BERLIN- The Berlin Dolphins swept a pair last week with the Cadets edging the Dover Destroyers, 13-12, on a late touchdown and the Juniors cruising past the Wicomico Vikings.
For the second week in a row, the Cadet Dolphins traveled to Dover to take on the Destroyers and for the second week in a row, the outcome was the same as the Cadets improved to 2-0. The game proved to be a defensive struggle that hinged on a couple of big plays by both teams. Shaky special teams play by both sides also played a bog part in the outcome.
For example, Berlin won the toss and elected to receive, but fumbled the opening kick-off, setting up the Dover offense deep in Dolphin territory right from the start. However, the Berlin defense held, stopping Dover on four straight plays to nullify the opening kick-off gaff. Dover got on the board first in the second quarter on a 39-yard touchdown run that should have been called back on obvious clip by a Destroyer blocker.
Nonetheless, Dover took a 6-0 lead into halftime after a failed extra point attempt. In the third quarter, the stout Berlin defense again stopped Dover on four straight plays and took over on downs. Dolphin quarterback Obi Metzger than dashed 45 yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 6-6.
However, Dover returned the ensuing kick-off 65 yards for a touchdown as several Dolphins missed chances to bring down the Destroyers’ runner. Late in the fourth quarter, with the Dolphins trailing 6-6, Berlin’s Billy Wheatley stripped the ball from a Dover runner and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 12-12. Berlin’s Terran Wright then punched in the extra point and Berlin escaped with a dramatic 13-12 win. Dover appeared to take the lead late in the game, but a touchdown was nullified on a somewhat controversial call.
Meanwhile, the Berlin Dolphins’ Junior team won its season opener last weekend, beating the Wicomico Vikings, 19-0. On Berlin’s very possession of the game and the season, Tyree Adams took a hand-off and rambled 45 yards for a quick 6-0 lead. After stopping the Vikings on four straight offensive plays, the Dolphins scored again, this time on a 42-yard touchdown run by Aaron Waples to extend the lead to 12-0. The Dolphins scored again late in the second quarter on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Justin Meekins to Jessie Morgan. Berlin converted the extra point to make it 19-0 at the intermission.
The second half turned into a defensive struggle as both teams went with their “B” teams for much of the rest of the game, which ended with Berlin on top, 19-0.