Dolphins Win 5th Straight, Clinch Playoffs

Dolphins Win 5th Straight, Clinch Playoffs
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BERLIN- The Berlin Junior Dolphins continued to destroy anything in their path last weekend, routing Princess Anne, 40-0, for their fifth straight win and clinching a playoff berth in the Salvation Army Youth Football League playoffs.

The Dolphins won their fifth in a row to improve to 6-1 on the season with the big home win over the Princess Anne Jaguars. Berlin’s Will Holland got Berlin on the board on the Dolphins’ first possession with a 45-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0. On the next possession, Berlin scored again on a 15-yard touchdown run by Jared King to make it 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The Dolphins picked up where they left off in the first quarter with an early score on a 53-yard run by K.J. Purnell to make it 20-0. About three minutes later, Berlin’s Tayevon Mills dashed 62 yards for another touchdown. Finally, Berlin’s Andrew Borradale ended the first-half scoring blitz with a 46-yard touchdown run of his own to make it 33-0 at the intermission.

The Dolphins’ pushed Princess Anne all over the field during the first half and exhibited great blocking on its way to the big 33-0 halftime lead, which included five touchdown runs including four of 45 yards or longer. Meanwhile, Berlin’s stingy defense kept the Jaguars from getting a sniff of the end zone for much of the game.

Princess Anne’s best shot at getting on the scoreboard came near the end of the third quarter when the Jaguars drove down and set up a first-and-goal from the three-yard line. However, the Berlin defense stiffened up and stopped Princess Anne four straight times including a big stop by Berlin defender Tyree Adams on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Berlin, which played its second string for much of the second half in an effort to keep from running up the score, added its last touchdown on a 56-yard run by Mills to make it 40-0.

The win clinched a playoff spot for the Dolphins, whose seeding will be determined by the outcome of the highly anticipated season finale against the Salisbury Black Knights. The Berlin Juniors will play their first playoff game next Monday or Tuesday depending on the outcome of the season finale.

Meanwhile, the Berlin Cadet Juniors were not as successful last weekend, falling to the Wicomico Bulldogs, 19-6, for their third straight loss. Wicomico jumped out to an early 13-0 lead before Berlin got on the board on a bootleg by leading scorer J.J. Purnell to make it 13-6. However, Wicomico scored on a interception on a deflected pass to make it 19-6 just before the half and the Bulldogs made the score stand up in the second half despite a spirited comeback attempt by the Dolphins in the second half.