Junior Berlin Dolphins fall in title contest
(Nov. 27, 2009) In close football games, special teams play often decide the outcome. The 2009 Salvation Army "Red Shield" Junior Youth Football Championship would be decided the same way.
In a hard-fought game not reflected by the final score, the undefeated Wicomico Vikings captured the championship and their special teams play was the difference.
The final score was 25-6, but the game was tied for the first three quarters and remained close in this defensive struggle until the end.
From the opening kickoff, the Junior Berlin Dolphins showed they were ready to play, capping a seven-play 55- yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run by Tayevon Mills to lead 6-0.
The Wicomico Vikings respond and scored on a 38- yard run to tie.
The contest remained tied because of a tackle by the Dolphins' Andrew Borradile that prevented the Viking from scoring the extra point.
The score was tied for much of the first half until a punt by Wicomico pinned Berlin on its own 10-yard line with less than four minutes left in the half.
The Dolphins called time out to set up a punt but it resulted in a low kick fielded at the 40-yard line by the Vikings, who returned the ball to the one-yard line.
Led by middle linebacker Chase Sams, who made two tackles at the one-yard line, the defense held as time expired leaving the game tied 6-6.
The second half started out much like the first with both teams struggling to solve each other's defensive schemes. After two consecutive threeand outs for both teams' offenses, the Vikings special teams made the first of two big plays that would eventually decide the championship.
On the fourth down with six yards to go, the Vikings punted to try to pin the Dolphins deep in their own territory. Berlin stayed in a set defense, opting to guard against a fake, and the Viking punter booted a 42-yarder to put the Dolphins on their own five-yard line.
The Dolphins failed to move the ball against the stingy Viking defense after three failed runs and an illegal motion penalty. The Vikings' special teams made another key play blocking the Dolphins' punt attempt and setting their offense up first and goal from the two-yard line.
The Dolphins then found themselves down 12-6 early in the fourth quarter. After the ensuing kickoff, the Dolphins again began to grind out tough yardage with the running of Mills and Borradile.
A bad penalty cost the Dolphins a first-down run that resulted in a 2nd and 25 on their own 35-yard line. After turning over the ball on downs, the Vikings scored to take a 19-6 lead.
The Dolphins refused to give up and on fourth and 23 converted the first down with a deep pass down to the Viking nine-yard line. But again, the Viking defense thwarted the Dolphins on four straight plays.
The Dolphins gave up their only bad play on defense all day as the Vikings converted a long third down with an 82-yard touchdown run to win 25-6.
Coach Earnest Shockley told his team after the game, "I am proud of you, our season and my coaching staff. I want to thank you all and our supporters for making this a great year."
