LEWES — The Indian River High School football team opened the 2008 season with a sloppy 24-21 win over Cape Henlopen High School.
Carrying a 17-6 lead into halftime, it appeared the Indians would waltz back to Dagsboro with an easy victory. But that was not the case. As the comfortable lead quickly turned into a nail-bitter.
“We definitely have things to work on,” coach Jim Bunting said. “We have to keep momentum for all four quarters. Now, we have to get back to work and get ready for (Stephen Decatur) next week.”
Following an IR touchdown that extended its lead to 24-6, the Vikings exploded. The ensuing kickoff was returned 98 yards by Laquan Hazzard to cut into the lead. Then, quarterback Jack McPike found teammate Ryan Goodwin in the endzone to creep ever closer 24-19.
Then, with less than two minutes remaining in the game, the Indians voluntarily took a safety to prevent the Vikings from gaining good field position. The tactic paid off as IR senior Danny Bokinsky secured the win with an interception with less than a minute remaining in the contest.
“We started to get a little sloppy toward the end — our offense was cracking down and people started missing their blocks,” Foreman said, noting that the team must work elements such as that before next Friday’s game at Stephen Decatur.
DAGSBORO — Entering the season, the Indian River High School football team appeared to have a long and arduous season on the road with seven of its 10 scheduled games to be played on the opponents turf.
But a recently rescheduled game with Washington High School (Md.) has given the home crowd an extra date.
The game originally scheduled for Friday, Sept. 19 at Washington in Princess Anne, Md. has switched to the grounds of Indian River, according to IR athletic director Todd Fuhrmann.
The newly added home game now gives the Indians four for the season, while six will be played on the road.
The Indians are slated to kick off the 2008 season tonight, when they will travel to Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes for a matchup at 7:30 p.m.
DAGSBORO — The Indian River High School football team put together yet another strong season in 2007, posting an 8-3 overall record and reaching the quarterfinals of the state tournament.
But what made them so successful may be one of the team’s biggest obstacles this season.
Over the last two seasons, quarterback Nick Kmetz changed the Indians’ traditional offensive approach from an in-your-face running game to a spread offense passing attack. But with Kmetz absent after graduating in the spring, the Indians will once again have to rethink its offensive game plans.
“I think that even though we lost a few key players, we’re going to have guys step in and do just fine,” senior Zach Kmetz said. “We’re all working hard. Everybody wants to get their spot and people are playing hard and working hard.”
Vying for the open quarterback spot are three players — sophomore Tim Bokinsky, freshman Jamie Jarmon and senior newcomer Bo Wilkinson.
Although the decision has not yet been made on who will take over the starting duties, coach Jim Bunting feels each player can complete the task at hand. The Indians, he said, will stick with the spread offense, at least for the first three games.
“Coach (Paul) Kmetz has worked too hard (for us to abandon it),” Bunting said. “Two years ago we started working it in and last year we kind of said we’re going to … live or die by it.”
To help the three potential quarterbacks during the preseason was the man whom they will replace. Bunting said Nick Kmetz worked with the boys all summer and throughout the preseason to get acclimated to the offensive schemes and the basics of being a quarterback. Now that he is off at college, he said they will have to manage on their own.
Adding to the list of players that will be missed for Bunting is Trevor Abbott. The tight end and defensive end was the epitome of what Bunting wishes every player was like.
“He was Mr. Everything. I bet if I asked him to go fill up the water bucket, he would’ve done that, too,” he said. “You don’t replace a leader like that.”
To replace these players and get back to where the team was over the last couple of years may be tough, he said. While he is confident in their skills, Bunting hopes the tradition of the program will help them through the hard times.
“Last year, you could see evidence that these guys thought that if they put on the green and gold it was an automatic win,” he said. “We have really preached … that it is your obligation to honor those boys who really busted their rear ends to get us in the program we are now.”
If the players are able to buy into that mentality, Bunting said the team should be able to return to the playoffs and possibly move farther than before.
“We’re young and we’ve got a lot of work to do, but the year looks promising,” senior Danny Bokinsky said.
For Zach Kmetz, the feeling of being knocked out of the playoffs in the first round each of the previous three seasons is a motivational factor that, he believes, will drive the team as the season progresses.
“We got a good taste of what it feels like to beat Concord because we had such a close game with them last year,” he said.
The Indians are scheduled to open the season Friday, Sept. 5, when they travel to Lewes for a matchup with Cape Henlopen High School. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Volleyball looks to ace competition with new start
Regrouping each year is never something a high-school coach looks forward to as his team returns following the summer months, but for Indian River’s head volleyball coach, Jess Dodd, it’s a part of reality. With the departure of last year’s seniors — Annamarie Brown, Hayley Brennan, Nyssa Altman and Kami Brittingham — the Lady Indians are back on the hardwood with some fresh faces, high expectations and a schedule that’s anything but a walk in the park.
