SENIORS LEAD TEAM TO VICTORY

Stephen Decatur senior quarterback Andrew Brickey looks for an open player to throw to during the game against the Wi-Hi Indians last Friday in Berlin. Decatur won the Senior Night contest 28-23. (Nov. 6, 2009) The Stephen Decatur football team dug deep on Senior Night in its battle against the Wi-Hi Indians last Friday and came out with a 28-23 victory for what will most likely be the final time the seniors play at Seahawk Stadium.

And, it was the seniors who came through offensively for the Berlin squad.

"We told the kids all week long the team that wanted to win the game the most and was willing to do what it took to win was going to win the game," Coach Bob Knox said. "I think our kids really grabbed hold of that the second half and really wanted to win. They played hard and never gave up. It was a really big win for the seniors because it might be the last time playing on their home field."

At the end of the first quarter, senior Delonte Tate intercepted a Wi-Hi pass and ran 55 yards for a touchdown. Joe Monico's kick put the Seahawks ahead 7-0. The Indians pulled in front 10-7 before halftime but it would not last long.

Tate scored at the 7:41 mark of the third quarter and Monico's kick gave Decatur a 14-10 advantage. With three minutes left in the quarter, Tate grabbed his second interception of the game, his fifth in the last two contests, and ran 95 yards for a touchdown.

"I just read the quarterback's eyes and went wherever the running back went and I just followed it up and took it to the house," Tate said.

The Seahawks led 20-10, but the Indians cut it to three before the end of the third quarter.

Quarterback Andrew Brickey hit fellow senior Kyle Leslie with a pass midway into the fourth quarter to increase Decatur's advantage, 26-17. Brickey then picked up a bad snap and found senior Dionte Moore who scored on the two-point conversion to put the Seahawks on top, 28-17. Wi- Hi scored once more but couldn't overtake Decatur.

Tate led the Decatur offense and defense. On the attack, he rushed 24 times for 188 yards. Defensively, he had 21 tackles. Mike Meekins, Leslie and Moore also contributed on defense with eight, seven and six tackles, respectively. Brickey was 7-for-10 throwing for 95 yards.

Knox said this season has been like a roller coaster for the Seahawks. They won their first two games, lost the next four then were victorious in the last three contests.

"If we put it all together for one game we'll be a pretty good football team," Knox said. "We have to do that against Snow Hill Friday, piece all the things we've done good in games together … They're going to have to want it more that anything they've wanted before and do whatever it takes to win. It's going to be a big game for us."

The Snow Hill Eagles will host the game against Decatur tonight at 6 p.m. The crosstown rivalry match is for the Worcester County championship.