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Its First Loss, 13-0 |
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Laurel 13, Smyrna 0 Photos: Laurel lineman Eston Ennis. The Laurel High School football team took a major step toward its first Division II state tournament berth since 1995 with the win over the previously unbeaten Eagles.
Although they continue to trail unbeaten Delmar in the South, Friday's win knocked Smyrna from the ranks of the unbeaten and gave the Bulldogs the upper hand in the race for an at-large berth in the Division II tournament. Wins over Lake Forest and Seaford in their final two games will likely clinch that berth for the Bulldogs, who have beaten two Division I teams this season. Smyrna fell to 3-1 in the South and 7-1 overall but doesn't have the points the Bulldogs have from their two Division I victories. Laurel's defense came through again with its third shutout of the season. Since a 31-0 loss to Delmar on Oct. 4, the Bulldogs have surrendered only 22 points and recorded two shutouts. In their eight games this season, the Bulldogs are allowing only 10 points a game. Against Smyrna, the Bulldogs held Smyrna to 131 total yards, including 49 in the first half, and recovered four fumbles, including two on Smyrna's first two possessions that resulted in short scoring drives for the offense. Lineman Eston Ennis collected the first of his two fumble recoveries at Smyrna's 8 and quarterback Andy Hartstein scored from 3 yards on a quarterback sneak for a 6-0 lead with 5:59 to go in the first period. Eston then recovered another Smyrna fumble in the third period, this time at the Smyrna 20, and the Bulldogs went 6 plays for a 1-yard scoring run by fullback Chris Horsey and a 13-0 advantage. The Bulldogs host Lake Forest in a Henlopen South game on Friday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. Lake Forest enters the game off a 44-6 loss to Delmar on Nov. 1. Laurel Index | Sports Index |
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In winning their fourth straight, the Bulldogs rose to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Henlopen South.