BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity football team fell to visiting Indian River, 28-21, in the season opener for both squads despite a pair of comeback attempts.
The Seahawks struggled out of the gate a little in their season opener last Friday with a couple of early miscues and turnovers that led to a 14-0 lead for the Indians. Decatur got it going in the second quarter when Dryden Brous capped a short 27-yard drive with a touchdown run to cut the Indian River lead to 14-7. With time running out in the second quarter, Seahawk quarterback Justin Meekins hit R.J. Hayman with a seven-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 14-14 at the intermission.
However, the second half started much like the first half did for the Seahawks. Indian River scored two quick touchdowns to extend its lead to 28-14. In the fourth quarter, Meekins hit Matt LeCompte with a 22-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 28-21 with just over four minutes left in the game. Decatur had more opportunities to tie the game or take the lead as time wound down, but the Indian River defense shut the door and held on for the 28-21 win.
The Seahawks hit the road tonight for a game against Queen Anne’s, the first in a stretch of tough games against Bayside North teams. Decatur returns home next week to face Cambridge-South Dorchester.