“We had some big talent leave us,” said Dodd, who will head the team for a 12th consecutive year. “We’re looking to rebuild the team. We pretty much have to rearrange everything.”
Once again, Dodd is left to reconstruct the setter position, a task he’s unfortunately had to deal with at the start of each year for the past four.
“Our outside hitters are gone, too,” he added. “We have [at least one] middle from last year taking position along the outside.”
This shouldn’t deter the play too much, he noted, as the transition is one that most girls have already familiarized themselves with last year.
“For the most part,” he said, “the girls still understand the system. It’s something a lot of them have worked with before.”
With the team’s last scrimmage held more than a week ago, the girls had more than enough time to ready themselves for the true test, as the 2008 season kicks off this Friday at Delmarva Christian Academy. The Lady Indians hope to improve on last year’s debut, when they fell 0-3 to Delmarva Christian to start off the season.
Last year, the Lady Indians landed just shy of the state tournament, as a 6-9 record bumped them out of the running. Sweeping wins over Delmar and Lake Forest, along with victories against Dover and Polytech weren’t enough last season. This year, the Lady Indians will aim to better their record, on the road and at home.
Although they split their away games last year, 3-3, Dodd and his team will have to start off on the right foot for the 2008 season, as Indian River opens up their first five games on the road. Following their opener at Delmarva Christian, they’ll head to Lake Forest and Caesar Rodney, on Tuesday and next Thursday, respectively.
Dodd’s team will once again host the Indian River Tournament, midway through the season on Saturday, Sept. 27, when a handful of teams will square off for bragging rights and an improved schedule.
New positions being filled isn’t the only thing Dodd has to look at. This year’s roster, comprising 14 talented players, is seeing some fresh legs and faces.
“We have a lot of new players stepping up on the team,” he said, “Some of them are new to the sport altogether. We also have some freshmen stepping onto the team.”
In preparation of the schedule, Dodd has his team centered on the essentials of the game, without things getting too fancy.
“I want the girls holding onto the simple basics,” he said, emphasizing the importance of passing and serving. “I want the girls comfortable getting the ball to one another. They need to understand how to pass.”
As for the serves, “We are focusing on getting serves in,” he added. “Power will come later. I’m just trying to get the girls to improve every day on the things that really count.”
Just over a week lies between the Indian River soccer team and a new season, where head coach Steve Kilby and his squad will look to make the most of their year, and, hopefully, advance past the second round of the state tournament.
Finishing 12-1-3 last fall, with their only season loss coming in a mid-schedule bout against Newark, the Indians rolled through the conference, but fell short against Caravel, 3-2, at states. Practices, scrimmages and play days have prepared the team as the backfield starts to fill out.
In their senior year, defenseman Ethan Davis, center-back Luke Wingate and goalkeeper Sean Lewis helped anchor last season’s team.
“They were all real key players for us,” said Kilby, but he’s hoping for little relapse as 5-foot, 11-inch sophomore Kevin Rowe moves into the position between the posts. “He has a lot of club experience and Olympic development,” he added. “He’s as good a keeper as you’re going to find in our conference.”
Junior Jake Buchler, recovering from a mild ankle sprain, will be returning to the pitch at center-back, picking up where Wingate left off.
The Indians hosted a play day last Thursday, testing their youthful skill against a number of teams, before heading to Kirkwood for a preseason invitational. A scrimmage earlier this week against Hodgson Vo-Tech will be the last test before a two-week gap in the schedule readies the team for the season.
“We’re using this time to fill out the roster,” said Kilby, now in his fifth year coaching the boys’ varsity team.
Doubling his experience and knowledge to the game, Kilby is also the coach for Indian River’s girls’ varsity soccer team, and the director of coaching at the River Soccer Club in Roxana. Many of the varsity players have devoted their time on club teams with the River Soccer program.
“It’s nice,” said Kilby, “because I can make sure they get the training they need. I’ve been watching a lot of these guys play for years now, and most of them have played with each other.”
By the Indians’ season opener, hosting Cape Henlopen on Sept. 9, Kilby expects to be equipped with 18 or so athletes on the roster. With five seniors and a handful of juniors, the team is still a young one.
“We have a boatload of sophomores,” said Kilby, “and, last year, we had six or seven freshmen playing on our varsity team. That’s really helped them get ready for this year, and they’re only going to improve.”
Last year, the Indians started their season off with a 3-0 victory over Cape, but Kilby insists they need to come out strong, early.
“Cape had a winning record last year,” he said. “They just missed the tournament, and I imagine they’re stronger this year. It will be a nice measuring stick to see where we stand on the season.”
Kilby’s got his eyes set on the year.
