the Cafe
 |
     |
The last time Indian River High School walked off the field a winner in a football game against Laurel was on Sept. 29, 1989.
Dale Steele was IR's coach and the Indians were the defending Division II state champions. Laurel's coach was Mike Norton, who would replace the retiring Steele at IR the next season and coach the Indians for six years.
After IR's 26-7 victory that evening, few would have believed that nine years later the Indians would still be seeking another win over the Bulldogs.
Laurel has won the last nine meetings between the teams by an average of more than 16 points. Perhaps the most painful of those defeats was the 1991 Division II state championship game in which the Bulldogs hammered the Indians 29-2.
That loss ushered in Indian River's string of six consecutive non-winning seasons.
When the teams meet Friday night, Oct. 16, 1998, in Laurel, however, the game will have serious playoff implications for the first time since 1992.
IR enters the game with a 4-0 record and high hopes of vaulting into contention with Laurel and Delmar for the Henlopen South title. It's the team's best start since the championship season of 1988.
The Bulldogs come into the game with a 2-2 mark following last week's 33-28 loss to Delmar.
Ending the Laurel jinx would be a major stepping stone for one of the most surprising teams in the Henlopen Conference.
"We know it's going to be an environment where it's going to be a packed stadium and there's a lot at stake," IR coach Pat Kelly said. "I don't think the past has a lot of bearing on it."
IR's top priority will be stopping all-conference quarterback Mike Moore, who threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores against Delmar. Last season, Moore had 1,402 passing yards and 17 touchdowns.
"I've heard that they have a good passing game," said Kelly, who noted the Bulldogs often use three-tight-end sets and like to surprise teams with the quarterback sneak. "We'd like to keep them contained."
Laurel has a history of breaking Indian River's heart in big games.
In addition to the 1991 title game, the Bulldogs beat IR 13-6 in the 1986 Division II state final and 7-0 in the 1987 semifinals. In 1992, IR was 3-0 entering the Laurel game but lost 30-14 and finished the season just 5-5.
If the Indians hope to break their losing streak against the Bulldogs, preventing Moore from connecting on long passes will be the key.
"The first thing that we've got to do is stop the big play," said Kelly, whose team surrendered a 78-yard touchdown pass against Woodbridge last Friday. "I think they'll come out and they'll hit."
Working in IR's favor is a defense that has given up an average of just eight points a game in the team's three victories on the field. (The other win was by forfeit.)
The Indians also have an outstanding quarterback of their own in Shawn Watkins, who is having the best year of his career, and solid group of running backs led by Antoine Stratton.
"With offense, you want to get into a rhythm," Kelly said.
Game time is 7:30 p.m. at Laurel.
Brought to you by:
Mid-Atlantic Beach Guide