

Hernandez was 11-2 in the goal, recording 100 saves this season and only allowing 13 goals. The team overall scored 67 goals this year.

Senior captain, midfielder Dalton Bunting, sophomore forward Holden Bunting and senior defender Owen Knerr received Bayside South Second Team accolades.

Holden Bunting was second in scoring, netting 15 goals. He also had six assists.

Honorable mention distinction went to: juniors Sean O’Halloran (defense) and Finn Ramnarain (defense) and seniors, captain Gabe Geiser (midfield) and Collin Bunting (defense).

“They were all deserving. Yes, we won the conference, yes we finished 13-2,” Greenwood said. “Brogan and Holden were our goal scorers, but it was really a team effort. That was the big takeaway.”

Greenwood was named Coach of the Year.

“I’m very blessed to have a good coaching staff – I have four amazing assistants – and a great group of kids,” Greenwood said. “All in all, it’s everybody else. I just put them on the field. They have to utilize the tools we give them … they executed on set pieces, they executed on corner kicks. It was definitely a premiere style of soccer this year.”

“They work really hard. I’m fortunate to have a great group of kids, a talented group of kids,” he continued. “It’s not a one-man show, I can tell you that much.”

Greenwood was also Coach of the Year in 2006, 2013 and 2016.

Decatur finished the season with a 13-2 record.

The boys won the program’s first Bayside Conference championship in 11 years. The last time the Seahawks competed for a title was six years ago, when they lost in penalty kicks to Kent Island.

The season ended with a 3-1 loss to James M. Bennett in the MPSSAA 3A South Region II finals.

Girls’ soccer:

Senior captains Hannah Dang (midfield) and Mia Kemp (forward), and juniors Morgan Sullivan (forward) and Riley Wilson (defense) were awarded First Team All-Bayside South honors.

Kemp led the team with 15 goals and nine assists. She also earned a spot on the Second Team All-State and Dang received honorable mention recognition.

“That’s a huge accomplishment,” said Decatur Coach Rich Venere.

Sullivan chipped in with nine goals and six assists. Dang added six goals and seven assists.

Freshmen Payton Wilson (defense) and Maddy Tapley (forward) were named to the Bayside South Second Team.

Tapley finished the season with three goals and five assists.

“I was really happy that the Bayside South coaches recognized our four First Team All-Conference players and that we also had two freshmen make the second team, which is also a great accomplishment for them,” Venere. “Riley and Payton are talented center backs for our team that helped us only give up seven goals during our 12-game regular season.”

Honorable mention accolades went to: seniors Jessica Beck (goalie), Macy Seitz (defense) and Keeley Catrino (defense), juniors Katelynn King (midfield) and captain Kayla Rocco (midfield), sophomore Payton Piercey (defense) and freshmen Samantha Ruppert (midfield), Laila Pascucci (forward) and Luca Russo (forward).

“Jessica started every game and led us to a 10-3 record with a one-goalagainst average and 13 goals given up in 13 games,” Venere said.

Decatur finished the season with a 10-3 record.

The team’s season came to an end with a 6-2 loss to Chesapeake in the MPSSAA 3A South Region II quarterfinals.

“We were happy with the season. The games we should have won we won,” Venere said. “They were one cohesive unit. They all interacted like great teammates should. They were like sisters. It was nice to see.”