“I hope to win overall conference,” he said. “That really needs to be a minimum for this group. I also have to believe this team can win two or three games in the tournament, as opposed to making it only to the second round. With a little bit of luck and no major injuries, we will just have to see what happens.”
In the past four years, the Indian River cheerleading squad has come a long way under head coach Kristine Johnson. Now, though, a new leader is stepping in, hoping to continue the tradition. IRHS employee Anne Divine, mother of one of the cheerleaders, will put her knowledge to the test, taking on the role this fall.
“For the most part, the girls are going to be teaching me,” said Divine, whose daughter, Alyssa Murray, has been no stranger to the squad over the past few years. While she has attended plenty of events in the past, Divine is new to the coaching scene. However, continuing guidance from Johnson and support from other parents have suggested that she will be able to bring plenty of spirit to the squad.
“Johnson has really done a phenomenal job with the team,” she said. “We went from a squad of seven or eight people to 30. It will be great to still have her help. We’ve also had a couple of dedicated parents who were at every practice last year, too. I have a lot of people who have my back.”
Applications for the position were released earlier this year, but no responses were filed the first go-around.
“I figured since my daughter cheers, and I’m here at the school anyway, I’d help pick up the slack,” said Divine. “It will be a learning experience, but we want to keep things upbeat. I’m doing this for the girls.”
The girls, themselves, will also help Divine when it comes to organizing the team together again.
“A lot of core girls who cheered last year will be returning,” explained Divine.
Georgie Hattier, Veronica Townsend and Murray — all of whom will be returning to the team — were honored earlier this year when they qualified for the All-American team to travel to the Orange Bowl in Miami. The team also finished with a handful of trophies in a number of events this year, including a first-place showing at the state competition in the large varsity-coed division.
Spring tryouts were held this year, with approximately 32 girls showing up for the team for the upcoming football season, and Divine’s wasting no time getting the group back together.
A team meeting is being held on Aug. 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Indian River High School cafeteria for all cheerleaders and parents who came out to spring tryouts. With football kicking off on Sept. 5 at Cape Henlopen, Divine wants to make sure she has her ducks in a row.
“I’d like to discuss practices and get an idea of how many uniforms are out there,” she said. “I’m stepping into this with a lot in front of me, but I think it will all come together quickly.” Winter tryouts for the basketball and wrestling cheerleading team will be held later this year.
A fundraiser will be held just before the start of the football season, to help get things rolling. Roadhouse Restaurant in Rehoboth Beach will sponsor a benefit on Wednesday, Sept. 3, donating 10 percent of their earnings that day to the Indian River cheerleading team.
“It’s great,” said Divine. “You don’t have to do anything, just go on in and eat.”
For additional information about the team, contact Divine at Indian River High School at (302) 732-1500.
“I want to keep it fun for the girls,” she said. “I’d like to keep the squad at the level that Johnson set up here. We just need to regroup and get going.”
In the past five years, the football program at Indian River High School has only given up four conference losses. While the game will be one of head coach Jim Bunting’s most anticipated games this year, that record won’t be tested until later this month, when the Indians host Woodbridge in their first home game of the 2008 season. Coastal Point • Jesse Pryor Indian River’s football team squares up against Caesar Rodney in the pre-season matchup. IR will face Cape Henlopen.
The Indians have plenty more ahead of them, however, starting off this season against a developed Cape Henlopen team on Friday, Sept. 5.
Scrimmages last weekend against Caesar Rodney and Parkside High suggest that the squad has evolved their skill in attempt to defend their 8-3 record from 2007. With Caesar Rodney players scouted by Rutgers University and High Point, and impressive coaching staff coming from Salisbury at Parkside, the Indians were forced to bring what they had.
“We wanted to see some things [in the scrimmages],” said Bunting, “and we did. Our guys, got tired of being pushed around, especially in the Parkside game, and started giving a little back.”
Replacing last year’s senior quarterback Nick Kmetz wasn’t something Bunting wanted to worry about just yet, but he’s already sure he’s found his answer in the preseason. Freshman Jamie Jarmon will suit up Friday night, headlining in his varsity debut, coming off an undefeated football season at Selbyville Middle School. Together, he and senior Bo Wilkinson will be the go-to guys taking the snaps this year, Bunting said.
“Those two have really separated themselves as stand-out players,” he noted. “Jamie gives us one look, and Bo gives another. They compliment each other nicely. We’re not looking to alternate the two every play, but both guys are real hungry for position, and there’s a lot that each of them can bring to the team.”
And when it comes to the “team,” the rest of the lineup has come a long way, too.
“Against [Caesar Rodney],” Bunting stated, “we had our own linemen pointing fingers at each other and losing composure. I told them, ‘Look, you all get together and say ‘Family’ on three, yet, all of the sudden, you blame your own teammate. If someone’s having trouble, you have to be there and help him out.’ After that, the guys really started working as a team and being there for one another.”
Starting with their Sept. 26 match-up against Woodbridge, the Indians will face six straight weeks of conference games.
“We all like to get some wins under our belt,” said Bunting, “but these are the ones that really count.”
At the same time, he’s eager to begin the season with a powerful team like Cape Henlopen.
“I enjoy playing against competition,” he said. “A number of times, if it hadn’t been for early-season competition, we might not have been ready later in the year. As I’ve told other coaches, you’re doing yourself a disservice if you’re not playing competition that is at least equally as good as yourself. Otherwise, you’re not going to improve on anything.”
The Indians’ schedule boasts only three home games this year. However, all of them are against conference rivals. Three weeks after hosting Woodbridge, Lake Forest will travel to Indian River, before Seaford has their go in late October.
“We were fortunate last year to have seven home games,” said an understanding Bunting. “What more do you want? You have to compromise. It’s just the way things go. I like the away games, anyway. It keeps our guys focused more.”
This week, in preparation for the 2008 opener, Bunting had a willing team practicing before him.
“It’s great,” he said. “These guys are out here and they want to be practicing. There’s no single thing we’re stressing at practices, but we’re working on a lot of things. We’ve been keeping our corners and safeties moving, and we’re ready this season.”
The cooperation has paid off, and the team is, once again, returning to its character as a family.
“The chemistry is coming together,” Bunting said. “They can’t do it in one day, but their strength is getting tighter and tighter. I know they have each other’s backs.”
The Indians will travel to Cape Henlopen on Friday, Sept. 5, at 7:30 p.m., where they will face the Vikings.
If this past Wednesday’s scrimmage was a foreshadowing of what’s to come for Indian River’s field hockey team, coach Julene Williamson shouldn’t have much concern. The Lady Indians shut out Stephen Decatur 8-0 in the pre-season face-off, showing an accelerated front line and a strong, sustainable defense. But the girls aren’t going into the season with their heads too high.
“We played really well,” Williamson told her team following the game, “but we need to go into the next one ready to play. We can’t expect to win like this every time. We need to bring our best.
Williamson, an IR alum, helped establish herself as a field hockey athlete, both at the high-school level and at Wesley College in Dover. After serving as assistant coach for Indian River’s varsity team last year, accompanying former coach Caitlin Harker, Williamson moved up to head coach and is wasting no time turning the program back around to where it needs to be.
The Lady Indians turned in a losing season last year, snuffing out their hopes in the conference and the state tournament.
This week’s performance, however, has convinced Williamson that the girls are fully capable of coming together and working as a unit.
“Today really helped me see that these girls really are a team,” she said, following the Decatur scrimmage. “They are working well together, talking and passing to each other out there. They’re really showing enthusiasm when they get out on the field.”
The camaraderie is a pleasing alternative to the headstrong teams of individuals in the past, she said.
“It’s nice to see them work together as a team,” said Williamson. “That’s something our program hasn’t really had in some of the past years.” The varsity players even stuck around this week, cheering on the JV as they took to the field.
While the varsity team displayed unselfishness and cooperation across the field, there is a noticeable talent throughout full range of the girls, too.
“We’re pretty strong from offense all the way down to the goalie,” Williamson added. “When our forwards have the ball, they’re working well with passing. The midfield is there to help with support, and our defense was there all the time, too. The girls are playing smart, from the freshmen, all the way to the seniors.”
The forward line, anchored by co-captain Morgan Sheats, kept the ball in the favorable third of the field for most of the game, making the most of 16 corners. “That’s a huge advantage to capitalize on those,” said Williamson.
The Lady Indians’ midfield ran smoothly under co-captain Molly Benner, while Lindsay McCabe helped organize the defense.
“It’s nice having a captain in each part of the field,” said Williamson. “It just happened to work itself out that way, but each runs their territory very well.”
Next Tuesday, Sept. 11, the Lady Indians will put their playing to the test as their season opens up, hosting Dover. Last year, the Lady Indians gave up a tie to the Lady Senators to start the season off, but Williamson is hoping her team shows the same ferocity they brought last Tuesday. Indian River, to say the least, will be tested with this year’s lineup.
“All of our conference games will be good games,” she said. “I understand that the girls’ minds are all over the place on the first day of school, but if we can play like this again, we will be alright.”
Leading up to the season’s start, she noted that the team will be working on speedy, in-game techniques, including setting up quickly for free hits and shooting on the move.
“I think we’re working well and things seem to be coming together,” she said. “We’re working on the skills we need, and I think we’ll be ready when Tuesday comes around.”
Indian River field hockey will square off against Dover at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at Indian River High School.
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